The Playground

Stories of Music is a multimedia book with heart and soul, telling its tales through poems, pictures, videos, recorded music and text in print and online, and giving something back in the process by its contribution to music-based charities. Publisher and Editor Holly E. Tripp…

• Written by Guest Contributor on May 5, 2016
• anthology, collection, holly e. tripp, hungry for music, mel karajas, music, music and memory, rachel geans, simply music, stories, stories of music

In the old days, music was an ephemeral thing – if you weren’t there at the performance, it was gone forever. Nowadays if you wanted to, you could chronicle your every moment at the instrument via video or audio and share it instantly with the…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Apr 28, 2016
• audio, benefits, catalogue, develop, gordon harvey, library, listen, music, neil moore, playing, preserve, record, recording, simply music, the playground, video

We’re excited to launch the Creative Coaching Series, programs designed for both students and teachers to deepen and broaden the music learning experience. The first title, from our Director of Programs Gordon Harvey, looks at the sometimes scary prospect of performing for others. In this…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Apr 10, 2016
• anxiety, coach, coaching, instrument, music, performance, performing, piano, play, simply music, stage fright

I’m just learning to take baby steps into improvisation. And I have a secret to tell you. But first, let me tell you where I’m coming from and what my personal experience with music has been. I’m a classically trained musician, fortunate enough to have…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 31, 2016
• classical music, composition, Eastman, ensemble, improvisation, Julliard, literature, musician, Oberlin, patti phears, Peabody Conservatory, piano, playing, simply music, technique, the playground

Credit: www.danaevalenza.com   On the 88th day (yes, that’s a piano reference!) of 2015, accomplished composer and producer, Nils Frahm, launched Piano Day. Not just a day to celebrate the piano, but also an official body that houses various and exciting piano-related projects. The first…

• Written by Mel Karajas on Mar 24, 2016
• 5 easy pieces, madame sousatzka, music, music lessons, nils frahm, piano, piano day, piano lessons, play piano, simply music, teach piano, the pianist, the piano, the playground

A piano in the background has helped set the scene in countless movies, but it’s rarer for it to take a leading role. Here’s a selection of our favourite movies featuring our favourite instrument. The Piano I guess we have to start with a film…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Mar 23, 2016
• david helgott, movies about piano, piano, piano movies, shine, simply music, the pianist, the piano

All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it – Jean Cocteau   The resemblance to the objects and feelings from which the following music stirs may not be so mysterious, although, the personal…

• Written by Mel Karajas on Mar 20, 2016
• adele, hello, jimmy fallon, Margaret Leng Tan, Modified Toy Orchestra, music, piano, simply music, the playground, the roots, toy instrument, toy orchestra, virtuoso

Mel Karajas’s interview with renowned voice coach Per Bristow in The Playground drew a lot of interest, inspiring this story from Simply Music Teacher Jacqui Graham. She draws parallels between Per’s approach and the design of Simply Music, and makes a wonderful case for the…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 6, 2016
• jacqui graham, music, Per Bristow, simply music, sing, sing with freedom, talent, the playground, the singing zone

You probably don’t need any convincing that music is a powerful force for good. These inspiring documentaries demonstrate how much and in how many ways across the globe extraordinary people are using music to make a positive change in the world. Alive Inside If you’re…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Feb 28, 2016
• alive inside, autism, crescendo, documentary, landfill, landfill harmonic, music, music changes lives, musical, simply music, the playground

Most of you will know Robin Keehn – in fact, most of you will have been impacted directly or indirectly by Robin’s enormous contribution to everything we do, fuelled by her unstoppable drive to be the best teacher/coach/manager/developer she can be, and her equally unstoppable…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Feb 18, 2016
• aspire, inspire, learn music, learn piano, motivate, music, music lessons, perseverance, piano studio, robin keehn, simply music, teach piano