The Playground

A lot of music unites people. Occasionally it divides people. With its contentious depiction of racial stereotypes, the opera Porgy and Bess seems to have experienced the ebb and flow of acceptance over the years, but even its cultural detractors will recognise it as one…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Sep 10, 2014
• Classics, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, Summertime, the playground

  Very early in their learning experience, Simply Music students are introduced to chord accompaniments through songs like Amazing Grace, following written chord symbols represented by alphabetical letters. What they won’t realize at that point is how many applications there are for chords. The seeds…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jan 22, 2014
• arrangemenets, chords, coaching, composition, dane andrus, improvisation, jazz, lessons, music, piano, simply music, teaching, the playground

Christmas time has traditionally always been a time for the gathering of loved ones and the playing of music. I felt it would be great to have a collection of carols that anyone in the family could pick up and play, even if they only…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Dec 4, 2013
• jingle bells, piano, piano tutorial, simply music, the playground, tutorial

In our May issue, Katie Schmidt wrote a great article: Promoting and Releasing Your Songs. Here, we take that information a little deeper and give you some really specific ideas on how to brand yourself (musician or band) in order to produce results. The main…

• Written by Stephanie Iadanza on Aug 6, 2013
• brand, branding, logo, merchandise, music, musician, piano, promotion, simply music, songwriting, the playground

Since Neil has so wonderfully helped us all understand the power and influence of arrangements, I am certain that when you write a song you envisage a lot more than just you at the piano and microphone. Working with other musicians can really allow your…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jun 27, 2013
• business, katie schmidt, music, piano, simply music, songwriting, the playground, working

I’m sitting here at home looking out of my window. It’s a beautiful morning and it’s very quiet. I’m thinking about what has happened this year. So far, I’ve traveled throughout the USA. I’ve been to Germany and Canada, and next week I head off…

• Written by Neil Moore on May 19, 2013
• inspiration, music, neil moore, piano, simply music, students, teachers, the playground

My big fat Simply Music Playlist… how will I ever keep it all alive?! Do you have a hard time managing this aspect of your piano lessons? It’s fun to learn new pieces but sometimes it can seem like a lot of work to remember…

• Written by Guest Contributor on May 19, 2013
• advanced, coaching, learn, music, piano, playlist, practice, sheir reingold, simply music, songs, student, teacher, the playground, tools

Do we reap what we sow? I’ve been thinking about this and want to talk about a recent experience. A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a 17 year-old young woman called Maira Ramirez. Maira asked if I would be willing to…

• Written by Neil Moore on Mar 27, 2013
• casio, music, neil moore, piano, program, simply music, students, teachers, the playground, training

  I was a beginner when I started Simply Music lessons. I had a lot of confidence issues with my musicality. I had tried to play the piano on my own for about a year and just couldn’t get it! I could not coordinate my hands; I could kind of…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 27, 2013
• coaching, confidence, kevin meyer, music, piano, playing, simply music, the playground

Gustavo Dudamel, “The Dude”, and Dreams Come True have a lot in common. When he was a child in Venezuela, this dynamic conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic would line up all his toys on the floor and then conduct his “toy orchestra”. By watching him conduct…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jan 30, 2013
• nancy reese, piano, piano playing, playing freely, sef expression, simply music, the playground