The Playground
The Simply Music blog
Gordon is a busy father of two, musician and Simply Music stalwart from Melbourne, Australia. He is a composer and performer of eclectic music with his band Aquiline, a Simply Music Master Teacher, member of the Simply Music Council, blogger and tireless contributor to The Playground, long-time friend of Neil Moore, and even longer-time music tragic.
Creative Coaching – Performance
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…
Taking the Lead – Our Favourite Movies Featuring the Piano
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…
Watching Music Change the World
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…
Fresh Perspectives for a New Year
Maybe you’re not the type of person for new year’s resolutions. I mean, wasn’t 2015 crazy enough without trying to do even more with yourself? That said, generating a fresh perspective from time to time can make those inevitable valleys and plateaus look a little greener.…
Reading Music, Part Two – Learning At the Best Time, In the Best Way
Many people have the misconception that the Simply Music program doesn’t teach music reading, but as you may have gathered in my recent article asking how important is it to read music?, we consider music-reading a valuable and wonderful tool. However, that doesn’t mean that…
Reading Music, Part One – Required or Redundant?
It was interesting to read a recent article by educator Robbie Gennet suggesting that sheet music may not be necessary in music education. Just as enlightening, if not more so, was the reaction in the comments section, a lot of it quite hostile, which prompted…
10 Tips to Making the Most of Yourself & Your Practice
Your Simply Music teacher will tell you that the real learning occurs more at home than in the lesson. As Neil Moore puts it, coming to a lesson is like a chef going to the market to buy his ingredients – of course that’s…
What Would You See if You Heard Music in Colour?
Music & colour. Of course they have things in common – they can be beautiful, they can trigger memories – but there are other more intriguing connections reported by some people. Isaac Newton was inspired by music to add to the rainbow. According…
Portrait of an Artist – Christine Sullivan
We all know musicians are special people – they are typically deep thinkers and observers of the world, as well as being passionate and generous. In our recent exploration of jazz, one of the artists we spoke to was so magnanimous and insightful in her…
Conversing with the Creators of Simply Music Gateway
“We’re dealing very much with fully developed minds, but what we’re missing is that gateway, that opportunity, to walk down that path and create a new connection.” – Neil Moore Simply Music Founder Neil Moore and Arts for Healing Founder Karen Nisenson talk…