Miscellany & Merriment - Simply Music

Showing 1 - 10 of 81 results in Miscellany & Merriment

Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Book Review

Mihaly reading his book ‘Flow’ War is horrific. There’s no getting away from it. But sometimes out of the horror there’s a contribution to the world that wouldn’t be here otherwise. Such is the life’s work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. The study of what he has…

Written by Guest Contributor on Sep 23, 2022
book review, Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, music, music education, piano, playing-based music education, simply music, the playground

A World Where Everyone Plays by Bernadette E. Ashby – Book Review

A World Where Everyone Plays is a collection of stories of how Simply Music has impacted people’s lives. Each chapter is written by a student, teacher or loved one. The stories vary from a ten-year-old student, to a professional circus clown, to a retired teacher,…

Written by Allison Gray on Aug 8, 2022
A world where everyone plays, Bernadette Ashby, book review, music, music education, piano, playing-based music education, simply music, the playground

Have You Met Maddalena Casulana?

Have you met Maddalena Casulana? Born 1544 in Italy she was the first woman to publish her own musical compositions! Women’s roles in the early 1500s largely centred around domestic duties and a constrained societal existence with the expectation that they would live humble, demure…

Written by Gretta Dunn on Jan 29, 2021
composer, italy, madrigal, music, music education, piano, simply music, the playground, Women in Music

Holiday Reading List

Whether you’re looking for a new book to read or a present for someone this holiday season, we’ve compiled a list of books for you! Some we have read and some are on our own ‘to read’ lists! If you’ve got any recommendations please leave…

Written by Gretta Dunn on Dec 4, 2020
Blues, books, jazz, music, Music Books, music education, music history, piano, Reading List, recorded music, simply music, the playground

Have you met Diana Krall?

I’m sure if you’ve even stuck your toe into the pool of modern Jazz, you’ve heard of Diana Krall! The Canadian jazz pianist, songwriter & singer, known for her contralto vocals, she has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15…

Written by Gretta Dunn on Nov 12, 2020
Diana Krall, Female Piano Player, jazz, jazz pianist, music, music education, piano, simply music, Songwriter, the playground, Women in Music

My Story with the Blues [Robert Relly]

Intro: Music of the last hundred years would sound completely different without the Blues. You may have a certain picture in your mind when you think of blues music, but you may not realise how diverse the genre actually is, and how it has seeped…

Written by Guest Contributor on Oct 22, 2020
Blues, music, music education, piano, Robert Relly, simply music, teach piano, the playground

Have you met Hazel Scott?

Hazel Scott was a Trinidadian-born jazz and classical pianist, singer, and actor. She was a critically acclaimed performing artist and an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and segregation. Scott was a child musical prodigy, receiving scholarships to study at the Juilliard School when she was…

Written by Gretta Dunn on Oct 14, 2020
'The Hazel Scott Show'." ... she was also known for playing 2 piano's at a time!!, classical music, female, female musician, music, music education, musician, pianist, piano, piano concerto, piano player, piano. She was prominent as a jazz singer throughout the 1930s and 1940s. In 1950, she became the first African American to host her own TV show, simply music, the playground

Choosing an Instrument – How to Pick your Piano

Did you know that piano sales have increased this year!! The New York Times reported a resurgence in ‘at home music making’ with sales of digital pianos increasing by 30% and acoustic pianos increasing in the used market! Which begs the question … should you…

Written by Gretta Dunn on Sep 24, 2020
acoustic, digital, instrument, keyboard, music, music education, new piano, piano, second hand piano, simply music, the playground

Have you met Martha Argerich?

Born June 5, 1941 Martha Argerich is an Argentine-Swiss classical concert pianist. She made her concert debut at the age of 8 and is considered to be one of the greatest pianists of the recorded era!!      Here’s a video of her playing her signature…

Written by Gretta Dunn on Sep 16, 2020
classical music, female, female musician, music, music education, musician, pianist, piano, piano concerto, piano player, simply music, the playground

The Ballads, Songs & Vignettes (BSV) Collection [Part 12]

In the BSV series, each video will have a description, written by Neil–some of them are brief and some are longer. To watch the introduction read the first installment in this series “The Ballads, Songs, & Vignettes Collection ” Song #19: “Home” This is…

Written by Stephanie Iadanza on Dec 30, 2019
Ballads, BSV, music, music education, neil moore, piano, simply music, songs, the playground

Trainee	A 'Trainee' Simply Music Teacher is the first level of teacher status. Trainees have begun their journey into the Simply Music Teacher Training Program however, they have yet to finalize their training and elevate to Licensed status.
Licensed Teacher	A 'Licensed' Simply Music Teacher is the second level of teacher status. Licensed Simply Music Teachers have fulfilled the requirements for completing their Initial Teacher Training Program. Inquire with them to find out when and if they are ready to teach.
Certified Teacher	A 'Certified' Simply Music Teacher is the third level of teacher status. Certified Simply Music Teachers have successfully completed the Simply Music Certification process as well as other requirements needed to become Certified. This includes having taught Foundation Levels 1, 2, and 3 as well as all applicable Special Programs (Composition & Improvisation, Arrangements, and Accompaniment 1). Certified Teachers present the Simply Music Programs exclusively to their beginning students, and they have shown that they follow our carefully-designed curriculum authentically.
Advanced Teacher	An 'Advanced' Simply Music Teacher is the fourth level of teacher status. Advanced status is only achieved after being a Certified Teacher for at least 4 years and teaching students through Foundation Level 9 plus all associated Special Programs (Composition & Improvisation, Arrangements, the Accompaniment Programs, the Reading Programs, Blues & Improvisation, and Jazz Clues). An Advanced Simply Music Teacher has demonstrated that they are an educator with a high degree of experience. Advanced Teachers present the Simply Music Programs exclusively to their beginning students, and they have shown that they follow our carefully-designed curriculum authentically.
Master Teacher	'Master' Simply Music Teacher is an honorary position and the highest status level that can be achieved. It is offered by Simply Music's founder, Neil Moore, to members of the organization who have demonstrated, over an extended period of time, that they are teachers who possess exemplary skills and qualities. They are mentors and a model to their fellow Simply Music Teachers and are considered leaders in our teaching community.