The Playground

For a machine, a piano can sometimes be almost like a living thing. It can seem to have behaviours that change with the seasons and the years and the places it lives. Like a family member, it can behave differently depending on the way it…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jul 22, 2019
• gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, piano care, simply music, the playground, Vincent Tarin

Music, like most art, is not as original as it may seem. With the new CGI animated Lion King coming to cinemas this summer, what better time to look at the creation and history of a timeless song, The Lion Sleeps Tonight? Join us as…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Jun 5, 2019
• disney, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, The Lion King, The lion sleeps tonight, the playground

Previously we’ve talked about the choice between digital or acoustic pianos, and, if you go acoustic, what kind of piano you might choose. If you’ve come this far, you might be ready for the next question – new or second-hand? Those new beauties look shiny…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Apr 18, 2019
• Acoustic Piano, Buying a piano, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, the playground, Vincent Tarin

Piano lovers, it’s that special International Piano Day time of year again! We have celebrated Piano Day in many ways in the past with shared lists of unusual pianos, collections of all things piano and more. This year, to commemorate our favorite mechanical friend, we…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Mar 28, 2019
• gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, piano day, simply music, stephanie iadanza, the playground

In the first article in this series, we discussed the choice between digital and acoustic pianos. For those considering a digital piano, we included some advice, but as to the purchase of an acoustic piano, we decided that dark art needed its own post. Are…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 6, 2019
• Acoustic Piano, Buying a piano, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, the playground, Vincent Tarin

Although he’s spent quite a lot of time in the USA and elsewhere, Paul Kelly is not necessarily a household name worldwide. Here in his native Australia, this everyman poet is an unofficial Living National Treasure, one of our most loved musicians, for his unforgettable…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Dec 18, 2018
• create, gordon harvey, Gravy, How to Make the Gravy, music education, musicians, Paul Kelly, simply music, simply music piano, songs, songwriting, the playground

This is the first in a series of articles designed to help you choose and care for your piano. Here at Simply Music, we’re not too precious. When it comes to your choice of instrument, many teachers will insist on beginning on a good-quality acoustic…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Nov 20, 2018
• Choose a Piano, gordon harvey, music, music education, music teacher, piano, play piano, simply music, teach piano, the playground

Feist might be the only artist on my lists of both the saddest songs and the happiest songs ever. I’ll resist talking about the heartbreaking track “The Limit To Your Love”, because this is a series about happy songs – but we can stay with this…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on May 23, 2018
• Feist, gordon harvey, Happy Songs, sesame street musicians, simply music, the playground

Previously, I talked about the benefit of making the most of simple activities and valuing the journey as much as the goal. But how? As a Simply Music student, your teacher will be regularly on your case about keeping your Playlist alive. Of course, you…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Mar 21, 2018
• coaching, gordon harvey, improvisation, learn piano, music, music education, performance, piano, Simple Things, simply music, the playground

Songwriting doesn’t have to be done balancing pen, paper, guitar and coffee cup on your lap. In fact, most modern pop music is constructed on the computer from the get-go. Gordon Harvey outlines this process through the example of a song by his band Aquiline.…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Feb 7, 2018
• create, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, songwriting, the playground