The Playground

Were you ever wowed by the wizardry of a blues musician? Really, anyone can achieve an authentic blues sound with a few basic tools. Using some very simple tools Blues can be taught to entry-level students with great success. One of these tools, the principle…

• Written by SM Admin on Mar 13, 2019
• Blues, improvisation, music, music education, neil moore, piano, 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

As far as we know, parents have always sung their children to sleep. It’s understood that for a young child the melodies and rhythms of simple songs add to the already profoundly comforting experience of a familiar voice. And the comfort can go the other…

• Written by Stephanie Iadanza on Dec 13, 2017
• Classics, improvisation, Lullabies, music, self expression, simply music, stephanie iadanza, the playground

Can you think of any activity in your life that you were perfect at the very first time you did it? Here are a few things that that applies to for me: Contactless credit card payments Using velcro Wearing shoes (especially if secured with velcro)…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Jun 6, 2017
• coaching, improvisation, learn piano, learning, performance, playing, Simply Music The Playground Music Piano Music Education, student

Our voice is the original musical instrument – portable, always available, universal and versatile. Instruments created entirely new worlds of sounds. With those new sounds came different layers of music, no longer strictly melody but now additionally rhythm, harmony, accompaniment, dynamics and texture. However, that…

• Written by Daniel Kielman on Mar 14, 2017
• Beatboxing, create, daniel kielman, improvisation, music, music education, piano, self expression, songwriting, the playground

Photo Credit: Trusty Joe – https://trustyjoe.com/   Creating your own original music is one of the most beneficial aspects of studying an instrument and being a musician. In Part 1, I talked about two of the three keys to reaping those benefits. First was understanding…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jul 26, 2016
• benefit, composition, improvisation, instrument, mark meritt, mark s. meritt, music, musician, piano, simply music, the playground, toolkit, tools

Credit: Fabrizio Paterlini – The Art of the Piano Creating your own original music is one of the most beneficial aspects of studying an instrument and being a musician, even if you’re not especially interested in becoming a composer or a songwriter, and even if…

• Written by Guest Contributor on May 22, 2016
• benefit, compose, composition, create, enjoy, fun., improvisation, improvising, mark meritt, mark s. meritt, original, piano, simply music, the playground, toolkit, tune, tune toolkit

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

  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

With my Simply Music students, I do a lot of improvisation and composition. It’s one of my favourite aspects of being a musician, having been writing songs and creating instrumental pieces for most of my life. One of the most enjoyable and challenging things I do these…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 27, 2013
• create, improvisation, improvise, kat koppett, mark meritt, mark s. meritt, mop and bucket, music, simply music