The Playground

Connection, Awareness & Practice If you’re not telling a story with your playing, not conveying an emotion, you might even say it’s not music at all. Last month Simply Music Senior Teacher Laurie Richards wrote about the importance of musical expression. That article was very…

• Written by Laurie Richards on Jun 2, 2023
• coaching, Laurie Richards, music, musical communication, self expression, simply music

Long-time Simply Music Teacher and respected contributor to the music education community Laurie Richards is a believer in the communicative power of music, but only when we really think about just what it is that we want the song to communicate. In this article she urges…

• Written by Laurie Richards on Apr 28, 2023
• coaching, Laurie Richards, music, musical communication, self expression, simply music

  I Found Your Keys Written by Laurie Richards Laurie Richards is an accomplished musician and music educator. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in the 1980s and worked as an Accountant for several years. During that time she also taught…

• Written by Allison Gray on Sep 8, 2022
• I Found Your Keys, interview, Laurie Richards, music, music education, piano, playing-based music education, simply music, the playground

From their earliest lessons, Simply Music students know how fun and easy it is to get into real, authentic-sounding blues piano pieces.They also learn that there are lots of ways to vary and develop their first blues projects with cool extra touches. Actually, if you…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 3, 2021
• blues licks piano tutorial, blues piano licks tutorial, blues piano pieces, blues piano riffs, blues projects, coaching, how to play blues licks on piano, Laurie Richards, lessons, music, piano, piano tutorial, player, simply music, simply music method, the playground, tutorial

We asked Laurie Richards some questions to gain some insight into her role here at Simply Music, what lights her up musically and some facts that make her the wonderful person she is. Laurie and her daughter, Leah, just being their fun selves. Your full…

• Written by Stephanie Iadanza on Jul 3, 2018
• Laurie Richards, learn piano, Master Teacher, Meet the Team, Music Lesson, piano, piano lessons, simply music, teach piano, the playground

How many times have you embarked on some new project bursting with enthusiasm, only to find that motivation deflated like an old party balloon at the first setback? It’s happened to all of us, and it’s at that moment that we really see what we’re…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Aug 11, 2015
• enthusiasm, journey, Laurie Richards, long term, motivated, motivation, motivational, music, music lessons, musical, peaks, piano, piano lessons, plateau, play, practice, process, robin keehn, self expression, setback, simply music, the playground, valleys

Twelve-year-old Ashton Rowe’s path to musical success has not been without its bumps, but has clearly been paved with determination. Starting at age six with Marilyn van Roekel and continuing via Skype with Robin Keehn, in six years Ashton has worked his way through the…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Aug 6, 2013
• ashton rowe, Laurie Richards, piano, piano lessons, robin keehn, simply music

“On a recent visit to my in-laws at an assisted care living center, I got to witness my daughter Molly Fisher, give an impromptu concert to the residents living there. When she started playing, the only audience Molly had in the commons area where the…

• Written by SM Admin on Jan 30, 2013
• Laurie Richards, molly fisher, simply music, simply music lessons, simply music piano

What an amazing year 2012 has been. So much has happened in the world of Simply Music. As the year comes to a close, I am reflecting on how much I appreciate not merely what has been accomplished but more so, the devotion, dedication and…

• Written by Neil Moore on Dec 4, 2012
• jy gronner, Laurie Richards, music rhapsody, neil moore, play a story, sheri reingold, simply music