The Playground

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

The first sound recording was reportedly captured in Paris by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1860, nearly two decades before Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call (1876) or Thomas Edison’s phonograph (1877), Scott recorded the sound on his ‘Phonautograph’. The Phonautograph was made to study…

• Written by Gretta Dunn on Oct 7, 2020
• History, invention, music, music education, music history, piano, recording, simply music, sound, sound recording, study, the playground

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

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

For a lot of music teachers, ‘studio’ is simply a clearing in a living room or spare room, and that can be a wonderful, comfortable, welcoming place to play and learn. But for one of our Simply Music teaching community have grander ideas, like a…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Sep 9, 2020
• australia, Building, music, music education, Music Studio, piano, Simply Music Teacher, studio, Tags: Simply Music, teacher, the playground, unmani, Victoria

Tim Ringgold, Author, Musician & Board Certified Music Therapist, sits down with Neil Moore and discusses music and it’s transformative healing powers. From the pitfalls and pain of extreme adversity, and what the power of music can do to revive us. Tim works with many…

• Written by SM Admin on Jan 15, 2020
• music, Music & Addiction, Music & Recovery, music education, Music Therapy, piano, simply music, the playground, Tim Ringgold

Leon Moore sits down with Sacramento-based Simply Music Piano Teacher and Blues artist, Katie Knipp and discusses her latest album, “Take It With You”, her recent SAMMIE award win (think of it like the Sacramento Grammys) and becoming a Billboard featured artist. Katie, a teacher…

• Written by SM Admin on Jul 29, 2019
• Blues, interview, katie knipp, Leon Moore, music, music education, pianist, piano, professional musician, simply music, teach piano, 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

Leon Moore sits down with the wonderful Joe Gilman to get to know a little about him and his background as a professional jazz musician. Joe shares his musical inspirations over the years, and how he approached playing the songs that are outlined in the…

• Written by SM Admin on May 22, 2019
• interview, jazz, Jazz musician, Joe Gilman, Leon Moore, music, music education, pianist, piano, professional musician, simply music, the playground