The Playground
The Simply Music blog
So You Want to Play in a Band (Part One)
Written by: Ray Nelson “I can’t count how many times over my teaching career I have heard students say this. There is such an interest out there to be able to play in a band together with other musicians and yet I have often wondered…
How Does the Simply Music Piano Method Work? – A Video from Neil Moore
If you are a music student or a beginning Simply Music student, or perhaps a curious piano teacher, we recommend you check out this video. This video is the first in a mini video series called ‘How it Works’. This first video offers an overview…
Karen Nisenson on Tim Topham TV – Interview
Karen Nisenson was recently the subject of a video podcast with Tim Topham. This wide-ranging and entertaining chat gave Karen the opportunity to discuss the philosophy and methodology of Simply Music Gateway, the groundbreaking new program being developed for those on the autism spectrum…
Celebrating Piano Day on a Grand Scale!
Credit: www.danaevalenza.com On the 88th day (yes, that’s a piano reference!) of 2015, accomplished composer and producer, Nils Frahm, launched Piano Day. Not just a day to celebrate the piano, but also an official body that houses various and exciting piano-related projects. The first…
Breaking Down and Getting Back Up Again – A Story of Perseverance
Most of you will know Robin Keehn – in fact, most of you will have been impacted directly or indirectly by Robin’s enormous contribution to everything we do, fuelled by her unstoppable drive to be the best teacher/coach/manager/developer she can be, and her equally unstoppable…
Keep your piano close and this collection of helpful posts closer
The holidays are fast approaching! This may mean quite a long break for both teachers and students. Whether that’s a scary thought for you or a time you use to spread your creative wings, this group of helpful posts from our archives is sure to keep…
Book Review – The Usborne Classical Music Sticker Book
Simply Music lessons with a teacher or online are a wonderful way to begin a lifelong relationship with music, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop there. Rachel Geans has discovered “The Usborne Classical Music Sticker Book”, a delightful, multi-sensory experience you can use as…
Reading Music, Part Two – Learning At the Best Time, In the Best Way
Many people have the misconception that the Simply Music program doesn’t teach music reading, but as you may have gathered in my recent article asking how important is it to read music?, we consider music-reading a valuable and wonderful tool. However, that doesn’t mean that…
Reading Music, Part One – Required or Redundant?
It was interesting to read a recent article by educator Robbie Gennet suggesting that sheet music may not be necessary in music education. Just as enlightening, if not more so, was the reaction in the comments section, a lot of it quite hostile, which prompted…
10 Tips to Making the Most of Yourself & Your Practice
Your Simply Music teacher will tell you that the real learning occurs more at home than in the lesson. As Neil Moore puts it, coming to a lesson is like a chef going to the market to buy his ingredients – of course that’s…