The Playground

All it takes is a song. Not just any song though, THE song… The one that grabs your attention when you’ve had the radio on for hours but have to drop everything right now because it’s […]

• Written by Mel Karajas on May 11, 2015
• boys of summer, don henley, doris day, fun., handel, medial prefrontal cortex, mel karajas, memory, music, oliver sacks, robin keehn, simply music, some nights, tea for two, toora loora

We’ve talked in this blog about sharing your music online; how to take the tentative steps to “put ourselves out there” in a digital world, whilst safely tucked up in the comfort of our homes with our bunny […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Nov 6, 2014
• busking, choir, community, live performance, music, nursing homes, open mic, opportunities, public speaking, sharing music

A lot of music unites people. Occasionally it divides people. With its contentious depiction of racial stereotypes, the opera Porgy and Bess seems to have experienced the ebb and flow of acceptance over the years, […]

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Sep 10, 2014
• Classics, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, Summertime, the playground

Music has always been a social phenomenon. Whenever people have gathered together, music has usually been involved. In some cultures, the distinctions between music, dance and spoken language are blurred and music is part of […]

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Aug 27, 2014
• creativiy, digital, gordon harvey, music, simply music, social media, YouTube

  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 […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jan 22, 2014
• arrangemenets, chords, coaching, composition, dane andrus, improvisation, jazz, lessons, music, piano, simply music, teaching, the playground

In our May issue, Katie Schmidt wrote a great article: Promoting and Releasing Your Songs. Here, we take that information a little deeper and give you some really specific ideas on how to brand yourself […]

• Written by Stephanie Iadanza on Aug 6, 2013
• brand, branding, logo, merchandise, music, musician, piano, promotion, simply music, songwriting, the playground

Since Neil has so wonderfully helped us all understand the power and influence of arrangements, I am certain that when you write a song you envisage a lot more than just you at the piano […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jun 27, 2013
• business, katie schmidt, music, piano, simply music, songwriting, the playground, working

I’m sitting here at home looking out of my window. It’s a beautiful morning and it’s very quiet. I’m thinking about what has happened this year. So far, I’ve traveled throughout the USA. I’ve been […]

• Written by Neil Moore on May 19, 2013
• inspiration, music, neil moore, piano, simply music, students, teachers, the playground

My big fat Simply Music Playlist… how will I ever keep it all alive?! Do you have a hard time managing this aspect of your piano lessons? It’s fun to learn new pieces but sometimes […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on May 19, 2013
• advanced, coaching, learn, music, piano, playlist, practice, sheir reingold, simply music, songs, student, teacher, the playground, tools

Do we reap what we sow? I’ve been thinking about this and want to talk about a recent experience. A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a 17 year-old young woman called […]

• Written by Neil Moore on Mar 27, 2013
• casio, music, neil moore, piano, program, simply music, students, teachers, the playground, training