The Playground

Although he’s spent quite a lot of time in the USA and elsewhere, Paul Kelly is not necessarily a household name worldwide. Here in his native Australia, this everyman poet is an unofficial Living National Treasure, one of our most loved musicians, for his unforgettable…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Dec 18, 2018
• create, gordon harvey, Gravy, How to Make the Gravy, music education, musicians, Paul Kelly, simply music, simply music piano, songs, songwriting, the playground

Let’s talk about a famous classical piece, by Beethoven, and give you a taste of how we break the melody of this song into a simple ‘Melody Diagram’ that will have you instantly remember how to play it. We’ll also show you the left hand…

• Written by SM Admin on Jul 24, 2018
• music education, musicians, neil moore, piano, piano lessons, simply music, simply music piano, the playground, tutorial

This month we celebrate a birthday of an unusual kind. You might call it the birthday of the right to properly celebrate birthdays. And surprisingly, it’s just a first birthday, because on June 30, 2016, after a very long and tortuous process, the most familiar…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Jun 20, 2017
• chords, gordon harvey, Happy Birthday, learn piano, music, music education, piano, play piano, Public Domain, simply music, simply music piano, songs, the playground

  With Gratitude and Appreciation With the onset of 2017, Simply Music enters its 20th year! And with only a few weeks left in 2016, I wanted to take a few moments to express my gratitude and appreciation. This has been a remarkable year. For…

• Written by Neil Moore on Dec 22, 2016
• 2016, create music, music education, neil moore, piano, play piano, simply music, simply music piano, the playground

Neil Moore was recently the subject of a video podcast with Tim Topham. This wide-ranging and entertaining chat gave Neil the opportunity to discuss the philosophy and methodology of Simply Music, tell stories of his own unusual musical upbringing and share his vision of a…

• Written by SM Admin on Aug 9, 2016
• learn, learning, method, music, music education, neil moore, piano, simply music piano, the playground, Tim Topham TV, Tim Tophm

Jaclyn Holmes is 11 years old and has been learning Simply Music piano for about four years/195 lessons. She’s currently in the middle of Level 10 and is just beginning the Jazz and Accompaniment 2 programs. To make sure she has plenty of opportunities to…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Sep 17, 2013
• accompaniment, jaclyn holmes, jazz, keyboard, piano lessons, simply music piano, terri partyka

Gorgeous 12 year-old twins, Isabella & Maximillian Karelis have been learning Simply Music piano since Feb 2009 and are in Level 7. They have successfully completed Accompaniment 1, Arrangements 1 and 2, Time for More Music, Reading 1 and Composition and Improvisation, and have composed a…

• Written by Guest Contributor on May 19, 2013
• karelis, katy spenta, simply music, simply music lessons, simply music piano

What would be a child’s dearest dream? Go to Disney? Meet her favorite athlete or movie character? Isabelle McGrath wished for a blue piano.  At age 8, Isabelle was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer in her lymph nodes. While fighting the disease,…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 27, 2013
• brigitte lachance, Hodgkin’s disease, isabelle mcgrath, Make a Wish, piano lessons, simply music, simply music piano

“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

When I first met with Grant Powell, the fact that he had been playing for a long time was quite apparent. He was definitely not the typical, potential student who comes to me looking to begin piano lessons. He most definitely was not a beginner.…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Dec 4, 2012
• dj grant powell, grant powell, jan davis, nightstorm, simply music, simply music piano