The Playground

So, you’ve just spent hundreds of “man hours” writing, recording, mixing, mastering, and stressing! Now what? Now, my friends, the real work begins. There is a certain order to releasing a song, and having released […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Sep 7, 2023
• business, katie knipp, katie schmidt, music, piano, promotion, simply music, songs, songwriting, the playground

I think we all have fallen into the trap of setting new year’s resolutions that don’t last a week, especially when it comes to playing & practicing our instruments. I know I definitely have! I […]

• Written by Gretta Dunn on Jan 17, 2021
• accountability, beginnings, challenge, music, music education, new resolutions, new years, piano, simply music, songwriting, 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 […]

• 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

Mark S. Meritt continues our series on songwriting, discussing some guiding principles and idea-generating approaches he uses. Legendary musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim noted some fundamental principles that guide his work, the primary […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Apr 18, 2018
• coaching, simply music, singer-songwriter, songwriting, the playground

Our series of songwriting hints continues with Eliette Roslin, who has taken time out from her amazingly busy life to share the very personal story of her song “Believe”. Eliette sang before she could speak […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 14, 2018
• eliette roslin, piano, simply music, songwriting, the playground, Write Music

Songwriting doesn’t have to be done balancing pen, paper, guitar and coffee cup on your lap. In fact, most modern pop music is constructed on the computer from the get-go. Gordon Harvey outlines this process […]

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Feb 7, 2018
• create, gordon harvey, music, music education, piano, simply music, songwriting, the playground

Simply Music Teacher Jennifer Lee continues the conversation about writing songs with a reflection on how simple projects can be the unexpected beginnings of great inspirations, including some of the wonderful songs on her forthcoming […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Jan 31, 2018
• create, jennifer lee, musicians, simply music, singer-songwriter, songwriting, teachers, the playground, women songwriters

After our Songwriting Tips from Simply Music Friends – Pt 1 post, we asked contributors to give us a more in-depth insight into their process of creating songs. You’ll find that there are as many […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Nov 27, 2017
• gordon harvey, music, music education, musician, musicians, piano, play piano, simply music, songwriting, Sue Lopez, the playground

Our wide-ranging and talented community of Simply Music Teachers and associates include an array of gifted professional songwriters and composers. We asked a bunch of them to share a little about how they work. We […]

• Written by Guest Contributor on Oct 10, 2017
• eliette roslin, gordon harvey, jennifer lee, katie knipp, mark s. meritt, music, music education, piano, Scott Ferreter, simply music, songwriting, the playground, Write Music, Write Songs

Our voice is the original musical instrument – portable, always available, universal and versatile. Instruments created entirely new worlds of sounds. With those new sounds came different layers of music, no longer strictly melody but […]

• Written by Daniel Kielman on Mar 14, 2017
• Beatboxing, create, daniel kielman, improvisation, music, music education, piano, self expression, songwriting, the playground