The Playground

Credit: http://sepeusz.blogspot.com.au/   In the first instalment of this series, we talked about the value and benefits of recording yourself.  It’s amazing what you’ll notice about your playing when you listen back to it without the distraction of having to actually play.  But there can…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Jun 3, 2016
• chords, coaching, gordon harvey, listen, music, neil moore, pedal, record, simply music, tempo, the playground, tutorial

Credit: http://www.coos.be/   We know our teachers and staff are passionate about their day jobs, but for some, this is just part of their musical journey. Many of them have multiple irons in their musical fire, including writing and recording their own music. It is…

• Written by Mel Karajas on May 27, 2016
• blog, creative, eliette roslin, gretta ziller, jennifer lee, josh gronner, katie schmidt, music blog, musician, professional, simply music, the playground

Credit: Fabrizio Paterlini – The Art of the Piano Creating your own original music is one of the most beneficial aspects of studying an instrument and being a musician, even if you’re not especially interested in becoming a composer or a songwriter, and even if…

• Written by Guest Contributor on May 22, 2016
• benefit, compose, composition, create, enjoy, fun., improvisation, improvising, mark meritt, mark s. meritt, original, piano, simply music, the playground, toolkit, tune, tune toolkit

In the old days, music was an ephemeral thing – if you weren’t there at the performance, it was gone forever. Nowadays if you wanted to, you could chronicle your every moment at the instrument via video or audio and share it instantly with the…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Apr 28, 2016
• audio, benefits, catalogue, develop, gordon harvey, library, listen, music, neil moore, playing, preserve, record, recording, simply music, the playground, video

Credit: theconversation.com   We have a unique opportunity to play a role in contributing to the evolution of human consciousness and self-expression, through music – Neil Moore   Many of you know how much I love technology, and how excited I am about its future…

• Written by Neil Moore on Apr 15, 2016
• blog, expression, learn piano, music, musicality, neil moore, piano, piano lessons, play piano, self expression, teach piano, technology, the playground

I’m just learning to take baby steps into improvisation. And I have a secret to tell you. But first, let me tell you where I’m coming from and what my personal experience with music has been. I’m a classically trained musician, fortunate enough to have…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 31, 2016
• classical music, composition, Eastman, ensemble, improvisation, Julliard, literature, musician, Oberlin, patti phears, Peabody Conservatory, piano, playing, simply music, technique, the playground

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…

• Written by Mel Karajas on Mar 24, 2016
• 5 easy pieces, madame sousatzka, music, music lessons, nils frahm, piano, piano day, piano lessons, play piano, simply music, teach piano, the pianist, the piano, the playground

All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it – Jean Cocteau   The resemblance to the objects and feelings from which the following music stirs may not be so mysterious, although, the personal…

• Written by Mel Karajas on Mar 20, 2016
• adele, hello, jimmy fallon, Margaret Leng Tan, Modified Toy Orchestra, music, piano, simply music, the playground, the roots, toy instrument, toy orchestra, virtuoso

Mel Karajas’s interview with renowned voice coach Per Bristow in The Playground drew a lot of interest, inspiring this story from Simply Music Teacher Jacqui Graham. She draws parallels between Per’s approach and the design of Simply Music, and makes a wonderful case for the…

• Written by Guest Contributor on Mar 6, 2016
• jacqui graham, music, Per Bristow, simply music, sing, sing with freedom, talent, the playground, the singing zone

You probably don’t need any convincing that music is a powerful force for good. These inspiring documentaries demonstrate how much and in how many ways across the globe extraordinary people are using music to make a positive change in the world. Alive Inside If you’re…

• Written by Gordon Harvey on Feb 28, 2016
• alive inside, autism, crescendo, documentary, landfill, landfill harmonic, music, music changes lives, musical, simply music, the playground