Rhythm Lounge Studios | Simply Music Piano Instruction

Changing Education Paradigms

lorraine — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:50:33 +0000

Take a look at this wonderful video. It was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA’s Benjamin Franklin award.

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Which piano method is right for me?

lorraine — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:45:32 +0000

Confused by all the piano methods out there? I don’t blame you! I came across a great article that scratches below the surface on the most popular methods and I have highlighted the main points below.

Traditional Piano Methods

Still the most widely taught, traditional piano methods are the books you’ll find at your local music store. These books and programs teach you to play piano by learning to read music. “That’s logical,” you might be thinking. “What other way could there be?” Actually, there are many other ways to learn piano. And to learn to read music, for that matter.

Traditional piano methods all teach piano playing and music reading at the same time. Beyond that common link, though, there are differences. Each method approaches introducing musical concepts, rhythm, theory, and piano technique differently and every piano teacher has his or her own opinions!

Simply Music

I discovered Simply Music by hearing a student play. Amazing, rhythmically complex music. My jaw dropped. I asked how long the student had been taking lessons. “Oh, about six months!” came the cheerful reply. Other adults were also shaking their heads in wonder. I transitioned all of my traditional students, over time, to this method. The parents of my students, who were initially very skeptical of a delayed-music-reading approach, are delighted. My students are practicing without being asked. Many of them are composing and improvising on their own.

Ages: 5 to 105! Kids, teenagers, and adults.
Best Feature: immediate access to self-expressive piano playing – 2 hands! Also, parental involvement and ease of learning.

Suzuki Method

The Suzuki Method is probably the most recognizable alternative piano method. In my journey away from traditional methods, I researched becoming a Suzuki teacher. I eventually decided that the Simply Music approach fit better with my teaching philosophy.

However, I respect and admire the Suzuki method. In a nutshell, this approach begins with imitation: watching the teacher (and other students), listening, and repeating. Parents are involved, and kids start young into the program – even as young as three.

Ages: children
Best Feature: natural learning style, good parental involvement

To read the article in full, click here.

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Why I became a Simply Music® teacher

lorraine — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:55:48 +0000

An excerpt from an article written by another Simply Music® teacher:

In 2006, I made the decision to become a Licensed Simply Music® Instructor. I haven’t looked back! After years of teaching traditional piano methods, I discovered this amazing Australian piano method. My students (kids and adults) couldn’t be happier! I couldn’t be happier! I can’t even begin to describe the changes in my teaching, my studio, and the morale of my students. Kids who had to be virtually dragged to the piano to practice now love to play. People who never thought they’d be able to express themselves at the piano can sit and play for an hour at a time.

To read the article in full, click here.

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How did Simply Music® come to be?

lorraine — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:06:52 +0000

Neil Moore didn’t play the piano the way his teacher thought he should. He didn’t read the music score and play what he saw; he listened to the teacher play the piece and then broke it down into patterns. Between lessons he would work out the pattern and figure out the piece. Then at the next lesson, he would pretend to read the music while playing the piece. His teacher was not fooled. This was not how to learn! However, after complaining to Neil’s mother, they decided to let him use his own unique style of learning.

Although he became an accomplished musician, Neil did not learn to read music until he was an adult. The Simply Music® Program had its origins with a blind student. Neil had been asked to teach a boy who was blind to play the piano. Certainly, the traditional methods would not work! But what if Neil could somehow break down the system that he used to play and teach this system to his young student? You guessed it! The results were astounding and this wonderful music program was born.

To read the article in full, click here.

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A “Living Music” approach to playing the piano

lorraine — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:59:10 +0000

Our 16 year old daughter is a committed classical and opera singer and the oldest of six children ranging in age down to five years old. She has had voice lessons for several years and is deeply immersed in her love of music. However, she has had virtually no training on the piano at all and no music theory. As it is necessary for her training that she be an able pianist, we had to find a way for her to become proficient on the piano. An added factor to all of this is that we moved to deeper country last spring so our ability to go the conventional route of weekly visits with a piano teacher was not even possible. How could she get this much needed piano training?

To read the article in full, click here.

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