Using a Play-Based Approach to Learn to Play the Piano with Simply Music {A Homeschool Review Crew Review}

Though both my husband and I feel music is important for the children to study, this subject is one that we have sort of neglected this school year. It has been very hard to fit it into our busy schedule. However, when we learned about the Music & Creativity - Foundation Course from Simply Music several weeks ago, I figured we could fit it into our more relaxed summer schedule. And here is some really cool information, this foundational level is completely free, no strings attached, so you can go and sign up right now. But, don't rush off yet! I would love for you to read a bit more about it and what we thought of it. Then you can head on over and sign up.

So, what exactly is this online piano course all about? 

Neil Moore is the founder of this play-based approach of learning to play the piano. He has been developing this program for the past 27 years, and it has gone on to become multi-national, spanning 100 countries. Mr. Moore himself is originally from Australia (and can I just say, we love listening to his accent as he teaches the video-based lessons). According to Mr. Moore, their claim is that "children, teens, adults and seniors will be playing great-sounding blues, classical, contemporary and accompaniment pieces - immediately - from their very earliest lessons." Students are able to do this through this method as it immerses them in the music from the very beginning. I have to say, I've heard of immersion when it comes to foreign language programs, but this is the first time I had heard it used for music training.

Now, you may be asking how students are immersed into the music right away. Well, prior to Lesson #1, there is a Quick Start lesson where the student is invited to join in with some improvisation on the song "Eliza." You can try this if you wish or just skip ahead by clicking the button at the bottom of the lesson to mark it complete. Then, after viewing some introductory, informational lessons, the student is again immersed into a new song with Lesson #3: Dreams Come True. After watching the online video lessons of Mr. Moore teaching the two different "sentences," the student is encouraged to play first the right, then the left hand parts before playing both hands together and learning the "Tail Piece" to end the song. The student plays along with Mr. Moore alone, and then with the instrumental accompaniment, finally playing with the full song performed with a vocalist. In all there are six sections to this lesson.

Students are encouraged to work at their own pace, not moving ahead until they are ready. They are supposed to remind themselves out loud what they are supposed to be doing with their fingers.They are also told to feel the rhythm of the music and to see the patterns that are played with the diagrams he teaches with. For example, he draws the following a step at a time on his iPad:

I realize this might look confusing. I know it was to us when we first saw it. We were like, how is this music? In order to understand the diagrams in the downloadable Reference Book, you have to actually watch the videos and listen to how he is explaining the way your fingers will be moving in the song. 

Let me try to explain. 

In the above picture, there is a 3 over an arrow pointing left. We had already been taught where to place our fingers and how to play fingers 5, 4, 3, and 2 (pinky, ring, middle, and index). In order to actually play the song, we were instructed to play first the third finger and then play those fingers going down the keyboard. He called that "Sentence One." Next we were taught to play four fingers going up, 1, 2, 3, and 4 (thumb, index, middle, and ring) before ending with the second finger. This is illustrated by the arrow pointing right with the number 2 under it. This is called "Sentence Two."

Then we were taught the fingers that needed to play on the left hand. Finally he brought it all together. The bottom two lines (1, 1, 2, 2 and 1, 1, 2, dot with curved arrows) tell us to play sentence 1 twice, sentence 2 twice, sentence 1 two more times, then sentence 2 before finishing with the one note below and one note above where our fingers are at the end.

And this is what it looks like all brought together.

So far, Tabitha, daddy, and I are the only ones who have successfully played the song with Mr. Moore playing it:

The other children are at various stages of getting their fingers to work together to play the different sentences.

That said, even Tabitha and I are struggling with playing along with the instrumental version with the vocalist included, as she sings some parts using a different rhythm or tune than what Mr. Moore does.

Now, you might notice in all this I didn't mention anything about learning to read music. For some, this can be quite beneficial, as they can feel the music and just play along. For others, this could be a detriment. Honestly, my husband and I are quite concerned about the fact that students aren't taught to read music. Yes, it is wonderful to be able to play these songs. We understand that the whole concept of the program is based on creating a long-term relationship with music. But, we don't understand how a student can advance without the basic knowledge of the notes and correct musical terminology. I told my husband it reminds me of learning to read using the sight word method (which I have quite a few issues with) because a student is able to read or play what they are taught, but they can't advance without the basic knowledge of phonics or, as in the case of this Simply Music course, notes.

Our other concern is that sometimes Mr. Moore's instructions are a bit confusing, especially at first. I know Amelia was quite frustrated trying to follow along with the instructions. However, I admit, she has gotten past that initial frustration and is progressing through the first song.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is great that people can start playing songs right away with this method. And maybe that is what some people need, especially if they are struggling with reading music. I would love to see further into the program to see how Mr. Moore handles the teaching of reading music, as he has stated that it is "in the early stages of learning with Simply Music [that] music-reading is delayed." Unfortunately, the only way to see future lessons is to complete the lessons before them and mark them as complete. Anyhow,  I have every intention of having our family make our way through the program. After completing the Foundation course, I will see if we will want to invest in the Foundation Enhancement, which costs $35. There are also Development and Special Courses (Accompaniment, Composition & Improvisation, Arrangements, plus Blues & Improvisation) which are listed as "coming soon." I'm curious to see what those will entail.

So, if you would appreciate being able to play the piano from the very start, if you have struggled with reading music, if you would just like to see what this program is all about, you may be wondering what you will need and what is provided. Well, obviously the most important thing is to have a piano or a keyboard with at least 48 keys. You will also need a computer or device with internet access. You will definitely want a good connection with a good speed so you don't have to wait for the videos to buffer while you are trying to follow along. You will also want a printer if you plan to print out the material in the Reference Guide, plus there is a Practice Pad you can print out and tape together for you and/or your student to practice their fingering on while listening to the soundtracks.

The Foundation Course contains 20 lessons. These lessons are of various lengths. Some are merely informational, others teach the different songs (some of which are written by Mr. Moore).

Here is the list of lessons available:

• Quickstart
• Lesson 1: The Basics
• Lesson 2: Learning Strategy - Learn Slowly, Small Doses & Control the Events
• Lesson 3: "Dreams Come True"
• Lesson 4: "Improvising "Eliza"
• Lesson 5: Learning Strategy - What to Play/How to Play
• Lesson 6: "Christowel"
• Lesson 7: Learning Strategy - Using the Pedal
• Lesson 8: "Black is Blue"
• Lesson 9: Accompaniment - "Dreams Come True"
• Lesson 10: "Night Storm"
• Lesson 11: "Deep Valley" & "Dark Valley"
• Lesson 12: "For Augus"
• Lesson 13: "Ode to Joy"
• Lesson 14: Accompaniment - "Amazing Grace"
• Lesson 15: "Jackson Blues"
• Lesson 16: Accompaniment - "Happy Birthday"
• Lesson 17: "Hunter's Blues"
• Lesson 18: Accompaniment - "Honey Dew"
• Lesson 19: "Blue Jay"

Each lesson gives you access to the video lessons, soundtracks and reference materials you will need for that lesson, but you also have access to all the material from the beginning so you can download it to your computer. You will have access to the PDFs of the Practice Pad, Reference Book, and a book written by Neil Moore titled, Music and the Art of Long-Term Relationships. There is also a Facebook Group for support.

Additionally, Mr. Moore has provided a list of materials needed for the "optimal learning experience." I will say, these are items we could not justify getting at this time. You would need:

• a headphone jack
• sustain pedal
• earbuds
• headphones
• and it is recommended for this optimal learning experience to have a touch sensitive keyboard.

In this optimal experience, he talks about having the student wear the earbuds which are plugged into a device playing the soundtracks, and then placing the headphones on top of those. The headphones are plugged into the keyboard so you can hear yourself play along with the soundtrack.

You will definitely want to read Mr. Moore's book. I haven't had the chance to read through it as much as I would like, but my husband, who at first wasn't too thrilled with the program, has read bits and pieces and he now has a better understanding of Mr. Moore's methodology.

Here is what you will find discussed in the book:

Honestly, I am now wishing I had read the book in full prior to starting the program. I think it will help to really understand where Mr. Moore is coming from. 

So, though we haven't been completely thrilled with the Music & Creativity Foundation Course from Simply Music, we have definitely enjoyed being able to work on playing the piano, and we plan to continue through the lessons, now that we understand the program more. 

You can find Simply Music on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

Don't forget to click the banner below to see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about the program:

Learning to Play Guitar with Guitar 360 Method {A TOS Review}

As Tabitha has gotten older, we have really seen how she is gifted in the "artistic" department. Her skills in drawing/painting are developing amazingly, as are her musical abilities. I was approached by a friend at church a few years ago, who recommended that Tabitha should join in with Worship Team. Tabitha, and now Amelia, are regulars on the schedule to join in with other singers on alternating weeks. When it comes to musical instruments, Tabitha has been trying to teach herself to play the recorder and the piano (though that is a bit tricky with an old, untuned piano). She'd been approached about learning the guitar, but due to circumstances beyond our control, we haven't been able to make it work. So, when the opportunity arose for us to review the Semester 1 Bundle from Guitar 360 Method, we jumped at the chance.

Don't miss the money-saving offer at the bottom of the review!

The Semester 1 Bundle includes the 13-week Semester 1 course, plus 5 weeks of Absolute Beginner bonus content. This bonus content includes 3 weeks of a Guitar Course for Beginners plus 2 bonus songs. This Absolute Beginner course was where we needed to start. 

Guitar 360 Method is not a subscription course, instead, it is a course we were given instant access to, one that Tabitha  can work through at her own pace as it does not expire. I love that she will be learning music theory, and how music works, not just learning how to play specific songs. Eventually, according to the informational video on the site, Tabitha should be able to create her own music as well. 

Another benefit of this program is that other family members can take these guitar lessons as well. My husband has had some experience with playing guitar in the past, but it h as been quite a while, so he was starting in the beginner's section as well. Unfortunately, with his work schedule, he hasn't gotten through as much of the course as he would have liked to by now. I'll share his thoughts on the course later on in the review.

First, let me talk a bit about the Absolute Beginner content, then I'll share a bit about the Semester 1 course.

When we log into the site we are directed to the courses that are in our "library."

To get to the Guitar Course for Beginners we click on the orange "View Product" button in the "Start Playing Your Guitar!" course. This brings us to where we see a list of the lessons for the three weeks.

Here's a look at Week 1 (Weeks 2 and 3 are directly below this section).

This screenshot shows all the lessons in Week 1, along with the practices. The orange check marks appear after she has watched the video. If she stops mid-lesson, an orange progress bar will appear instead. She can go back and watch any of the lessons as many times as she wants. One of the wonderful features of this course is the short, focused lessons, which both my husband and I greatly appreciate. In fact, the hubby stated, " If we are struggling with a certain concept, we can get back  and rewatch relatively quickly instead of trying to find it during a longer lesson.  The instructor mentions this benefit early on, and I agree with him."

These lessons consist of online video lessons by the course's creator/teacher, Krisz Simonfalvi. It is like Mr. Simonfalvi is speaking directly to the viewer.

As you can see, the Beginner Course begins at. . . well . . . at the beginning. He starts with a "Welcome!" video explaining how the course is organized. He also talks about the song the student is working toward playing in the beginner course and how each of the fundamentals being taught will relate to it. While I mentioned above that Tabitha will be learning music theory with Guitar 360 Method, Mr. Simonfalvi explains that the beginner course doesn't include any as he wants the student to learn to "connect" to the guitar first.

The course then moves into the lessons. Each lesson for these three weeks is between two to seven minutes in length, and the practices are around two to two and a half minutes each. I appreciate that he explains the parts of the guitar, along with the proper way for the student to place their left hand and hold the pick to play efficiently. 

It's so important for people to learn the proper way from the get-go instead of having to unlearn improper form. As my husband mentioned, "As someone who has played around on the guitar off and on for several years, but never ultra-seriously, I will say that I've learned a few things.  Placement of the left (fingering) thumb was something I hadn't put a lot of thought into but, after watching, and experimenting, I can see that Krisz's method is ideal and, with practice, will help immensely.Also, I was holding the pick wrong which may have led to me abandoning it years ago.  I m still in need of more practice to change that and get comfortable with it."

The first time the student actually plays the guitar is to do the 4-finger warm-up exercise which helps get a feel for the dimensions of the guitar. I will say, Tabitha isn't a huge fan of practicing this as it is uncomfortable for her. However, I have insisted she needs to practice it every day. 

Mr. Simonfalvi has three different levels for the student to practice the 4-finger warm up along with him. The first one has the student practicing at 50 beats per minute with 3-4 count breaks, the second has 76 beats per minute with 3-4 count breaks, and the final level has 108 beats per minute with no breaks. I admit, I didn't realize Tabitha hadn't been practicing with the actual lesson, so I have told her from now on to practice with the video, first perfecting the timing with Level 1 before moving to the harder speeds. I'm hoping this will help her to be more comfortable.

Here she is practicing her 4-finger warm-up exercise.

In Week 2 the student starts to learn how to play chords. Mr. Simonfalvi explains how to read a chord diagram and shows the student how to play the first chord, troubleshooting for incorrect sounding strings, teaches the student different strumming patterns, and then teaches a second chord. Again there are three different levels of practice to complete the week.

Here she is practicing her chords.

Tabitha even draws out the diagrams so she can practice without having to be on the computer.

Mr. Simonfalvi does also provide PDF downloads of these chord diagrams that we could print out. However, I didn't realize that at first, and Tabitha likes having the chords on one page so she can see them all at once. In fact, I think it would be awesome if Mr. Simonfalvi could find a way to create PDF downloads with the chords for each song all on one sheet.

Week 3 introduces more chords, talks about pickups and multiplying chords, and introduces the parts of the song. In the three practices of this week's lessons the teacher allows the student to work on different parts of the song, starting with the chorus at a slower pace with breaks, then adding the remainder of the song and removing the breaks, and finally playing the entire song on tempo.

Tabitha has been spending her music time practicing these chords and learning to switch between them. She is still struggling with this skill, so she hasn't actually been able to play the song. She has been improving with practice, but I can completely understand her struggle, as I have small hands/fingers, and it is tricky for me to comfortably reach the strings with proper form. She is hoping, with practice, she will be able to play this song, plus the two bonus songs, and be able to move into the actual Semester 1 lessons. 

Speaking of the Semester 1 course, I would like to share a bit about it now, even though we haven't had a chance to start it. 

From the main library we get to the Semester 1 course by clicking on the "View Product" button on the Semester 1 image. From there we see the lesson list by week, just like in the Beginner Course. However, there are slight differences. 

The Semester 1 course is a lot more in-depth than the Beginner course, which is to be expected. Each week has a Goal, which is highlighted in green. 

Weekly Goals:

1. Foundations for the Versatile Rhythm Guitar
2. Navigating Notes on the Neck
3. Understanding Scales
4. Rhythm Guitar Dynamics and Textures
5. Extending Our Lead Range and Options
6. Understanding Chords
7. How Chords Fit Together in Any Key
8. Extending Our Rhythm Guitar Range and Options
9. More Keys for More Options
10. Further Expanding Our Range for Soloing
11. Rounding Things Out
12. Final Rhythm Guitar Practice Week (available soon)
13. Final Lead Guitar Practice Week (available soon)

Then there are the video lessons, most of which appear to be longer in length than the lessons in the Beginner course, and go into more detail. For instance, he teaches alternate left hand fingering methods for some chords, and explains the difference. 

After these video lessons, most weeks still have at least one practice session. Additionally there are Ear Training lessons starting in week 3 and occasional Quizzes starting in week 6. 

From what we can tell from watching the first couple of lessons, and looking through the schedule, with all the new chords and variations of chords and other details that are going to be taught, Tabitha will most likely be taking longer for each weekly section. As my husband says, "There's a lot for the beginner to digest each week, especially if the child is at the younger end of the recommended age range. Encourage them to keep going at their own pace."

And that is one of the huge benefits of this course. A student is able to go at their own pace. That might mean the student is zinging ahead, breezing through the lessons, or it could mean they are taking two maybe three weeks to go through one "week's" worth of material.

Mr. Simonfalvi is a great teacher, explaining each step as he goes, and connecting all the little bits of knowledge with each other. He calls this "non-linear, Cyclical Pedagogy" and though I have never heard the term before, I can definitely see the wisdom of this method. Another thing that makes him a great teacher, is that he is easily reachable, even in this online course. If you have any questions or comments, you can leave them in the comment section under each lesson. I had a concern and did just that. I was quite pleased to see I received a very helpful reply in less than 24 hours. So, not only are you getting wonderful music lessons, it's almost as if they are one-on-one with an in-person teacher.

The Beginner's Course has been wonderful, though I admit even I am a bit overwhelmed when looking ahead at what is coming in Semester 1. As of now there are now three of our family members using this course. Tabitha is working on her first song, my husband has used the beginner course to refresh his memory and learn proper form, along with skipping a bit ahead to see what he can work on. And I decided to try my hand at learning guitar and am starting to practice the first chord. We'll all be going at our own pace, and that's perfect.

Here's what Tabitha has to say about the Guitar 360 Method course.

"I think it's a great way to learn the guitar and it's really fun. I knew nothing about how to play the guitar and now I'm practicing playing a song."

I also love that she has learned enough to try to teach her brother how to play as well. Though the guitar is a wee bit too big for him.

She even drew a picture of a guitar to help him learn.

You can find Guitar 360 Method on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you like the sound of Guitar 360 Method, I would like to encourage you to try out the free beginner's course. Additionally, I have a wonderful, money-saving deal for you. Mr. Simonfalvi is being quite generous. He is offering homeschool families a 20% off coupon to my readers.

All you need to do is use the following coupon code at checkout:

HOMESCHOOL20 

The regular price is $149, which includes the 3-week Beginners' Course, Semester 1 (13 weeks long), and the 2 Bonus Song mini-courses. With the Coupon Code, their investment will be only $119.20 for 10+ hours of video content!

Don't forget to click the banner below to see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about Guitar 360 Method. While we started with the Beginner content and haven't gotten any further, there are many families who either started with the Semester 1 course, or have been able to move fast enough to get into it.