Inside The City, Sacramento's People, Places & Events
October 1998 (edited)
By Ray Cushing
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On 22nd Street in Midtown, a quiet revolution in music education is taking place.
Perhaps "quiet" isn't the best word. This revolution is getting underway to the sound of Bach, boogie-woogie, and Broadway show tunes.
"Everyone has music within them. What 'Simply Music' does is draw that music out of each person." That's how Neil Moore, leader of this revolution, describes his program for teaching piano, called Simply Music.
The word educate comes from the Latin word educare, meaning "to draw out," which leads one to think that Moore is on the right track.
Moore's system for teaching relies heavily on the body's ability to remember positions. Students of all ages typically learn a song the first day and a dozen or more numbers after about three months of lessons. These aren't "Mary Had A Little Lamb" tunes, either, but two-handed compositions in all musical genres - pop, classical, blues - you name it.
"I believe in teaching the student how to play the instrument first, to develop an affinity for the instrument. The theory can come later," Moore says.
This is the opposite of the traditional approach, where learning the difference between eighth and sixteenth notes and the difference between 6/8 and 4/4 time signatures are emphasized.
Moore, a native of Australia, has an irrepressible enthusiasm for his musical venture. His missionary zeal is evident in the effort he is pouring into recruiting new teachers for the Simply Music program. Anyone with a love of music and people can learn to teach the system - no degree required. Training is achieved through videos and additional instruction.
Moore has scores of satisfied students who vouch for the efficacy of his method. They range in age from 5 to 75. Parents of young students sing the praises of his system, noting that kids who once were Nintendo addicts now head for the piano after school.
"My son at age seven started with Simply Music and now, a year later, can play a repertoire of over 20 pieces from memory. He can't wait to play for family and friends. He learned 'Happy Birthday' using chords just in time to play proudly at his sister's birthday party," says Cynthia Sands. She plans to continue once-a-week lessons for her son, Alex, well into the future.
"Our vision includes the possibility of a future where children learn how to play music as naturally as they acquire their ability to talk," adds Moore.
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