A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Music

Review: Simply Music

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Today I am reviewing for you a free to use program for you from Simply Music called the Music & Creativity course.  It is their foundation course. Taught by Neil Moore who has a strong desire to help his students learn to play music right the first time. 

Simply Music

What I Am Reviewing

Simply Music.
Music & Creativity – Foundation Course.
Neil Moore.
On-line, all ages, internet access required.
Video Based
piano lessons, online piano lessons, learn piano online
Reviewed for Homeschool Review Crew.

This course introduces you to Simply Music’s unique, playing-based approach, and has you playing great-sounding music from your very first lessons. 

Simply Music

The Basics of Simply Music

The Music & Creativity Foundation Course (MAC) is a video based program. Through video Mr. Moore introduces all music, terms, styles, drawings etc to help you learn to play piano.  He provides PDF’s to supplement the videos. 

Three PDF”s round out the videos.

  • Reference Book – music, chords, pictograms, fingering
  • Music and the Art of Long term Relationships – outline of his theory behind playing music. 14 chapters. Challenging assumptions about music,  encouraging everyone to have a relationship with music. 
  • Practice Pad – keyboard you can print out to practice on
Simply Music

My original intent was to have my lad work through this music program.  He is a complete beginner and has a vague interest in learning to play some sort of musical instrument. 

I did manage to get him started but then life intervened in the way of a part-time job.  Suddenly he found his free time quite truncated.  Since he is only 13 years old (oops now 14) I didn’t want him to not be able to enjoy his summer as well, something had to give and that something was music. 

Ergo I filled in the gap. 

My free-time isn’t what I would like it to be either so I listened to the online piano lessons usually while doing something else.  Pausing to check out his visuals, referencing his PDF’s as needed.   I know how to play piano (rather organ/keyboard) so wasn’t too concerned about the mechanics. 

It was easy for me, since I’m used to how music flows, to move out the music with my fingers. I could use his practice keyboard, my real keyboard, or just tap it out on my table.  I have no pictures because taking pictures of yourself playing doesn’t work well when no one else is around.  🙂

The Details of Simply Music

One thing that Mr. Moore frequently referenced was stopping to think about what you wanted to play.  Listening to the rhythm of the music and getting a feel for it in your head before you started to play.  This would help you minimize any errors, which would save you time in the long run.  You wouldn’t have to UNLEARN those errors first.  I liked that. 

Simply Music

Each lesson consisted of Mr. Moore teaching us how to learn his program.  Seeing the music, learning hand movements, learning to listen, and learning how to diagram music. 

Simply Music

Then learning how to translation that rhythm (so seeing the pattern that emerges from a sentence/line of music) into hand movements. 

Simply Music

This video will help you understand this concept better.  🙂

The set up of the Music & Creativity Course helps you to know exactly where you are in the lesson.

Simply Music

You do need to tell the computer when you have completed each lesson so that you can move on to the next one.  Marking it complete does not stop you from being able to redo the lessons, it just acts as a bookmark for when you next access your course.

Simply Music

I found some lag in moving from one lesson to the other. It wasn’t overly long but it was notice-able enough that I paid attention.   Mr. Moore takes his time to explain how he wants us to think about music and gives us a variety of genres to provide interest.   Blues, classical and contemporary pieces are some of what he plays. “Dreams Come True”, “Eliza”, “Christowel”, and “Black is Blue” are among the titles used. 

My Thoughts and Recommendations

My Recommendation is easy.  It’s free!  Mr. Moore has a love for helping students learn to play music.  It’s is easily accessible as long as you have an internet connection.  Use it!  It is an excellent way to evaluate his course to see if you want to upgrade.  The upgrade itself is not expensive making it  very doable. 

If I could change anything: I would like a written transcript of the videos right with the videos. I would rather read what I need than listen to a video. My son likes the video but would like to have at least the main points witten along with the video.  He says that would be helpful to him when listening to know what to pay attention to.

Simply Music

Check out the Reviews for Simply Music

45 members of the crew have reviewed the free program Simply Music.  I urge you to click on the image below so you can read them. 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/simplymusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simplymusic
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/simplymusicinst/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplymusic/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/simplymusic

disclaimer HSRC

O Jesus, We Adore Thee

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Ah, the adoration of our saviour. It’s a good thing you know? To truly adore the Lord Jesus. O Jesus, We Adore Thee is as hymn to help us do exactly that.

O Jesus, We Adore Thee

Arthur T. Russell wrote this hymn back in the mid-1800’s. He was an English Clergyman serving in the Unitarian church. He was a man of poor health and died when he was 68 years old. He wrote 140 hymns over his lifetime and translated over 100 others. He occasionally wrote verses for other hymns wanting to improve their theology.

Lyrics

O Jesus, we adore Thee,
Upon the cross, our King!
We bow our hearts before Thee,
Thy gracious name we sing.
That name hath brought salvation,
That name in life our stay,
Our peace, our consolation,
When life shall fade away.

Yet doth the world disdain Thee,
Still passing by the cross;
Lord, may our hearts retain Thee;
All else we count but loss.
Ah, Lord, our sins arraigned Thee,
And nailed Thee to the tree;
Our pride, our Lord, disdained Thee;
Yet deign our Hope to be.

O glorious King, we bless Thee,
No longer pass Thee by;
O Jesus, we confess Thee
The Son enthroned on high.
Lord, grant to us remission;
Life through Thy death restore;
Yea, grant us fruition
Of life forevermore.

Did you know?

SchoolhouseTeachers.com has a music course where you can learn more about hymns? I know!  Rather cool eh?  It’s called Music Throughout History.  Now it does more than hymns, but it has a whole section on hymns which is rather cool.  Anyways, membership is cheap right now, so you may as well give it a boo eh?

In the Cross of Christ I Glory

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Do you glory in the cross? I am slowly starting to really see the significance of it. I know Christ’s death and sacrifice is uber important and believe in it highly. But sometimes I fail to GLORY in it. This hymn helps In the Cross of Christ I Glory.

In the cross of Christ I glory

John Bowring is the author of this familiar hymn. Recalling us to the power of the cross. I found this interesting tidbit on Cyberhymnal:

There is a tradition that while Bowring was governor of Hong Kong, he visited nearby Macao and saw the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which had been gutted by fire in 1835. Above the ruins, he saw the church’s cross still standing. The story is likely apocryphal, though—the hymn was published a decade before the fire, and more than 20 years before Bowing was in Hong Kong: He was appointed British consul in 1849, and governor in 1854.

John Bowring was born in England, son of a merchant Charles Bowring, whose main market was China. Over his lifetime he wrote 88 hymns. Worked in his father’s business, started his own company, travelled extensively and learned several languages. He had a good reputation as a political economist and parliamentary reformer.

Lyrics

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’ertake me—
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me,
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds more luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

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The hymn Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne leapt from the pages of hymnbook I was leafing through so I thought I should share it with you. 

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

 Written by Emily E. Elliott. It was first used in 1864 at St. Mark’s Church in Bright­on, Eng­land.  Elliot’s father was the preacher there.

Elliott was the editor of “The Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor.”  She wrote Thou Didst leave thy throme in 1870, but published it separately for children and choir of her Dad’s church.  She later wrote several hymns many of which were published. 

Elliot did a lot of work with rescue missions and children and wrote a book called “under the pillow” which contained several hymns. 

 Timothy Richard Matthews wrote a special tune for this song, called Margaret since it is written to irregular text. 

Lyrics

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

Refrain

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

Refrain

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

Refrain

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

Refrain

When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home,
Saying Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.

Not What My Hands Have Done

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Do you remember the song I did last week?  It was also written by Horatius Bonar!   Wow!   So I guess I don’t have to write a whole about him eh?  Anyways, Not What My Hands Have Done reminds us that it’s God’s action not ours which is our salvation.

Not what my hands have done

Horatius Bonar was called Horace by his friends. A Scottish pastor who wrote many songs. He passed away in 1889. He preached with fervor, starting his ministry in Kelso and finishing his pastorate at the Chalmers Memorial Free Church.

Lyrics

Not what my hands have done
Can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears
Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God,
Not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest,
And set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God,
To me can pardon speak;
Thy power alone, O Son of God,
Can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save Thine,
No meaner blood will do;
No strength, save that which is divine,
Can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
And with unfaltering lip and heart
I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt;
I bury in His tomb
Each thought of unbelief and fear,
Each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace;
I trust His truth and might;
He calls me His, I call Him mine,
My God, my joy and light.
In Him is only good,
In me is only ill;
My ill but draws His goodness forth,
And me He loveth still.

’Tis He who saveth me,
And freely pardon gives;
I love because He loveth me,
I live because He lives.
My life with Him is hid,
My death has passed away,
My clouds have melted into light,
My midnight into day.

Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power

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I actually can’t recall ever singing this song, but noticed it in my hymnbook and thought, I like the words of this song.  It’s simple and yet deep.  A good song to read over. 

Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power

Horatius Bonar is the author is this song. He lived in the 1800’s. A Scotsman pastor he lived to point people to Christ. Music was just one part of his methodology. He sought not to make the most converts, but to always just point people to Christ. He became part of the Free Church when it started. Bonar was known as a man of prayer and song. Sorrow was part of his life in the losing of five of his children, but a widowed daughter bringing her five children to live with him was cause for rejoicing.

Lyrics

Blessing and honor and glory and power,
Wisdom and riches and strength evermore
Give ye to Him who our battle hath won
Whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne.

Into the heav’n of the heav’ns hath He gone,
Sitteth He now in the joy of the throne,
Weareth He now of the kingdom the crown,
Singeth He now the new song with His own.

Soundeth the heaven of the heavens with His name;
Ringeth the earth with His glory and fame;
Ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flower
Echo His praises and tell of His power.

Past are the darkness, the storm, and the war,
Come is the radiance, that sparkles afar,
Breaketh the gleam of the day without end,
Riseth the Sun that shall never descend.

Ever ascendeth the song and the joy;
Ever descendeth the love from on high;
Blessing and honor and glory and praise,
This is the theme of the hymns that we raise.

Life of all life, and true Light of all light,
Star of the dawning unchangingly bright,
Sun of the Salem whose light is the Lamb,
Theme of the ever new, ever glad psalm!

Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb;
Take we the robe and the harp and the palm;
Sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain,
Dying in weakness, but rising to reign.

Are you Washed in the Blood

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Oh, I can’t remember what caused me to listen to this song the other day. But it was fun to do! 🙂 I hope you enjoy learning more about the hymn “Are you washed in the blood”.

are you washed in the blood

History

Are you washed in the blood was written by Elisha Hoffman in 1878 . A preacher who rode a circuit in Ohio. He served a large number of congregations in the 1880’s. He wrote over 2,000 songs one of which is also another favourite “leaning on the everlasting arms”. He was responsible for editing over 50 hymnals.

Lyrics

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

Are you washed in the blood
In the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin
And be washed in the blood of the lamb
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean
O, be washed in the blood of the lamb

Are you washed in the blood
In the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

Randy Travis has been a favourite singer of mine for a long time now so I was delighted to find this version! 🙂