Virtual Retreat for Simply Music Teachers

July 16 - 17, 2026 | Noon - 6:30pm Pacific each day

  • Attend one or both days

  • Online event - no travel expenses!

  • Learn from the most experienced Simply Music Teachers

  • Connect with other Simply Music teachers

  • Special Offers

  • Replays of sessions provided to all who register

Your Hosts

Laurie and Robin are Master Simply Music Teachers and Master Coaches who’ve been teaching Simply Music since 2003 - and they're still going strong as active teachers. 

With decades of hands-on experience teaching, running businesses, coaching teachers, and building meaningful connections, they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to their work. Laurie and Robin are dedicated to ongoing growth, both personally and professionally, through transformative education. They embody Neil’s idea that creativity is “critical neurological nutrition” and bring that energy into their coaching, and of course, the annual Retreats.

 

Special Guest

Neil Moore Neil is the Founder & Creator of Simply Music. His musical knowledge, visionary outlook, relentless personal and professional pursuits, deep understanding of human behavior, wisdom and humor always inspire! There's nothing else quite like hanging out with and learning from this amazing human!



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Your Investment

$230US   Attend one day, your choice

$370US  Attend both days


Everyone who registers will receive lifetime access to the recorded replays of all sessions!


For teachers outside the US with a higher exchange rate, we offer 20% off
Use coupon code INTL20

Please do not enter this code if you are in the USA


DAY 1 AGENDA: July 16 (Levels 1 - 6)

Noon - 6:30pm Pacific

See Breakout Session Descriptions below.

Pacific Time
  Type Session Presenter
12:00 - 12:20 General  Welcome & Breakout Intros Laurie & Robin
12:20  -  1:00 General  "Keeping it Real" Discussion Robin &
Laurie
 1:00  -  1:50 Breakouts Accompaniment 1: Expand Your Toolkit Laurie
Comp & Improv Basics Robin
 1:50  -  2:00
Break
 2:00  -  2:30 General Organizational Updates Neil
 2:30  - 3:20 Breakouts Time for More Music Breakdown Robin
Navigating the Reading Programs Laurie
Q&A Pop-in
 Neil
 3:20 - 4:05 General  To be determined Neil
 4:05 - 4:35
Break
 4:35 - 5:25 General  Hot Seat with Neil Neil,
Laurie &
Robin
 5:25 - 6:10
 Breakouts Getting Started with Blues & Improv Laurie
Social Media Marketing Robin
 6:10  - 6:30 General  Takeaways & Giveaways Robin &
Laurie
6:45 - 7:45 BONUS Special Gathering for EarlyBird Attendees only Neil, Robin & Laurie


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DAY 2 AGENDA: July 17 (Levels 7+)

Noon - 6:30pm Pacific

See Breakout Session Descriptions below.

Pacific Time
  Type Session Presenter
10:00  - 11:00 BONUS Q&A with Robin & Laurie Robin & Laurie
12:00 - 12:20 General  Welcome & Breakout Intros Laurie & Robin
12:20  -  12:50 General  TBD Robin &
Laurie
12:50 - 1:40 Breakouts Building on Blues & Improv Laurie
Social Media Marketing Robin
 1:40  -  1:50
Break
 1:50 - 2:35 General Utilizing the New Development Program - when & how Neil
 2:35  - 3:25 Breakouts Teaching Tips L7-9 Laurie
Jazz Clues Q&A Robin
 3:25 - 4:15 General Accompaniment Embellishments (Advanced) Neil
 4:15 - 4:40
Break
 4:40 - 5:20 General  Hot Seat with Neil Neil
 5:20 - 6:10
 Breakouts C&I - Later Projects Robin
Connecting the Dots: Scale & Key Laurie
  6:10  - 6:30 General  Takeaways & Giveaways Laurie & Robin


REGISTER NOW

DAY 1 Breakout Sessions

You will self-select the sessions you wish to attend in real time at the Retreat.

Sessions are listed in the order of the agenda.

Accompaniment 1: Expand Your Toolkit

This session highlights a wide range of supporting resources - from Simply Music materials to outside sources. We'll explore how they can enhance your students' accompaniment experience, as well as your own! Through an interactive format, you’ll discover practical ways to expand how you use Accompaniment 1 in your studio.

Comp & Improv Basics 

Are you feeling unsure about teaching Comp & Improv? Is this an area where you feel you need to build your own skills before you can teach others? In this session, Robin will give you practical, hands on strategies that can be used personally and with your students to build your skills and confidence and unlock this important, highly creative skill. 

Time for More Music Breakdown

After Reading Rhythm and Reading Notes, your students will move into Time for More Music. In this session, Robin will walk through 3–4 pieces with you, offering practical insights and ideas to help you teach this material with clarity, confidence, and musicality.

Navigating the Reading Programs

Laurie will guide you through the complete arc of Simply Music's reading curriculum. Whether you're just getting started or simply curious about what's to come, you'll leave with a clear sense of each program's focus and how Reading Rhythm, Reading Notes, and Time for More Music fit together as one cohesive journey and set the stage for continued reading success.

Q&A Pop-in
Bring your specific questions directly to Neil in this "open house" format session. Pop in, visit with Neil, and then join one of the other breakout sessions.

Getting Started with Blues & Improv 

Many teachers avoid Blues & Improv—not because it’s difficult, but because it feels unfamiliar. This session is designed to change that. We'll explore early projects and experience how they are structured in small, manageable steps that any teacher or student can successfully navigate. By working through these foundational projects together, you’ll see how accessible and teachable Blues & Improv really is, and leave with greater confidence to begin using it in your studio.

Social Media Marketing

What does it look like to keep it real on social media? This session will show you how to communicate clearly and authentically about your studio, so you attract the right families without feeling like you have to perform or keep up.



DAY 2 Breakout Sessions

You will self-select the sessions you wish to attend in real time at the Retreat.

Sessions are listed in the order of the agenda.

Building on Blues & Improv

In this session we'll explore how additional chords and the blues scale are introduced and applied in Blues & Improv to create sophisticated blues-style playing. We'll also touch on how these same skills are used in more advanced projects in the program.

Social Media Marketing

What does it look like to keep it real on social media? This session will show you how to communicate clearly and authentically about your studio, so you attract the right families without feeling like you have to perform or keep up.

Teaching Tips L7-9 

By the time students reach the last "trimester" of the Foundation Program, there's a lot of content to manage and track. Join Laurie for some tips learned through many years of successfully leading students through Level 9 and beyond.

Jazz Clues Q&A

Curious about the Jazz Program? Bring your specific questions and I'll answer them! Please review the Touch of Jazz Teacher Training Materials since this is not intented to replace the Teacher Training. 

Connecting the Dots: Scale & Key Across the Curriculum

Would you appreciate more clarity around how Scale & Key are taught in Simply Music? This session clarifies how these concepts are woven across the curriculum through both playing-based and traditional approaches, connecting the dots to create a clear teaching framework.

C&I - Later Projects

If you or your students are advancing in Comp & Improv, you might be ready for some fresh inspiration. In this session, we’ll explore new ideas and approaches to support creativity, deepen musical thinking, and keep the process engaging and meaningful.