Free Download: Piano Muscle Builders for Older Beginners

February 2, 2015 Jennifer Boster

I have been wanting for a long time to make a “muscle builder” technique booklet for older beginners – something similar to the My Muscle Builder Books but less cutesy and more concise, something that could be used by beginners who are teenagers or even adults. I finally have taken one that I made a couple of years ago and revamped it a bit, and I’m excited to offer it to you today as a free download!

Piano Muscle Builders, Level 1: White-Key 5-Finger Patterns covers all of the same material that is in My Muscle Builder Book 1, and much of the same material in My Muscle Builder Book 2. Concepts/exercises in this book include five-finger scales, simple arpeggios, “fancy” arpeggios, and block chords in the fourteen white-key major and minor keys.

As older beginners use this book, my goal is that they accomplish three main objectives: understand what they are playing, learn to play with good technique, and play with a musical purpose. To achieve these goals, this book contains more theory and terminology explanations than the My Muscle Builder Books; each page contains reminders of good technical practices; and exercises include articulation suggestions to make them musical.

I have also included a review at the end of the book to test students’ knowledge of the exercises learned. This review includes spelling all of the major and minor chords, playing the scales and chords all in a row, and notating the major and minor chords on the staff.

This resource is available as a free digital download and is 12 pages long. It may be downloaded in this post, or on the Muscle Builders page of The Teaching Studio Store, or on the Freebies page. I hope you enjoy it!

Piano Muscle Builders, Level 1: White-Key 5-Finger Patterns

12 pages

Now Available: Muscle Builder Book 6

January 28, 2015 Jennifer Boster

Off

Blog, Featured Posts, Uncategorized

Now available to purchase is the 6th book in the My Muscle Builder Book series! This book is a lot of fun and continues to build on the techniques learned in previous books.

In Book 6 we continue working on hands-alone two-octave major white key scales, this time adding in some interesting rhythms and articulations to help make our scales more even and musical. We begin working on hands-alone two-octave black key major scales as well, using our Sneaky Thumb and Finger Crossover exercises to achieve a nice, even scale.

Students will review chord inversions, playing some inversion exercises in all of the white key minor keys – these exercises include “walking up” the chords one note at a time as well as playing them in block chords.

Next, students will do some simple transposing into the keys of D-flat, E-flat, G-flat, A-flat and B-flat.

And who doesn’t love playing a good, fast chromatic scale?? In Book 6 we learn the right hand and left hand fingerings of the chromatic scale, and then practice each one several different ways – gradually speeding it up with a metronome, playing it in different rhythms – until we get to try and play it at lightning speed!

And finally, students will work on listening and identifying a few different intervals – minor 2nds, major 2nds, and perfect 4ths, 5ths and 8ths. Each exercise is accompanied by colorful diagrams of the notes in each scale and the correct fingerings, so students of any age will be able to become fluent in playing all over the piano.

As always, this product is in the format of a digital download. I recommend printing the Muscle Builder Book in booklet form, with 2 pages per sheet, then folding and stapling together. Each exercise has a little circle that students/teachers can check off or place a sticker on when the exercise is mastered.

Also available is the companion Muscle Builder Extras – Book 6, which includes 2 reference sheets: black key major scales (right hand fingering and left hand fingering) and chromatic scales (right hand fingering and left hand fingering). It also includes a 2-page “Book 6 At a Glance” sheet, a handy sheet where you can check off and keep track of your students’ progress.

Both resources may be purchased in this post, or in the Teaching Studio Store on the Muscle Builders page.

My Muscle Builder Book 6
42 pages, digital download

My Muscle Builder Extras – Book 6
4 pages, digital download

Now Available: Muscle Builder Book 5

December 31, 2014 Jennifer Boster

Off

Blog, Featured Posts, Uncategorized

Now available in the Store is the next volume of the My Muscle Builder Book technique series! I’m super excited about Book 5 and about all of the things students have learned once they have reached this level. In this book we are using our “Sneaky Thumbs” and finger crossovers learned in previous volumes to play two-octave major scales!

Students will learn the basic scale fingering patterns and put them to good use on and off of the piano. We review our minor triads and then use them to play some fancy, musical arpeggios on both ends of the piano.

We also start dabbling in full-octave arpeggios, using the black-key major keys of D-flat, E-flat, G-flat, A-flat and B-flat. Students will really have a fun time as they cross over and under and play all over the piano in 19 different keys! As always, this Muscle Builder Book is in full color and includes all of the colorful picture scales and arpeggios to help students of all ages become literate at the piano.

Also available to purchase is the companion Muscle Builders Extras pack, including 3 full-color picture scale/arpeggio reference sheets and a “Book 5 At a Glance” page, where teachers or students can keep track of their Book 5 technique progress on one handy sheet. I recommend printing the Muscle Builder Book 2 pages per sheet in booklet format.

My Muscle Builder Book 5 and the Book 5 Extras pack may be purchased in the Store or at the bottom of this post. Enjoy some preview page views below. Have a happy new teaching year!

My Muscle Builder Book 5
40 pages, digital download
.

My Muscle Builder Extras – Book 5
4 pages, digital download

Now Available: Muscle Builder Pack 1 with Extras!

February 5, 2014 Jennifer Boster

Off

Blog, Featured Posts, Uncategorized

Now available in the Teaching Studio store is the Muscle Builder Pack 1 with Extras! This pack includes My Muscle Builder Books 1 through 4 (at a discounted rate when you buy them together), as well as some extras to go along with each level. One thing that readers have been wanting to go with the Muscle Builder books are some scale reference sheets that students can keep in their binders for a quick reminder of the notes in each scale. I have created reference sheets for each level, as well as some “At a Glance” sheets listing each exercise in each level – great for keeping track of each of your students’ progress through the Muscle Builder books! Here is what the Muscle Builder Pack 1 includes:

Contents:

Book 1
My Muscle Builder Book 1
Book 1 Extras: Book 1 at a Glance; Major 5-Finger Scales Reference Sheet

Book 2
My Muscle Builder Book 2
Book 2 Extras: Book 2 at a Glance; Major & Minor 5-Finger Scales
Reference Sheet; Chord Inversion Reference Sheet

Book 3
My Muscle Builder Book 3
Book 3 Extras: Book 3 at a Glance, includes Tonic & Dominant Chords
Reference Sheet

Book 4
My Muscle Builder Book 4
Book 4 Extras: Book 4 at a Glance; Black Key 5-Finger Scales

If you have already purchased the books and are interested in downloading the extras, they will be available for individual download shortly! (Like, once my children are napping – ha!)

For those of you who are new to the Muscle Builder books, here is a little description of these fun technique books!

My Muscle Builder Books are illustrated, step-by-step piano technique booklets
designed to help even your youngest students learn correct piano techniques and
become fluent in playing chords and scales all over the keyboard. Emphasis is placed on
playing the exercises with a musical purpose, and many articulations and techniques are
introduced. Each scale or exercise is clearly illustrated using colorful circles on a
keyboard, making it possible for young students to use the books beginning at their very
first lesson! The booklets are attractive and colorful and include spaces to pass off each
exercise with a sticker. These booklets will give students a sound foundation in their
piano technique and their understanding of keyboard fundamentals.

Print out the books in booklet form and staple or spiral-bind and distribute to the
students in your own private studio for a fun way to learn, practice, and pass off piano
technique exercises. Students and parents will appreciate the simple, step-by-step
instructions included on each page that will ensure your students are practicing
correctly at home. Also included in this pack are some extras to go along with each level.
You may want to print out the “At a Glance” sheets to keep in your teaching binder to
keep track of each individual student’s progress, and the scale reference sheets are great
for your students’ binders as quick reminders of the notes in each scale.

Purchase the Muscle Builder Pack 1 here, or on the Muscle Builder page. Happy scale-playing, y’all!

My Muscle Builders – Pack 1 (Books 1 through 4 plus extras)
Price: $27

*Post Edit: Extras are now available for Books 1 through 4!

Book 1 Extras
(Includes Book 1 At a Glance and 5-Finger Scale Reference Sheet. 3 Pages.)
Price: FREE
Download here

Book 2 Extras
(Includes Major/Minor 5-Finger Scale Reference Sheet, a Chord Inversion Reference Sheet, and Book 2 At a Glance. 5 Pages.)
Price: $1.99

Book 3 Extras
(Includes Book 3 At a Glance and a Tonic & Dominant Chords Reference Sheet. 1 Page.)
Price: $1.99

Book 4 Extras
(Includes Major Black-Key 5-Finger Scale Reference Sheet and Book 4 At a Glance. 2 Pages.)
Price: $1.99

My Muscle Builder Book 4 now available!

September 5, 2013 Jennifer Boster

1 Comment

Blog, Featured Posts, Uncategorized

My Muscle Builder Book Level 4 is here! I love how it turned out and I’m so excited for it (and the other levels that are also in the planning stages…).

Level 4 of the My Muscle Builder Books builds on piano techniques already learned in books 1 through 3. In this book the student will learn the black-key 5-finger scales, finger cross-overs, the blues scale and more!

Many have asked why I did not introduce the black-key scales in a previous level. I have used these books with students as young as five years old, and I wanted those little fingers to get a chance to get used to the trickier fingerings before diving into the black keys. I am excited to now have all of the major five-finger scales covered in the Muscle Builder Books, and I think students will excel in these black-key scales that contain a lot of thumbs crossing under and fingers crossing over, especially after the material covered in book 3.

In this book, students will also play their scales in many various articulations to encourage expression at the piano. As always, it is in downloadable e-book format. Level 4 contains 22 pages. You will receive a link for instant download following payment.

I recommend printing this as a booklet with 2 pages per sheet, and stapling it together.

Here is a little preview of what you will find in Book 4:

Here’s what other teachers are saying about My Muscle Builder Books!

“The illustrations make it almost impossible for a child to practice errors! The students enjoy seeing their progress and becoming very familiar with the curriculum by the time they are midway through.”

“I like that it’s a book I can distribute to my students without making them buy another book. It has most of the technique things I’d really like them to know and my students like that it’s fast and repetitive. They really like activities that give them opportunities to earn many stickers. I like that they’re more visual with pictures of keyboards rather than notes on a staff.”

“I like that it is colorful without being babyish and the instructions are simple and clear making it “easy” for children to learn.”

“You have done a great job putting this together and made it attractive.”

“I love, love, love your books. Thank you so much.”

You may purchase My Muscle Builder Book 4 here, or you can find it here in the Teaching Studio Store.

My Muscle Builder Book 4
Price: $10.00

Find the other My Muscle Builder Books here:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3

Muscle Builder Giveaway Winners!

March 11, 2013 Jennifer Boster

Off

My Muscle Builder Book: Level 3!

March 4, 2013 Jennifer Boster

36 Comments

Featured Posts, Uncategorized

I have been so pleased with my students’ progress in my other two Muscle Builder Books (and have gotten great feedback from you readers, as well!), and I am so excited to be offering level 3 of the My Muscle Builder Book, available now in The Teaching Studio Store. (If you haven’t had the chance to check out Level 1 and Level 2 yet, I recommend it! My students have really excelled in their understanding of chords and scales using these books!)

Book 3 builds on the foundation of successful completion of Books 1 & 2. (So by now, students should know:

• how to play all 7 white-key major and minor chords, arpeggios, and 5-finger scales, both hands

• how each white-key major chord is spelled by memory

• how to listen and identify major vs. minor chords

• how to transpose simple songs from one five-finger position to another

• the 7 major chord inversions in broken chords (walking up the keys) and block chords, right hand

• how to play staccato and legato scales

• how to play five-finger scales in opposite motion

• how to listen and identify 2nds and 3rds)

In my studio, I have had young students who have taken lessons for about a year, and are in the Faber “My First Piano Adventures” Book C who are totally ready for My Muscle Builders Book 3. They are super confident in playing major white-key chords and arpeggios and are ready to move onto some more techniques!

Here are some previews of Book 3:

We learn some thumb preparation exercises to get ready to play full scales (one octave, hands alone):

We learn five full scales (one octave, hands alone):

We do some tonic/dominant chord exercises in 7 major keys:

We review the major chords, this time using an Alberti bass pattern in the left hand:

…and more!

Like the other two Muscle Builder Books, this includes lots of fun, colorful “picture scales” so even students in lower levels of music-reading will be able to play these, no problem. Each technique is broken down into short and manageable exercises, and there is a place to pass off each individual exercise with a sticker or check mark. I have found that, generally, students can work on and master a couple of exercises per week. Of course, some may go quite a bit faster and some may need more time!

This book is 28 pages long and is in downloadable e-book format. I recommend printing it in booklet format (double-sided with two pages per sheet – so when you fold it the pages are in the right order!), so check your printer settings before printing! That way it can be folded and stapled into a nice little booklet. I often use small round stickers to pass off exercises, and to place on the circles of the picture scales. The price is $10.00 and it is available to purchase here in this post, or over in The Teaching Studio Store under Teaching Resources For Sale.

And, what’s an exciting new teaching resource on The Teaching Studio without a GIVEAWAY to go with it???

I want to give away a Muscle Builder Book to TWO lucky readers! Leave me a comment on this post for an entry into the giveaway! I will give away one copy of My Muscle Builders Book 2, and one copy of My Muscle Builders Book 3! (Remember, Book 1 is available as a FREE download – check it out!) Receive one extra entry by sharing about this giveaway via Facebook, Pinterest, etc. Giveaway ends this Friday, March 8 at 10:00 pm, Central Time. Have a great day!