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		<title>Free Download: Piano Muscle Builders for Older Beginners</title>
		<link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/free-download-piano-muscle-builders-for/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=free-download-piano-muscle-builders-for</link>
					<comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/free-download-piano-muscle-builders-for/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2015 17:48:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[free printables]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[older beginners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[piano muscle builders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching techniques]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[I have been wanting for a long time to make a &#8220;muscle builder&#8221; technique booklet for older beginners &#8211; something similar to the&#160;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<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/free-download-piano-muscle-builders-for/">+ Read More</a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been wanting for a long time to make a &#8220;muscle builder&#8221; technique booklet for older beginners &#8211; something similar to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/muscle-builders" target="_blank">My Muscle Builder Books</a> 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&#8217;m excited to offer it to you today as a free download!</div>
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/previewcover1.png?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/previewcover1.png?resize=247%2C320&#038;ssl=1" height="320" width="247" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
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<b>Piano Muscle Builders, Level 1: White-Key 5-Finger Patterns </b>covers all of the same material that is in <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2012/03/new-printable-beginning-muscle-builders.html" target="_blank">My Muscle Builder Book 1</a>, and much of the same material in <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2012/09/my-muscle-builders-book-level-2-now.html" target="_blank">My Muscle Builder Book 2</a>. Concepts/exercises in this book include five-finger scales, simple arpeggios, &#8220;fancy&#8221; arpeggios, and block chords in the fourteen white-key major and minor keys.</div>
<p>
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 <i>theory and terminology explanations</i> than the My Muscle Builder Books; each page contains <i>reminders of good technical practices</i>; and exercises include <i>articulation suggestions</i> to make them musical.</p>
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/previewcmajor.png?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/previewcmajor.png?resize=245%2C320&#038;ssl=1" height="320" width="245" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
<p>I have also included a review at the end of the book to test students&#8217; 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.</p>
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/previewreview1.png?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/previewreview1.png?resize=247%2C320&#038;ssl=1" height="320" width="247" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a><a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/previewreview2.png?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/previewreview2.png?resize=246%2C320&#038;ssl=1" height="320" width="246" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
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This resource is available as a free digital download and is 12 pages long. It may be downloaded in this post, or on the <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/muscle-builders" target="_blank">Muscle Builders page</a> of The Teaching Studio Store, or on the <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/printables-downloads" target="_blank">Freebies page</a>. I hope you enjoy it!</div>
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<b>Piano Muscle Builders, Level 1: White-Key 5-Finger Patterns</b></div>
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12 pages</div>
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<a href="http://www.payloadz.com/d1/?id=2834033" target="Payloadz"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.payloadz.com/images/freedownload.gif?w=690" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">26</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Now Available: Muscle Builder Book 6</title>
		<link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/now-available-muscle-builder-book-6/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=now-available-muscle-builder-book-6</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2015 21:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[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<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/now-available-muscle-builder-book-6/">+ Read More</a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/book-6-logo-1024x431.jpg?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/book-6-logo.jpg?resize=320%2C134&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="320" height="134" border="0" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now available <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/muscle-builders" target="_blank">to purchase</a> 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.</div>
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<p>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 <b>black key</b> major scales as well, using our Sneaky Thumb and Finger Crossover exercises to achieve a nice, even scale.</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FISH-SCALE-black-key-2-1024x698.jpg?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FISH-SCALE-black-key-2.jpg?resize=200%2C136&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="200" height="136" border="0" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Students will review chord inversions, playing some inversion exercises in all of the white key minor keys &#8211; these exercises include &#8220;walking up&#8221; the chords one note at a time as well as playing them in block chords.</div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, students will do some simple transposing into the keys of D-flat, E-flat, G-flat, A-flat and B-flat.</div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/chromatic-scale-right-handsample.jpg?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/chromatic-scale-right-handsample.jpg?resize=200%2C58&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="200" height="58" border="0" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/CHROMATIC-SCALES-LOGO-1.jpg?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/CHROMATIC-SCALES-LOGO-1.jpg?resize=200%2C61&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="200" height="61" border="0" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a>And who doesn&#8217;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 &#8211; gradually speeding it up with a metronome, playing it in different rhythms &#8211; until we get to try and play it at <i>lightning speed</i>!</div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, students will work on listening and identifying a few different intervals &#8211; 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.</div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also available is the companion Muscle Builder Extras &#8211; 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 &#8220;Book 6 At a Glance&#8221; sheet, a handy sheet where you can check off and keep track of your students&#8217; progress.</div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both resources may be purchased in this post, or in the Teaching Studio Store on the <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/muscle-builders" target="_blank">Muscle Builders page</a>.</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/cover-preview.jpg?ssl=1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/cover-preview.jpg?resize=128%2C200&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="128" height="200" border="0" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
<p><b>My Muscle Builder Book 6</b><br />
42 pages, digital download</p>
<p><b>My Muscle Builder Extras &#8211; Book 6</b><br />
4 pages, digital download</p>
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		<title>My Muscle Builder Book 4 now available!</title>
		<link>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/my-muscle-builder-book-4-now-available/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=my-muscle-builder-book-4-now-available</link>
					<comments>https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/my-muscle-builder-book-4-now-available/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Sep 2013 18:35:00 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[My Muscle Builder Book Level 4 is here! I love how it turned out and I&#8217;m so excited for it (and the other levels that are also in the planning stages&#8230;). Level 4 of the My Muscle Builder Books builds on piano techniques already learned in books 1 through 3. In this book the student<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/my-muscle-builder-book-4-now-available/">+ Read More</a>]]></description>
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFXkQh2r8lM/UijEffsU5LI/AAAAAAAALYI/LiKGMYC_WHo/s1600/my+muscle+builder+book4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="125" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/my-muscle-builder-book4.jpg?resize=400%2C125&#038;ssl=1" width="400" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
<p><a data-pin-config="beside" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheteachingstudio.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F09%2Fmy-muscle-builder-book-4-now-available.html&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-vFXkQh2r8lM%2FUijEffsU5LI%2FAAAAAAAALYI%2FLiKGMYC_WHo%2Fs400%2Fmy%2Bmuscle%2Bbuilder%2Bbook4.jpg&amp;description=The%20Teaching%20Studio%20%7C%20My%20Muscle%20Builder%20Book%20Level%204%20-%20Cute%20and%20colorful%20piano%20technique%20booklets%20that%20introduce%20good%20piano%20technique%20in%20a%20fun%2C%20step-by-step%20manner.%20Great%20for%20young%20students!"><img decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png?w=690" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p>
<p>My Muscle Builder Book Level 4 is here! I love how it turned out and I&#8217;m so excited for it (and the other levels that are also in the planning stages&#8230;).</p>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>I recommend printing this as a booklet with 2 pages per sheet, and stapling it together.</p>
<p>Here is a little preview of what you will find in Book 4:</p>
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/-dF6NZZxaTjI/UijMhWJzDVI/AAAAAAAALYs/GbD6CVOvA88/s1600/preview+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="400" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/preview-cover.jpg?resize=260%2C400&#038;ssl=1" width="260" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/3.bp.blogspot.com/-rWSQud5N-XY/UijMg6W35GI/AAAAAAAALYY/OBHkADAIn4U/s1600/preview+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="400" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/preview-3.jpg?resize=261%2C400&#038;ssl=1" width="261" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
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<p>Here&#8217;s what other teachers are saying about My Muscle Builder Books!</p>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><p>
&#8220;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.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><p>
&#8220;I like that it&#8217;s a book I can distribute to my students without making them buy another book. It has most of the technique things I&#8217;d really like them to know and my students like that it&#8217;s fast and repetitive. They really like activities that give them opportunities to earn many stickers. I like that they&#8217;re more visual with pictures of keyboards rather than notes on a staff.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><p>
&#8220;I like that it is colorful without being babyish and the instructions are simple and clear making it &#8220;easy&#8221; for children to learn.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><p>
&#8220;You have done a great job putting this together and made it attractive.&#8221;&nbsp;</p></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><p>
&#8220;I love, love, love your books. Thank you so much.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>You may purchase My Muscle Builder Book 4 here, or you can find it <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/teaching-resources-for-sale">here in the Teaching Studio Store.&nbsp;</a></p>
<p><b>My Muscle Builder Book 4</b><br />
<b>Price: $10.00</b><br />
<a href="http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=2353625" target="paypal"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="https://i0.wp.com/image.payloadz.com/images/btn-buynow-b.png?w=690" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p>
<p>Find the other My Muscle Builder Books here:<br />
<a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2012/03/new-printable-beginning-muscle-builders.html">Level 1</a><br />
<a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2012/09/my-muscle-builders-book-level-2-now.html">Level 2</a><br />
<a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/2013/03/my-muscle-builder-book-level-3.html">Level 3</a></p>
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		<title>Recommended: Play It Again, Sam!</title>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Aug 2013 14:13:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured Posts]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[book reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Efficient Practicing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to Practice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pedagogy Books]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[teaching techniques]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[I just read a really fabulous book that I think any piano teacher will enjoy and be able to utilize in their studio and in their own learning and performing. It is by Marienne Uszler and is called Play It Again, Sam&#8230; What, Why, and When to Repeat. I absolutely loved this book that delves<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/recommended-play-it-again-sa/">+ Read More</a>]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569392730/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1569392730&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=theteastu-20" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=1569392730&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=theteastu-20" /></a>I just read a really fabulous book that I think any piano teacher will enjoy and be able to utilize in their studio and in their own learning and performing. It is by Marienne Uszler and is called <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569392730/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1569392730&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=theteastu-20%22%3EPlay%20It%20Again,%20Sam:%20What,%20Why,%20And%20When%20To%20Repeat%20(Teaching%20keyboard%20effectively%20yourself)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theteastu-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=1569392730%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Play It Again, Sam&#8230; What, Why, and When to Repeat</a>.</p>
<p>I absolutely loved this book that delves into questions about repetition in piano-playing and teaching. It encourages teachers and students to stay actively engaged in the learning process and to develop an awareness and an inner feedback that will ensure thoughtful and helpful repetitions.</p>
<p>It differentiates between kinesthetic and conceptual learning and gives many helpful, practical tips to help your students learn better and develop better technique. It&#8217;s all about differentiating between what type of skill is needed for different musical tasks &#8211; is it physical, visual, mental, auditory, or a synthesis of multiple skills? &#8211; and then knowing which skills require what type of repetition.</p>
<p>The author discusses how to teach your students to practice thoughtfully. I also loved the discussion on facts vs. &#8220;big ideas&#8221; and concept &#8220;chunking&#8221; &#8211; or the idea that small facts and basic concepts apply in larger examples and concepts and so on and so on until a student has a really sound understanding of advanced musical concepts and forms.</p>
<p>I was pleasantly surprised at the depth at which this topic was discussed, and kind of blown away by it! I had so many &#8220;a-hah&#8221; moments in reading this short book. I think it is an amazing resource for any teacher looking to improve their effectiveness.</p>
<p>I actually couldn&#8217;t put this book down. I can&#8217;t wait to apply these awesome concepts in my teaching and performing!</p>
<p>Find this book and more under my <a href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/store">I Recommend page!</a></p>
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		<title>Teaching Tip Tuesday: Highlight It!</title>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Boster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[Teaching Tip #9: Highlight It! Happy Tuesday! I&#8217;d like to thank all my great readers who keep coming back even after such intermittent posting on my part 🙂 I&#8217;d like to get back to sharing some simple teaching tips each Tuesday that have helped me in my own studio &#8211; and hopefully they can give<br><a class="moretag" href="https://www.theplayfulpiano.com/teaching-tip-tuesday-highlight-i/">+ Read More</a>]]></description>
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<a href="https://i0.wp.com/4.bp.blogspot.com/-HRv7uOjWrSc/Tz2z7MO_OzI/AAAAAAAAHqo/_Pa0XFk538k/s1600/teaching+tip+tuesday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="171" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theplayfulpiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/teaching-tip-tuesday22.jpg?resize=320%2C171&#038;ssl=1" width="320" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></div>
<p><b>Teaching Tip #9: Highlight It!</b></p>
<p>Happy Tuesday! I&#8217;d like to thank all my great readers who keep coming back even after such intermittent posting on my part <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f642.png" alt="🙂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> I&#8217;d like to get back to sharing some simple teaching tips each Tuesday that have helped me in my own studio &#8211; and hopefully they can give you some ideas to help in yours! Sometimes it&#8217;s the little things that make a difference.</p>
<p>Today&#8217;s tip is about highlighters. I love to keep a highlighter marker near my piano to use during lessons. Then I have my students use it to sort of analyze a piece they are working on, and to isolate and highlight a specific thing they need to work on.</p>
<p>I have a student who just learned a piece in their book very well &#8211; that is, he learned all the notes perfectly but I didn&#8217;t hear much change in dynamic levels. So I had him take the highlighter and go through the piece and circle all of the dynamics.</p>
<p>Slurs are another great one &#8211; have your student highlight the slurs or phrases in a piece to help them remember to play them nice and legato.</p>
<p>Whatever a student is learning or struggling with at the moment is a great thing to circle or highlight. Having the student actually do the highlighting puts them right in the middle of the learning process; rather than watch you circle the things that they missed in their music, they have the opportunity to take a good look at their own music and figure it out on their own.</p>
<p>What are some simple ways you involve the student in the learning process? Do you have any particular ways you typically like to mark up the student&#8217;s music?</p>
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