Teachers agree that improvising is a valuable part of piano pedagogy. Yet how do you teach someone to be creative?
You don’t have to. Human beings are wired for creativity. But trying to be creative without knowing where or how to start leaves students feeling frustrated, embarrassed, or just plain lost.
That’s why Breaking Loose introduces a unique program based on freedom within structure. Specific, practical, and effective, the Freescaling tools and techniques — particularly Rhythmetrics, the amazing idea generator — make it impossible not to improvise.
You don’t have to. Human beings are wired for creativity. But trying to be creative without knowing where or how to start leaves students feeling frustrated, embarrassed, or just plain lost.
That’s why Breaking Loose introduces a unique program based on freedom within structure. Specific, practical, and effective, the Freescaling tools and techniques — particularly Rhythmetrics, the amazing idea generator — make it impossible not to improvise.
In this module, you start learning how to shape what you say. Rhythmetrics gets you forming musical phrases, trying them in different places and positions on the keyboard.
Have you ever heard a baby babbling nonsense — but somehow you know exactly what she’s talking about? That’s because even very young children have already internalized the sound of sentences, even though they don’t know the words. They’ve built up a mental library of sound-shapes. That’s akin to what you’ll be doing here.
Starting to speak music can feel like climbing a huge mountain. Breaking Loose gives you — literally — places to put your hands.
Have you ever heard a baby babbling nonsense — but somehow you know exactly what she’s talking about? That’s because even very young children have already internalized the sound of sentences, even though they don’t know the words. They’ve built up a mental library of sound-shapes. That’s akin to what you’ll be doing here.
Starting to speak music can feel like climbing a huge mountain. Breaking Loose gives you — literally — places to put your hands.
Once Breaking Loose I & II gets you hearing, shaping, and moving musical phrases, Keys to the Kingdom open up terrain for exploring. This module offers you the dozen most important “playing fields” in Western music: the 12 Major Keys (and their relative minors).
One easy way to use Keys to the Kingdom is to follow a daily one-track practice habit. (Tracks run 5–8 minutes.) Choose a Key, select a couple of rhythms, start a track, and go! If you’re using Freescaling with students, this is a quick way to generate homework assignments that make students actually want to play — which, of course, is the whole point!
One easy way to use Keys to the Kingdom is to follow a daily one-track practice habit. (Tracks run 5–8 minutes.) Choose a Key, select a couple of rhythms, start a track, and go! If you’re using Freescaling with students, this is a quick way to generate homework assignments that make students actually want to play — which, of course, is the whole point!
The Pentascale Playground is a “special-edition” module for teachers who like working with pentascales — five-note scales that don’t require the thumb cross of a full Major scale, leaving students free to focus on playing technique.
Of course, you’ll also find a Rhythmetrics section, and play-along tracks and fingering pattern ideas throughout.
Of course, you’ll also find a Rhythmetrics section, and play-along tracks and fingering pattern ideas throughout.
It’s no coincidence that so many people teach improvisation by way of the blues. Goofin’ With the Blues takes advantage of all that the blues has to offer, but approaches it in an unusual way that will help you understand, use, and enjoy the blues even more deeply.
Includes “Riffs & Rhythms” and “Eighth-Note Marmalade,” an expansion of Rhythmetrics, for an improvisation boost. Ready to get goofin’?
Includes “Riffs & Rhythms” and “Eighth-Note Marmalade,” an expansion of Rhythmetrics, for an improvisation boost. Ready to get goofin’?
The Freescaling Songbook is a beginner songbook — but it’s full of songs that sound much more interesting and sophisticated than the usual beginner fare. Voiced in such a way that they’re easy for beginners to play, the chords offer students an opportunity to play (and perform) songs that sound beautiful and impressive. Teachers can investigate the chords with their students during lessons, diving further into music theory, or just let the songs stand as they are.
The Songbook also comes with special “Mission: Composition” pages, giving students the opportunity to compose their own melodies over the existing chord progressions.
The Songbook also comes with special “Mission: Composition” pages, giving students the opportunity to compose their own melodies over the existing chord progressions.
By popular teacher request!
Teachers often use the Freescaling backing tracks for improvising practice that goes above and beyond the Freescaling lesson plans. In response to their request for “all the tracks in one place,” we’ve created a consolidated track player that you can easily use from your phone, like any other streaming music service.
Teachers often use the Freescaling backing tracks for improvising practice that goes above and beyond the Freescaling lesson plans. In response to their request for “all the tracks in one place,” we’ve created a consolidated track player that you can easily use from your phone, like any other streaming music service.
Following the Freescaling pattern of great backing track + easy melody, Hot Songs expands the music-making world for beginning band players. Used internationally, this 11-song book lets new band players develop the confidence that comes from playing good music that sounds much more complicated than it actually is.