Musical Magic
Instrumental Method Component
Musical Magic Book 1
Book 1 Initial Concepts
Maintenance of Instrument
Each book addresses the specifics of maintaining individual instruments, from suggestions on reeds, valve and slide lubrication guidelines, keyboard percussion care, and even vacuuming out cases. SEE EXAMPLE LINK
Breathing
Wind instruments are given instruction on breathing before producing sound, phrasing, and the idea off borrowing value from an earlier note to play a new entrance in time.
Pulse
Developing an internal sense of pulse is key, and foot tapping is encouraged, as it simultaneously indicates a sense of internal pulse and helps promote rhythmic independance.
Book 1 Special Pages
Fingering and Position Charts
Located at the beginning of the book, each chart shows the fingerings, positions, or keyboard placements of notes and the more common enharmonics. SEE EXAMPLE LINK
Rhythm Page
Each book contains a page of rhythm exercises that are non pitch-specific, so that the student can focus on rhythms without adding the complexity of playing changing pitches.
Warm-Up Page
An instrument-specific warm-up page is included in each book, appropriate for first year students and designed to develop a consistent warm-up routine.
Book 1 Concepts Covered
Time Signatures
4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 are all covered, as well as common time. For the sake of reinforcement, each time signature is visited many times. SEE EXAMPLE LINK
Key Signatures
Key signaures are first visited on page ZZZZZ. To aid students with mastery, initially like key signatures are used. Gradually, exercises that utilize different key signatures are introduced, and students begin to encounter varying key signatures on the same page.
Rhythms
Rhythmic values up to the eighth note and eighth rest are taught, with the dotted quarter-eighth note rhythmic combination introduced towards the end of the book.
Accidentals and Enharmonics
Students are introduced to accidentals on page ZZZZ, with specific songs and exercises created to develop student pitch awareness of issues such as E flat versus E natural, B flat versus B natural and similar comparisons that students often find challenging.
Endings and Repeats
Students are continually exposed to many repeat variations, including backwards repeat dots with and without correspodning forward repeat dots, first and second endings, DC al fine and DS al fine.
Musical Magic Book 2
Book 2 Special Pages
Fingering and Position Charts
Located at the beginning of the book, each chart shows the fingerings, positions, or keyboard placements of notes and the more common enharmonics. Fingering chart range is extended in book 2.SEE EXAMPLE LINK
Rhythm Page
Each book contains a page of rhythm exercises that are non pitch-specific, so that the student can focus on rhythms without adding the complexity of playing changing pitches.
Warm-Up Page
An instrument-specific warm-up page is included in each book, appropriate for second year students and designed to develop a consistent warm-up routine. Warm-up in book 2 is extended from book 1 to include greater range in long tones and chromatic scale.
Book 2 Concepts Covered
Time Signatures
22, 38, and 68 are all covered, as well as cut time. For the sake of reinforcement, each time signature is visited many times, including students seeing cut time and 22 in succession. SEE EXAMPLE LINK
Key Signatures
More key signatures visited in book 2. New key signatures are introduced gradually, then interspersed with key signatures that students are already familiar with.
Rhythms
Syncopations are explained and introduced, and students are given many exercises with which to gain experience with syncopations. Sixteenth notes and sixteenth note rhythmic combinations are also introduced, setting up a more logical introduction to 38 and 68 time signatures. Triplets are explained towards the end of the book.
Enharmonics
Students are exposed to a greater variety of enharmonics in book 2. Enharmonic variations are used often, in the appropriate key context, to give students more familiarity with them. .