I am writing to discuss a curriculum titled Music Unlocked.
You can view it at: https://www.musicunlocked.com/
The focus of the multi learning style curriculum is to teach the chords and scales that are the building blocks of music. Once the musician understands this concept, memorizes the patterns, the patterns can be applied to every song. Music is understood, songs are read faster and the musician can compose their own music along with developing muscle memory to play faster.
There are patterns that are written in finger numbers instead of notation. This allows the pattern to be played in all of the "keys" or transposed at an earlier time than if read from notation.
A musician may use a few xeroxed sheets from the curriculum to try it and see if it appeals to their learning style.
The sheets are "Pentascales" or "Rhythm Pattern 1, or 2" and a colored picture or black and white picture of the positions or keys.
Once the musician demonstrates that he or she enjoys the sounds created by the patterns and understands it so it appears that we can move forward in the curriculum. I copy only a few pages to test if the method is appropriate for each musician and it is time to decide to purchase the curriculum or not.
The curriculum includes:
1- The Keys book - a reference book of 5 finger patterns, chords, scales in major, minor -relative minor etc.
2- The Music book - melodies and patterns to play to USE, RECALL and INTERNALIZE the pentascales, chords, scales - major, minor, harmonic. These are the benefit and it is what is unique - the music is very enjoyable and kids LIKE them so they actually do it! and voila! music is understood, explored and now the musician can compose their own music successfully!
3.-Music Bingo board game- reviews concepts
Cost: $120.00 for all three books. The materials are laminated, heavy card stock and will last many years.. Progression through the entire curriculum can take up to level 4 of a traditional piano method book or approximately 3- 5 years. It varies per child. The cost averages to $20.00 -30.00 per year and can last a lifetime.
I have seen this curriculum work so well that I am willing to buy it back at half price if it doesn't connect. The Keys book illustrates notation, rhythm, and the scales in picture form so it complements a traditional note reading method book. But there are many ways to learn these concepts, this method is one option.
musicunlocked.com by Diane Matter