Muscle Builders

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. Created by Jennifer Boster, NCTM, these booklets will give students a sound foundation in their piano technique and their understanding of keyboard fundamentals. Purchase one digital copy and print off unlimited copies for your students in your private studio.

Book 1

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Concepts in Book 1
Major 5-finger scales in keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Major chords and simple arpeggios in keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Curved fingers/playing on fingertips
Playing soft/loud, fast/slow, high/low, short/long
Book 1 Information

My Muscle Builder Book 1
Price: FREE
Download here

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

Book 2

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Concepts in Book 2
Major chord review in keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Minor 5-finger scales in keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Arpeggios with damper pedal, crescendo
Major 5-finger scales - staccato and legato
Simple transposing
Minor arpeggios and chords in keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Major opposite-motion 5-finger scales in keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Major chord inversions in keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
Ear training - recognizing 2nds and 3rds
Book 2 Information

My Muscle Builder Book 2
Price: $10.00


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

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Concepts in Book 3
Crossing the thumb under

Full-octave major scales in keys of C, G, D, A, E, hands alone, right hand ascendig & left hand descending
Major chords in Alberti bass, keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
I, V7, I chord progressions in keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, B
The order of sharps
The order of flats
Book 3 Information

My Muscle Builder Book 3
Price: $10.00


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

Book 4

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Concepts in Book 4
Crossing fingers over
Major 5-finger scales in keys of Db, Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb
Major 5-finger scales with legato lifts, staccato, high loud accents, musical phrases, and precise presto
Five-finger blues scale in C
Improvisation using blues scale in C
Book 4 Information

My Muscle Builder Book 4
Price: $10.00


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

Book 5

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Concepts in Book 5
Basic scale fingering pattern
Smooth scale fingering techniques
White key major scales, two octaves, hands alone
White key minor triads, review
Simple minor arpeggios with pedal, dynamics
One-octave major black key arpeggios, hands alone
Book 5 Information

My Muscle Builder Book 5
Price: $10.00


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

Book 6

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Concepts in Book 6
Minor white key chord inversion exercise
White key major two-octave scales with rhythms & articulations, hands alone
Black key major two-octave scales, hands alone
Simple transposing to black key major keys
Chromatic scales, hands alone
Ear training - minor 2nds and major 2nds, perfect 4ths, 5ths and 8ths

(42 pages, digital download)
Book 6 Information

My Muscle Builder Book 6
Price: $10.00


Book 6 Extras
(Includes Major Black Key Scales Reference Sheet, Chromatic Scale Fingering Reference Sheet, and Muscle Builder Book 6 At a Glance. 4 Pages, digital download.)
Price: $1.99

My Muscle Builders Pack 1: Books 1-4

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Purchase Books 1 through 4 together in this Muscle Builder Book pack and save 10% off of the original price of the books, plus get the "Extras" for each book free! Extras include picture scale reference sheets to put in your students' binders as a quick reminder of the notes in each scale, and "At a Glance" sheets listing each exercise in the book - great for keeping track of your students' progress!



My Muscle Builder Pack: Books 1-4
Price: $27.00

Piano Muscle Builders for Older Beginners

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Level 1: White Key 5-Finger Patterns

This Piano Muscle Builders book is made specifically for older beginners, such as teenagers and adults. It covers all of the same material as in the My Muscle Builders Book 1 and much of the material in the My Muscle Builders Book 2, including five-finger scales, simple arpeggios, and block chords in all of the white-key major and minor keys. It is less cutesy and more concise than the My Muscle Builder books for kids. It contains technical reminders, articulation suggestions and more theory explanations and terminology, so students can understand what they are playing, develop correct techniques and play with a musical purpose. The book concludes with a review of concepts learned, where students have a chance to spell all of the chords, play the scales and chords all in a row, and notate each major and minor chord on the staff. More information here.

Piano Muscle Builders Level 1 is available as a free download.

Digital download, 12 pages.

Level 2: Chords

Level 2 of this series covers white key major and minor chords, including inversions, basic chord progressions and left hand accompaniment patterns. Concepts are clearly introduced and explained at the beginning of the book, and picture chords with fingerings are included for each key, allowing students to learn the chords correctly and with the correct fingerings. The book concludes with a review, including playing each key's exercises all in a row and notating each chord in each inversion. Students who complete this book will be able to comfortably play chord inversions and chord progressions in 14 keys on the piano. More information here.

Price: $7.50
Digital download, 16 pages.



Level 3: Black Key 5-Finger Patterns

Level 3 covers all of the black key major and minor 5-finger patterns, including 5-finger scales and chords. Students will learn to correctly cross fingers over and thumbs under, and will play each key's exercises in five different articulation styles, improving their musicality. The book concludes with a review involving playing, spelling, and notating chords. Each key includes picture scales with correct fingerings, which is especially important with the trickier black key scales. Upon completion of Level 3, students will be able to play 5-finger scales and chords in EVERY key on the piano, and will be well on their way to becoming musically-literate. More information here.

Price: $7.50
Digital download, 11 pages.

Piano Muscle Builders for Older Beginners Pack: Levels 1-3

Purchase all three Piano Muscle Builders for Older Beginners books together for a discounted rate.

Price: $14.00
Digital download, 39 pages.