Piano Blues

"Healing Harps presents: Piano Blues" is a non-notational approach for beginners. It is specially designed for individuals with autism, developmental delay, and other special needs that necessitate a concrete approach to learning, which avoids using the symbols of note reading. The book uses brightly colored piano keys to demonstrate which keys to play for each page, and one rhythmic phrase that subdivides the beat into triplet patterns for swing rhythms. For each measure the student can recite "chocolate, strawberry, pineapple ice-cream cone". For each page the student is given notes from the blues scale to play with the recited rhythm pattern. It begins with a few notes and builds towards playing the 12-bar blues pattern with the right and left hand alternating each measure. The 12 Bar blues is an ideal framework to use with special needs students because it provides a consistent framework that allows the student to create their own patterns.