The Foundations Series: Engaging Music Fundamentals
By Brian Balmages with Audio Production by Fred Flowerday
Revolutionize Fundamental Skill Practice Using Movie Soundtracks
The Foundations Series transforms fundamental practice for band & string players with movie soundtracks students love!
2X Practice Time
Students engaging with Foundations have been shown to rack up twice the amount of practice time.
Focus on Fundamentals
With exercises specifically focused on skills students need to know and practice daily, practice is productive and fun.
Support for Multiple Skill Levels
There is something for every level of student in Foundations—from first notes to advanced techniques, range builders, and more.
Essential Skills + Soundtrack Accompaniments
Each exercise has a specific pedagogical focus with an engaging movie soundtrack accompaniment. With hundreds of exercises at your fingertips, you can provide your beginning and intermediate band and string students with a wealth of engaging content that makes skill-building both effective and enjoyable.
Flexible Options = More Practice
Teachers like you love to use these exercises in full class settings and to encourage independent home practice. Print these materials for free (without the print add-on) with your MakeMusic Cloud subscription! The result? Students embrace their practice and can spend up to twice as much time in the app. These students explore more music from our expansive Music Catalog and ultimately become more dedicated musicians with healthy, daily practice habits.
Try Out Foundations For Free
Download a free sample exercise, courtesy of Brian Balmages, to see if The Foundations Series is right for you and your students.
The Foundations Library
The Foundations Series is designed to progress with your students throughout the entire school year. Each release has a slightly different focus based on the time of year and typical skill progression, ensuring a steady path of growth and mastery.
Foundations: Essential Edition
Explore the most comprehensive resource yet to join The Foundations Series—Foundations: Essential Edition. Valuable for extension practice alongside any beginner method or as a standalone practice companion, this release includes engaging soundtrack accompaniments from favorite movies and video games—it’s a fun, living, breathing method book!
Harry Potter Foundations
Enter the wizarding world! Explore a Year 1 method supplement plus enchanting intermediate exercises all with magical Harry Potter soundtrack accompaniments.
Mega Foundations
Chomp into a new school year with these exercises designed to engage your intermediate students after they return from their time off.
Spooky Foundations
Take the scare out of mid-fall fundamentals with these ghoulish accompaniment tracks.
Festive Foundations
Get in the holiday spirit with these mid-year skill focused exercises set to fun and festive soundtracks!
Villainous Foundations
Even villains like to get good. Reinforce essential ensemble skills with these exercises + diabolical accompaniments.
Solo Foundations
Step into the spotlight! These titles give the melody to the performer, include helpful prep exercises, and still include epic soundtrack accompaniments.
Ready to Dive In?
Subscribers enjoy full access to The Foundations Series exercises and soundtrack accompaniments. Experience it yourself completely free for 30 days, no credit card required!