PlayTheGroove

At PlaytheGroove, we transform ensemble music into a dynamic, student-centered journey designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and meaningful connections.

HOW?

Our flexible, unit-based system empowers 'jazzy' musicians to take charge of their skills development, performance, and cultural discovery starting with Everyone playing the melody and rhythM of the song.

This process creates an enriching and deeply personal musical adventure.

Easy. Intuitive. Dynamic. Fun. Creativity Maximized

Energize Your Jazzy/Pep/Horn/Pop Ensemble

PlayTheGroove brings a fresh approach to music education inspiring musicians to explore, create, and grow. Our method empowers student ownership while aligning seamlessly with 21st-century learning goals.

We energize your ensemble by:

• Providing inclusive, high-quality sheet music and adaptable resources for all instruments and skill levels.

• Reducing prep time with ready-to-use materials and intuitive methodologies.

• Infusing creativity and cultural competence into lessons with globally inspired grooves and engaging pedagogy.

• Promoting critical thinking, collaboration, and social-emotional learning (SEL) in every session and performance.

Join a proven program that makes every student an active, confident participant while giving educators the tools to inspire and succeed. Let’s redefine music education together!

★★★★★ 5/5

“This is awesome! I will continue to offer this to the kids this fall. I think they really enjoyed the experience and the chance to lead more than me.”

“The songs are challenging them enough to be interesting but let them sound good rather quickly.”

“The PTG library offers a range of styles of music that are inspiring, energizing, and challenging to play, which gives all kids the opportunity to improvise and take risks”

“Having quality recordings and exciting music to choose from helped get everyone excited about playing a song they liked.”

“In the first rehearsal, one student said, "I love this!" I asked him later if he meant the process or the song and he said both.”

“They really liked the more contemporary, jazz style of the pieces. It was a nice change from the more traditional arrangements (even the Latin and world pieces) found from most music publishing sites.”

“I like giving choices in choosing songs, but often the whole world of music is too broad. Having a predetermined sampling to choose from helped everyone to focus on what to look for in choosing a song for us to do.”

“Students are more invested in working on a song if they are interested in it and have a chance to form their own opinions. ”

“They listened more carefully and made thoughtful reflections about who should be on the melody, how to trade the melody, and what additional percussion parts to add.”

“They liked trying all the aux percussion parts on Argentia. I had a pro drummer come in and demonstrate all the aux parts and the students each played claves, congas, triangle, and shaker.”

“They experimented, found things that worked and what didn't work. They were free to express that and change as they desired. Basically, they took ownership of it.”

One thing I really liked about this whole exercise was being able to narrow down my favorite song through quick and easy questions.

I enjoyed listening to short excerpts from each piece and seeing how they differed in instrumentation, rhythm/groove.

I enjoyed being a part of the process of choosing what song we play. I feel like now we will definitely play a song that people like

It was nice to be more like a student-run group.

I liked the process of narrowing down the songs. I feel like it helped me make an informed decision of what I should be looking for in a favorite.

Platinum Unison Packs

We’re doing something different for jazz band. PlayTheGroove (PTG) offers a new series of charts and teaching methods of current jazz and world jams. “Platinum Unison Packs” (PUPs) are crafted to work for any instrumentation from 3 to 25 or more players. PTG offers inclusivity; all students engage in a modular and flexible, unified learning experience. We embrace student-led practices for all instrumentations and emphasize modern learning objectives and competencies. Performing is one goal alongside addressing the “individual,” and the creative process. And wait till you hear the content of current jazz and world jams––it’s not like anything you’ve heard for schools groups––we guarantee it!

You can use these packs for:

Daily Rehearsals and Warm-ups
School Jam Sessions, Performances & Events
Music Competitions & Festivals
Private Lessons
Play-along Home Practice
Home Schooling
Auditions
Jazz Theory and Improvisation Activities
In-class, Blended, and Remote Teaching

The benefits of Platinum Unison Packs include:

Everyone plays the melody and rhythm
Flexible & Encourage Student-Led Ensembles
Customizable for 3 to 30+ players
Stronger Emphasis on Rhythm Section
Creative Arrangement Options
Varied Part Difficulty for mixed skill levels
Educational Strategies to increase musician capability
Star parts for all instruments w/ chords above all measures
Parts crafted to emphasize Melody, Harmony and Rhythm
Explore and discover current jazz and global jams (great for ethnic studies)
Sheet music closely follows the recordings

Platinum Unison Packs include:

Teacher Reference Elements & Guidelines:

Sheet music for all Western instruments with an expanded rhythm section
Original CD-MP3 with count off
Consistent format - each tune has the same part list and resource elements
Student-led, inquiry based framework to exploring and rehearsing the tune
Fully cleared music for education

Musical Parts: (each chart is the same):

Melody - Horns/Woodwinds Strings (unison based):

Piano/Keyboards:

Vibes:

Guitar (all w/ TAB):

Bass:

Drums/Percussion:

Contact Us:

We welcome your comments and suggestions at: [email protected].

Questions and complimentary coaching:
Richard Frank
818.514.4784
[email protected]

Our Core Beliefs

Why PlayTheGroove

PlayTheGroove is founded on these core principles: Youth learn differently today, and music education must adapt to meet their needs. We believe that dynamic, flexible, and culturally aware education serves as a gateway to developing 21st-century skills for thriving in modern life. When every student has the opportunity to shine, interest in music is amplified for both players and audiences alike.

Everyone Plays the Melody

PlayTheGroove is a new playground for discovery, growth, and musical exploration and creativity for remote, hybrid, or in-class situations.

Students Enjoy Practice

Everyone can play all the time with parts at varying skill levels, be challenged on an individual basis, and try new instruments as we include the master recording and sheet music to learn from and play-along with.

Invested/Engaged Learners Keep Coming Back

To start, every instrument plays beginning to end: more captivating and engaging than counting 37 bars of rests.

Youth are engaged in performance ensembles through forward-thinking methods and activities that are relevant and accessible to them.

Music Has Cultural Substance

Musicians self-select songs from a library of unison-based tunes created by cutting-edge global artists.

Music is a gateway to learning, growth, and connection. There’s so much to discover! We’re here to guide you in fostering fun and joy with learning and performing.

PlayTheGroove International Virtual Video

In March 2020, the pandemic robbed millions of young musicians and their teachers of the chance to play together in school.