Rote teaching got a bad rap for a while. But piano teachers are starting to realise the value of teaching pieces by rote and incorporate this puzzle pieceĀ into their teaching.
Teaching rote pieces alongside reading pieces provides so many benefits. Kids who learn pieces this way are better at finding patterns, using their ears and navigating the keyboard.
You might feel like a fish out of water when it comes to rote, pattern-based piano teaching. Many teachers are apprehensive of trying this style ofĀ teaching if they’ve never done it before. It’s scary not to Ā have a book to point at.
Well, Amy Greer is here to help youĀ get started with rote pieces. She’s giving us step-by-step insight intoĀ her rote teaching style. I hope Amy will inspire you to give rote pieces a try this week.
Transcript
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In this episode, youāll learn
- How Amy got started with rote teaching
- The role of rote teaching in Amy’sĀ teaching
- The idea behind the Repertoire by Rote book
- How to scaffold the learning of rote pieces
- The exact steps Amy uses to teach a rote piece in the first lesson
- WhyĀ “circling” helps reinforce learning in the piano lesson
- What to look for when scouring for rote pieces
Links Mentioned
- Repertoire by Rote by Amy Greer and Dennis Alexander
- Exploring Piano Safari with Dr. Julie Knerr and Katherine Fisher
- Dalcroze Eurhythmics with Paula Melville Clark
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How much rote teaching do you do?
Any? Do you see the value of teaching pieces by rote? If you haven’t tried it yet, what’s holding you back?
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5 Comments
I found this podcast very interesting! I have always included rote teaching in my practice but never to the extent that you are speaking about here. I like the idea of having a rote piece prepared to teach at an interview lesson. It was nice to hear how you break it down in such detail. I have a few beginners this year and I am going to try the Piano Safari methods with them. I will also be on the hunt for more rote resources to use with those students as well as the rest of my studio. Thanks again!
Thanks for your response, Sarah. I stumbled upon the “age” trick some time ago as a way to come up with an objective number for a goal (rep list, note/key signature/interval flashcards, whatever) that the student could have a personal connection to. Using their age takes the responsibility off me, and when a little one has a birthday (something they are very proud of!), suddenly there is a positive reason to increase the work load ever so slightly. Win-win.
Happy teaching!
Amy
Great interview! I’m also a big fan of starting new students with rote pieces. It’s a fun way to teach and the students love being able to play a piece that sounds more advanced than what they might be able to read. I love Amy’s idea of having students keep a rep list that includes the same number of songs as their age. Some great tips here. Thanks for sharing!
I am a violin/viola teacher – I use rounds a lot, (especially for my adult classes), regular tunes like Happy Birthday, fiddle tunes (I play a lot of Scottish fiddle music by ear) and film tunes or popular tunes they have heard. Rounds are great for basic ensemble skills too, essential for string players.
Thanks for your comment Margaret – I think that’s perfect too. You don’t need music to teach by rote, although we’d call that teaching by ear I’d guess. Keep it up š