- Level: Mid Elementary
- Pages: 5 pages, 3 pages of music, cover included!
- Style: Powerful
- Series: American Adventure, Rote and Reading®
- Bonuses: Mp3 performance track
- Format: PDF instant download
A North American brown bear (grizzly) can stand as tall as 8 feet! So it’s no wonder Booming Beast feels like it is shaking under the weight of a grizzly! This Rote and Reading® piano solo is an excellent way for students to develop arm weight and to learn how to play staccato repeated notes. Many parts of this piece can easily be taught by rote. You can teach the entire piece by rote, by reading or a combination of both.
Watch the video for a tip on the repeated notes.
What Level is Booming Beast?
Booming Beast is mid-elementary level. There are three sections with pedal held down, but no syncopated pedaling is required. The smallest note value is the quarter note.
There are a few B flats and C sharps in the piece that are notated (no key signatures).
Bonus Mp3 Included
Your purchase of Booming Beast includes a bonus mp3 performance track that you can send to students to introduce or help them learn the piece.
Part of the American Adventure Series
Booming Beast is one of four pieces in the American Adventure Series which includes these solos:
- Bison Are Back
- Legend of the Eagle
- Mountain View
- Booming Beast
You can purchase the American Adventure Series at a discount here.
The Power of Rote and Reading® Teaching
When you combine rote teaching with teaching to read music, students are much more excited about their progress and usually stay motivated longer. This is because kids know that they can play music that is much more difficult than they can read.
Think of the way kids learn to read. They first learn to “do” the language (i.e. speak it) before they ever learn to read it. In the same way, students best learn when we show them how to “do” the piano before they learn to read the notes. For more thoughts on the value of rote teaching and how long it really takes a child to learn to read music, read: How Long Does It Take to Learn to Read Music?
nancy arnold –
Our recital is held Spring Break… and this song has already caused three of my boy students to be in a race! First to memorize and perfect the “Beast” gets to perform it!
Rachel Doornink –
I got this piece to be a “quick learn” with a big sound for an older student who needed a last-minute recital piece. It was exactly what I was looking for! Great big sound but easy to learn with the patterns and repeated notes.
Carol –
Well, Wendy, 7 out of ten of my students are playing your Halloween music from my studio so you can bet they’re a hit! They love playing your hits this year that they heard (and remembered!) students play last year. Your biggest hits in my studio this year are Pretty Creepy, Ghastly Beast, Lochness Quest, Booming Beast, Beautifully Spooked, and Dragon Dreams.
So your music is moving through the ages every year, all through the year, I might add.
Susan Lincoln –
Love this piece on several levels! It’s easy to learn and sounds impressive which is very helpful for the little ones who are struggling. Student can get a nice BIG sound with just a few easy to find notes. It helps develop fluent reading, looking ahead. Love it!