- Level: Elementary
- Pages: 5 pages – 3 pages of music, cover included!
- Style: Confident, Stately
- Series: Rote and Reading®
- Format: PDF instant download
Joy to the World Rote and Reading is a mature arrangement that all ages will enjoy. The intro and ending are big and grand and use a lot of the piano, making even elementary level students feel more advanced. The broad use of the piano also makes them sound more advanced.
The optional repeat at the end allows the performer to alter the piece to a more lengthy arrangement for recitals and offertories if that is what is needed.
What level is Joy to the World Rote and Reading®?
The level of Joy to the World Rote and Reading® is mid elementary. Though the most difficult rhythm is the dotted quarter followed by an eighth, students will have no trouble playing this since the carol is so familiar. The smallest note value in the intro and ending are the quarter note. So the only time the dotted quarter note appears is during the melody that most students know.
This piece is in an altered middle C position (LH thumb on middle C, RH thumb on D). This is the position of the entire piece, so it’s familiar to elementary students. Helpful fingering is included for the RH. For example, when they expect that their 5th finger will play a G (in traditional middle C position), we include the number 4 on the G so that they will get it right the first few times they practice it. This helps ensure they learn it accurately and that they don’t have to go back to fix things since the holiday season is so short.
There is a pedal that holds through all of the intro and the ending. But the main part does not have any pedaling. The are only 2 pedal lifts at the very end.
There are F#s written in throughout the piece instead of using a key signature.
How do I teach Joy to the World Rote and Reading®?
Our Rote and Reading® pieces are designed to incorporate easy patterns that can be taught by rote, while still containing elements that should be read. You can always teach the student solely by rote or solely by reading, but the best pedagogical experiences is combining the two.
Rote and Reading® pieces are best introduced by playing the entire piece for the student to inspire them and get it in their ear. After that, you can focus on teaching the patterned intro. Be careful not to teach too much by rote in one week. It’s better to teach only one main part and have them master it at home than to teach contrasting parts, only to have them become confused with each other. The middle section of the piece should be read by the student, but feel free to help them by circling intervals, giving them tips, or even writing a finger number or note name or two to help. Then the ending is similar to the beginning.
Bonus mp3
With your purchase of Joy to the World Rote and Reading®, we’ve included a bonus mp3 of Wendy playing this arrangement without voiceovers. You may send this mp3 to your student to help them learn the piece and remember how it sounds.
And as always, we always give you the fun cover as well!
Other pieces in the Holiday Rote and Reading® Series
Don’t forget to check out other pieces in the holiday rote and reading® series! You can also get these pieces in the series:
- Jingle Bells
- Jolly Old St. Nicholaus
- Away in a Manger
- Jingle Bells – Early elementary Black Key
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Hannah –
Students with a mature ear love this piece! It has a “classical piano” sound to it that students who want to play classical music love and the introduction and coda allow students just starting at the piano to feel like they are playing something big. This is a wonderful arrangement!
Janelle –
This Joy to the World arrangement was a very welcome addition to my library, because it fits so well under students’ hands! They instantly like the sound of the descending scale and patterns in the introduction and closing sections, and the damper pedal adds that “bigness” students crave. Just 45 measures (with optional repeat), it is easy to teach and sounds great. My school-aged students and adult learners have really enjoyed this one!
Mindy Denigan –
What a HUGE hit this piece is this Christmas! Joy to the World–Rote and Reading is meeting the needs of young beginners all the way to a dear lady who is almost 80, returning to the piano and simply needs to get her fingers working again. I love Wendy’s meticulous attention to patterns in her pieces, foundational patterns, such as the 1-2-3-4 finger pattern. With this piece being a familiar Christmas melody I am given the opportunity to reinforce the internal “thinking voice” concept. Plus, she always has such exciting introductions and dressed up endings. This piece fits the gap which I have long had in my Christmas music selections. Thank you!
Teresa –
This is a wonderful piece for a variety of reasons. It can be a ‘challenge’ piece for students exploring the octave scale pattern, a quick read piece to enjoy a carol arrangement, a rote piece for pattern play as well as a sight reading piece with a full keyboard sound. I highly recommend the use of this arrangement which even as a teacher you will not tire from😄
Mona –
This is a delightful arrangement, fun to hear, fun to play, and easy to teach.. My students are really enjoying this one. It uses the G 8-note scale, and the patterns reinforce it. A great piece!
Tanis Cowan –
We’ve had SO much JOY in our studio this season with Wendy’s Joy to the World!! I had several late beginners handle this BIG piece with ease. It has gotten me hooked on Rote & Reading!! We color coded the ‘fancy’ bits, and I will always see Red, Green and Blue when I hear the patterns in this piece.
Michelle –
This version was easy enough for a 2nd year student to learn, but big enough sounding for an audience to enjoy. Excellent!
Debra D Behrens –
I have a 4th grade student who would much rather play by ear than with music. His first thought was there was no way he could play this, but after showing him the patterns, he realized that he could! With patterns and a familiar tune, he has taken off! I keep pushing for note reading, but it is nice to have something that is less stressful for both of us!
Valerie –
My students love the grand opening and ending, and the scales have been carefully crafted to be easy to achieve for beginners, and mature-sounding enough to attract late elementary students as well!
Meryt Wilson –
My two older grandsons really have enjoyed this arrangement! It has “masculine appeal” because of the octave shifts/movement and chords at the end!
Dixie Cramer –
I gave this to a 23-yr-old student of mine who is almost to the end of Unit 3 in Piano Safari for the Older Student, Level 1. She learned & memorized it, enjoying the process along the way. I highly recommend this & others of Wendy’s Rote & Reading pieces for older beginners! Thanks, Wendy for all you do to help us thrive!! Merry Christmas!
Mary Smith –
I have a student who experiences some difficulties with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome including disproportionately long fingers that are difficult for him to control. This piece worked super well for him. The repeating patterns were perfect then he could just focus on playing what he knew but just moving to the next octave.
Judy Horne –
My recital was incredible! I used all of the music below that I purchased from ComposeCreate this year, and the students (and parents) loved them. I was excited about these pieces, as they sound much more sophisticated than other arrangements I have found for my early-mid elementary students. Big hit!
Kimberly Manaigre –
This is definitely a crowd pleaser! What a show piece! Students of all ages love this! I’m glad I purchased this one!