- Level: Mid Elementary
- Pages: 4 pages, 2 pages of music, cover included!
- Style: Gently
- Series: Outback Adventure, Rote and Reading®
- Bonuses: Mp3 performance track (music includes an opportunity to improvise!)
- Format: PDF instant download
I remember seeing a koala in the zoo when I was in middle school – and the shrieks of “OH MY GOSH, IT’S ADORABLE!!” from my classmates could surely be heard from the park entrance. While everyone’s first reaction to seeing the fluffy little creatures is to want to run toward them to cuddle them, koala’s are actually shy creatures! Instead of catering to our reaction of koalas, this piece instead reflects their reaction towards us. With a slightly minor sound that finally ends with a major chord, this piece perfectly captures their adorable timidity.
What Level is Koala Cuddles?
Koala Cuddles is the one of four pieces in the Outback Adventures Rote and Reading® series, and is elementary level. The smallest note value is an eighth note, always used in a repeating pattern that is easy to learn by rote, while allowing students to see how an eighth note looks and operates on the staff. The piece is in e minor for most of the song, ending in G major. All accidentals are written in, rather than notated as a key signature. Note names are written in for many ledger lines, and helpful fingerings are written throughout.
There is pedaling written throughout the second half of the piece. However, the pedal is held down for most of the measures, making it easy for students to use. Chromaticism is used throughout the piece, always in a repeating pattern. The chromatic fingering falls very naturally under the hands when correct hand shape is used.
Bonus Mp3 Included
Your purchase of Koala Cuddles includes a bonus mp3 performance track that you can send to students to introduce or help them learn the piece.
Part of the Outback Adventure Series
Koala Cuddles is one of four pieces in the Outback Adventure Series featuring piano solos about Australia. This is a fantastic value as the bundle is discounted and these things are included in the bundle:
- Hoppy Thoughts
- Thorny Dragon
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Koala Cuddles
- Mp3s for each piece
- Outback Adventure Bundle Bonus Cover
You can purchase the Outback Adventure Series at a discount here.
The Power of Rote and Reading® Teaching
Piano students are much more excited about their progress when you combine rote teaching with reading. And when you do this, students 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?
Valerie –
Such a sweet piece! It has been an instant hit in my studio! The eighth notes are not hard to manage and I love the harmonies!
Joanne Tyne –
Some of my students like to play everything loud, but they play this song very gently. It is a beautiful song that they can master without frustration.
Maria Jacobsen –
Oh what a sweet piece this is, and I can’t wait to introduce this to one of my students who is now moving into elementary level. The right hand repeated two eighth notes accompaniment and the left hand melody lines are in perfect harmony to this adorable koala bear piece. I know it will be a hit in my studio. Thank you, Wendy, for all your creative compositions!
Karol Garmon –
One of my girls said she loved koalas so I immediately began to search – I found Koala Cuddles, and she loves it (I knew she would). The piece falls under her hands so easily and the pedaling makes her sound so mature! She is going to perform it at our local piano Zoo Recital.
Anne –
My student adores these pieces from the “Outback Adventure” series and has learnt them in a very short time. The pieces are so descriptive and inspiring and enable the student to play much harder- sounding pieces than their level. My student is delighted with himself! Thank you for making my job so much easier!
Nancy –
I had a struggling student who was begging for “something easy”. Even though she’s normally intimidated by eighth notes, long pieces, and sharps, for Koala Cuddles, she said “it looks easy and sounds good!” She mastered it for our recital, and sounded like she had progressed well from one recital to the next, although we really took a step back in terms of difficulty! HOORAY for Koala Cuddles & the Rote & Reading series!