- Level: Early Elementary, Black Key + a few white keys
- Pages: 4 pages, 2 pages of music with teacher duet, cover included!
- Style: Mysterious
- Bonus: mp3 performance recording included
- Format: PDF instant download
The inspiration for Play Ball? comes from one of Wendy’s favorite Dr. Seuss stories: The Pale Green Pants (this is an affiliate link). In this story, a boy finds himself alone at night in the presence of “pale green pants, with nobody inside them.” In Dr. Seuss’s fantastic way, we learn that the pale green pants which scare the boy are actually afraid of him too! It’s a wonderful lesson in how we all struggle with fear of new people and new situations – and how others often feel the same way we do!
Students will love more than just the clever words and lesson, though – the eerie sounding melody and accompanying teacher duet sound just like a Halloween song should – perfectly mysterious! The cool, creepy cover and introduction of white keys allows younger elementary students to play something they feel proud of and excited about.
What Level is Play Ball?
Play Ball is an early elementary piece. The smallest note value is a quarter note. The addition of a few white keys helps ensure that students do not get stuck in black key hand positions. It also helps students become more comfortable using black and white keys in the same piece (which often does not happen until much later in method books). The white keys and fingerings chosen are very simple and natural positions even for small hands.
The dynamics do not change throughout the piece, and there are no articulations, meaning this piece truly is for the beginner student. There is no pedaling. Play Ball? is written in triple meter, and is a wonderful introduction to the “feel” of 3/4 time.
Does Play Ball Have a Duet?
Yes! This early elementary piano solo has a teacher duet included on the same page as the student. The teacher duet is not your typical oom-pa-pa boring accompaniment, but will be interested to both the teacher and the student.
In addition, we have formatted the duet part of Play Ball so that teachers can easily see what the student is supposed to be playing without having to look back at the student score.
Bonus Mp3
We include a bonus mp3 of this Play Ball performance (without voiceovers) with your purchase. You may send this mp3 to your student to help them learn the piece and remember how it sounds.
What is a Studio License?
Play Ball? comes as a studio license which licenses you to make as many prints for your students for as many years as you teach. It’s like getting an unlimited supple of this piece of Music Kids Love®!
Leanne –
My students who loved last year’s “Ghastly Beast” were so thrilled when I also showed them this one (even though they were beyond pre-staff reading)! They learned it anyway. And my new students loved having a set of Ghastly Beast pieces to work on and share.
Phyllis Pan –
Great supplemental piece for beginners with repetitive patterns. They learn to read finger #’s and switching of hands and work playing with a steady beat. The students get a kick out of reading the lyrics while they are playing it. heh heh. : )
Stephani Austin –
So excited to pick this up for my new student who started today. She’ll still have something to play at our Halloween Showcase in 2 weeks!
Tanna White –
A new student of mine that hasn’t started on the white keys yet, still gets to play in the Halloween Recital! He loves the duet!