Red Panda Pranks

• Level: Mid-Elementary
• Pages: 4 pages, 2 pages of music, cover included!
• Style: Crafty
• Series: Chinese Adventure, Rote and Reading®
• Bonuses: mp3 performance track + QR code to access recording online
• Format: PDF instant download

The Red Panda creeps along, trying to find someone to prank, and even tries to look innocent and adorable before getting back up to its usual mischief! This charming piece has imagery to spark student imaginations with staccato, a contrasting “innocent” section with pedal, and hand crossings as well. Red Panda Pranks is one of four pieces in the Chinese Adventure Rote and Reading® series. 

What Level is Red Panda Pranks?

Red Panda Pranks is elementary level. The smallest note value is a quarter note. The largest interval is a fifth, and the piece has some accidentals. The piece is excellent for practicing staccato, beginning pedaling, and accidentals with repetitive patterns that are easy to be taught by rote. The piece is carefully edited with pedagogical fingering and articulations, making this an excellent teaching or recital piece!

Bonus recording + QR Code included!

Red Panda Pranks comes with a bonus mp3 recording performed by Wendy Stevens. You are permitted to send this example performance track to your students to help them learn the piece.

Plus, a QR code is included on the first page of the PDF (not pictured in the sample) so students can scan the code and it will take them directly to the performance recording of the piece. This can help them be inspired and learn the piece even more effectively without you having to send the mp3 to them!

Part of the Chinese Adventure Series

Red Panda Pranks is one of four pieces in the Chinese Adventure Series featuring piano solos about China. This is a fantastic value as the bundle is discounted! Here are the included in the bundle:

• Red Panda Pranks (that’s this piece!)
• Panda Paradise
• Asian Elephant
• Leopard at Large
• Mp3s & QR codes for each piece
• Chinese Adventure Bundle Bonus Cover

You can purchase the Chinese 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?