As young students move into late primer repertoire they begin playing rocking held notes in the bass staff (alternating between two notes).
For the first time (aside from holding fifths), the left hand transitions from being part of the melody to playing an accompaniment role.
And this is a transition that trips up many young piano players.
In today’s post, we are sharing a Quick Fix Summer Song that will help your piano students tackle this hands-together coordination challenge.
Why Rocking Held Notes Are So Challenging
When first introduced, rocking held notes traditionally involve the left hand alternating between playing a whole note on C and then playing a whole note on G.
While this is happening, the right hand is playing the melody.
Rocking held notes represent a student’s first true hands-together challenge. Previously, students may have been playing hands-together matching notes or playing held fifths with the left hand.
Neither of these hands-together skills requires the coordination abilities needed to play rocking held notes.
But students don’t get tripped up just because this challenge is new!
Rocking held notes also require students to read non-matching notes. This means, that while the left hand is playing G on the bass staff, the right hand may be playing D on the treble staff.
For the first time, primer piano students need to read two different notes at the same time.
Finally, this coordination challenge can be tricky because it can create moments of contrary motion. While these moments are rudimentary in nature, they still present a hurdle for your primer piano students.
Perfecting rocking notes take practice. The piano solo below provides scaffolded practice to help your students begin to find success.
Before You Download Today’s Quick Fix Summer Song
Another year of piano lessons is just around the corner. This means that you are probably compiling your Book Purchase List.
Naturally, method books will make up the bulk of your orders. But have you considered setting up all of your students with piano student workbooks as well?
Using piano student workbooks as homework materials, provides your students with short, focused skill study, that will ensure daily practice happens.
If you are interested in our workbooks, you can check out our entire collection here.
Our most popular workbooks include:
- Andrea And Trevor Dow’s Timed Note Reading Tests For Piano
- Andrea And Trevor Dow’s Technical Exercises For Note Reading Success
- Andrea And Trevor Dow’s Playing With Note Printing Activity Book For Piano
Download Today’s Quick Fix Summer Sing
Today’s Quick Fix Piano Solo is composed for students who are brand new to rocking held notes. It is designed to get primer children comfortable playing a basic left-hand accompaniment pattern.
Because it is introductory, we have avoided creating moments of contrary motion. We have however created measures where students will be required to read non-matching notes.
Click here or on the image below to download our Quick Fix Summer Song for rocking held notes.
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