First Snow

First Snow Description:

• Level: Elementary (rote) to Late Elementary (reading) … recommend teaching by rote.
• Mood: Relaxed, Peaceful
• Pages: 4 pages, 2 pages of music, cover included
• Format: Instant PDF download
• Studio Licence Bonus: Cover art, tips and ideas for students
• Collections: The First Winter

“First Snow” is an elementary to late elementary piece that evokes memories of the first snow of the season!  With a focus on repeating patterns and sequences, this piece works well for teaching by rote or a mix of rote with note-reading.

First Snow Level:

“First Snow” is an elementary to late elementary-level piano solo.  The piece was designed to be easily taught by rote with clear patterned sections or a mix of rote (left-hand chord bridges) with note-reading (3-note melody in right-hand).  The pedal is held throughout to create the sensation of gentle, swirling snow.

• Mode: C Major
• Time Signature: 3/4
• Concepts: chord bridges, eighth notes, slight hand position changes, 8va and 8vb

Starting finger numbers are written in, as well as when hand position must move.  While there are eighth notes written in the score, they function much like alternating quarter notes with the right hand.  This is a section that would benefit from rote teaching.

Much of this piece contains a simple 3-note ostinato for the melody and chord bridges.  Memorizing the whole-note, chord bridge ostinato will allow students to focus on reading the melody and switching octaves as needed.

First Snow Bonus:

All sheet music comes with original cover art.  “First Snow” also comes with tips for students to master the piece.

More About “The First Winter” collection:

“First Snow” is part of “The First Winter” collection that is designed for beginner students of various ages.  Pieces are a mix of rote and level-appropriate note-reading at the elementary to late elementary (rote elements only) pieces. 

These pieces fit under the “sound harder they they look” category and several of the pieces are showstoppers for Winter recitals letting beginners of all ages feel like their pieces compare to much more advanced students.

Pieces found in “The First Winter” collection are:

• First Snow: Elementary to late elementary rote/note-reading showstopper for Winter recitals.
• The Blizzard: Elementary to late elementary rote/note-reading piece that brings the mystery and drama of a blizzard to Winter recitals.
• Jake’s Fishing Adventure: Elementary piece that captures the playful nature of Jake the dog as he goes ice fishing with his family.
• Snowflake And Rex’s Cookie Caper: Late elementary level story-based piece in which students explore creating stealth movement and circular wrist motions as they build drama throughout the song.