BlitzBooks Rote Repertoire combines the concepts of rote and reading, as well as teaching the invaluable skills of listening, analysing, memorising and composing. Watch these short videos to find out all about this unique approach!

• What is BlitzBooks Rote Repertoire?
• What is Rote Teaching?
• What is Reading-based Teaching?
• Rote Repertoire Gets Students Composing
• Semi-Rote Teaching
• How to Teach BlitzBooks Rote Repertoire

BlitzBooks Rote Repertoire Cost Per-Student Calculator

How much does a BlitzBooks Rote Repertoire membership cost you per student? Use our calculator to find out.

YouTube Channel

There are Level 1 Reminder videos available on YouTube which is extremely helpful for students and parents who need some visual help when practising Level 1 at home.

Every time there is a new release, we will send you the YouTube link for the Level 1 Reminder Video as well as your link to the new pack. You can then pass this on to your students as they need it..

You can also direct your students and parents to the Rote Repertoire YouTube channel and suggest that they subscribe. That way they will have access to all future videos.

Check out the entire playlist, which is growing all the time.

N.B. There are no reminder videos for Levels 2 and 3. After Level 1, students are encouraged to notice and respond to the differences in the score, rather than learn completely by rote.

Please note all prices are in US Dollars

Need some help or more information? Contact us here.

General FAQ

Which of the three Levels do I give to which students?

All three levels are important for every student! The point of this series is to develop sight reading skills through repertoire, so it is the process of getting from Level 1 to Level 3 that is important. It’s all explained in the Quick Start Teacher Guide, but here’s a super quick summary:

1. Teach Level 1 by rote, then show the score.
2. Compare Level 2 score, discuss differences before playing.
3. Same for Level 3. By this time students are scanning and reading!

Are these pieces only for young beginners?

Not at all! These pieces are also perfect for adult students, returning pianists, older beginners, any students who haven’t practiced that week, any students who need sight reading exercises, and pianists who need short, appropriate pieces to play while they recover from injury.

This series is also a perfect complement to your repertoire-rich learning approach, such as the 40-piece challenge. It also gives you weekly challenges and weekly achievable goals for your students.

For intermediate and advanced students these pieces provide instant activities in the lesson that cover aural, sight reading, memorisation, improvisation and composition, PLUS students get to go home playing something they love!

Why are the pieces in complicated keys?

The keys are chosen based on physical comfort, not a level of theoretical understanding. They look complicated on the page but they are very easy to play. C major might be easy to read but it is actually a very awkward key in terms of technique! The idea is not to get too caught up in the notation, but rather to be able to play great sounding music with a comfortable hand position. This is outlined in the Quick Start Teacher Guide.

Which age group do these pieces appeal to?

Every piece in the Rote Repertoire series is manageable for pianists in their first two years of learning. The contemporary style appeals to all ages. Some pieces are more suited to slightly older beginners e.g. 7-9 year olds. Adult students and teenagers love them as quick study pieces!

I don’t have many beginners. Can I use these pieces for all my students?

Absolutely! More experienced pianists will pick up these pieces really quickly which aids a repertoire-rich approach, and all intermediate and advanced pianists can use them as a super-quick sight reading exercise in the lesson!

Can I send the pieces to my students?

Yes! Each piece is studio licensed so that you can send the pdf sheet music and the audio files to your students. The only thing you can’t send is the video content – this is not downloadable.

Are the repertoire packs graded according to difficulty?

We’ve created a guide to help teachers and students. Each repertoire pack has been allocated up to four ‘hats’ to indicate a certain level. Please keep in mind that this does not mean an early elementary piece can only be played by a beginner; an intermediate student will thoroughly enjoy it as a quick sight-reading exercise!

= Early Elementary: from first lesson up to six months

= Early to Mid Elementary: 6-12 months of lessons

= Mid to Late Elementary: 12-18 months of lessons

= Late Elementary: 18 months – 2 years+

Please remember these categories are a guide only – you are the best judge of your students’ capabilities.

What’s in the Video Tutorials?

The videos contain a performance of each level, a demonstration of how to teach it by rote and an explanation of the main teaching points. Samantha describes the reasoning and philosophy behind the fingering, register and articulation, as well as discussing general technique such as hand shape and strategies to avoid twisting.

You’ll see the differences in the score between the three levels and an overview of how each level builds on the previous one.

In every pack there is a bonus ‘Level 4 Ideas’ video where Samantha suggests ways in which students can create their own composition based on Levels 1-3.

I’m not sure about this approach. Where can I find out more?

Download your FREE Quick Start Teacher Guide here. Also, here are some fantastic videos and articles all about the benefits of rote teaching:

• Sally Cathcart explains the benefits of Rote Teaching [Video]
• Julie Knerr and Katherine Fisher – "Are you afraid of rote teaching?" [Article with video]
• PDF Version of Julie and Katherine’s article

Why does it say 0% - 100% viewed and what does this mean?

This doesn’t affect your access at all, it is simply part of the technology platform we are currently using. You will always have access with a pack purchase or a valid membership, no matter what the percentage display is.

How much does a BlitzBooks Rote Repertoire membership cost per student?

Use our Cost Per-Student Calculator