I too use interval size to teach note reading. It is a real struggle because the public schools still use acronyms for the lines and spaces. But when a student is strugggling with a song, and I show them how they could read it with step up, skip up, same, step up, etc, and they see how much quicker it is, I usually can convince them.
Dana:
Yes, and I have found that refreshing the concept frequently is very helpful. When I ask them to WRITE the notes (say, a tricky-to-read measure) on our little lap whiteboard, sometimes they say, "Ohhh... I didn't notice that."
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Please note that all comments are moderated, and will not appear until I have approved them. Also, IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR MUSIC THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, YOUR REQUEST WILL BE IGNORED. That's pretty much any music written in the last 75 years...
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This Broadway musicals list features the songs I've found to be most singable, easily learned, & beloved among my own students. Also, warnings of some pitfalls!
Classical piano sheet music - 1 or 2 page intros, & some longer. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart & more - bite-size classics for beginning & advancing players.