Copycat works brilliantly as a teaching tool because it builds listening and imitative skills without requiring students to read complex notation. The single-page format makes it accessible for early intermediate players who benefit from learning by ear alongside traditional study.
What to expect
Copycat has the quality of a musical conversation, where one voice speaks and another mirrors back what it hears. The back-and-forth nature creates an engaging, interactive experience that feels more like play than formal study.
Who it's for
This piece serves early intermediate piano students building ear training and call-and-response listening skills. It works equally well in private lessons and group piano settings where active listening is the primary focus.
How to get the most out of it
Play the opening phrase multiple times before asking students to echo it back, establishing a clear melodic shape they can remember
Encourage students to watch your hands and listen simultaneously rather than relying solely on one sense
Start slowly enough that students can process what they hear before responding, gradually increasing tempo as confidence builds
How to use it
Integrate this into a unit on aural skills development, positioning it early in the semester when students are building foundational listening habits. It pairs naturally with solfège work and can serve as a bridge between purely technical exercises and repertoire learning.
Skills your students will build
Call-and-response listening
Melodic memory and phrase retention
Playing by ear
Rhythmic accuracy through imitation
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