piano sheet music and music lesson resources for the elementary pianist
The Piano Student is a music resource directory for teachers and beginning-intermediate level piano students. Below are a few of the most popular posts and the most active posts. I hope you enjoy the resources you find. If you are having trouble finding a particular resource, please let me know.
Updated on Jan 3, 2018
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Jazzy rhythms and colorful chords make jazz piano arrangements appealing to kids. However, most arrangements aren’t written down. When they are the arrangements are too hard for beginning and advancing students.
The following collection of free and paid jazz piano arrangements make playing jazz approachable for even the youngest players. The rhythms are easy to play, but they swing – and the chord are rich, yet include only the most important notes to provide the color without becoming too difficult to play.
Click the links to listen to the arrangements. Every site includes an Mp3 recording that will be helpful in choosing the perfect song and also useful in perfecting your child’s performance.
Beginner
Blue Bumblebee for Jazz Piano
Jingle Bells Boogie (Fling) for Jazz Piano
Thumping Blues for Jazz Piano
When the Saints Go Marching In for Jazz Piano
Easy
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella Jazz Piano
The Entertainer (The Sting) for Jazz Piano/Level 3
Freight Train Boogie for Jazz Piano
Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho for Jazz Piano
Maple Leaf Rag for Jazz Piano/Level 3
Tiger Rag (Hold That Tiger) for Jazz Piano
Easy/Intermediate
Ain’t Misbehavin’ for Jazz Piano
Alexander’s Ragtime Band (Berlin) for Jazz Piano
Away in a Manger Jazz Piano
Easy Winners for Jazz Piano
The Entertainer for Jazz Piano/Level 5
The Entertainer (Joplin) Play and Learn™ Edition/Level 5 (Sheet Music and Great Composer Worksheets)
Fifth Avenue Stroll for Jazz Piano
He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands for Jazz Piano
The Lollipop Kid for Jazz Piano
O Christmas Tree for Jazz Piano
Pure Imagination for Jazz Piano
Skating (Charlie Brown Christmas) for Jazz Piano
St. Louis Blues for Jazz Piano
12th Street Rag for Jazz Piano
Check out these books that are written just for kids. The JazzKids® editions were created by Berklee College of Music graduate Willie Myette, to show beginning improvisers how to improvise at the piano. Our books are designed to be used in conjunction with other reading curriculum like the Alfred’s Piano Course.
Learn more about the JazzKids® Editions
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Scale Sleuth™ | Musical Scales Workbook for Kids
Pirate Quest | Musical Terms Game
Carnegie Hall Park (Matchbox Parking) | Music Theory Board Game
Free Beginner Piano Sheet Music | Level 1
Free Beginner Piano Sheet Music | Level 2
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 3
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 5
Looking for a arrangement of The First Noel for you or your kids? This post includes links to free and paid arrangements that you’re sure to enjoy practicing and performing for friends or at a recital. All of the sites linked to from this post provide you with a PDF version of the sheet music and a digital recording that’s helpful during practice time. I hope you fin the perfect arrangement for you!
Print Piano Sheet Music
Beginner Piano Sheet Music
The First Noel Beginner Piano Sheet Music
This arrangement is perfect for piano students with a few months to one year of experience. Click to check out the recording.
Easy Piano Sheet Music
This arrangement of The First Noel is a great choice for students that have graduated from their Level 4 piano book. Click to check out the recording of the arrangement.
The First Noel Easy/Intermediate Piano Solo
This arrangement of The First Noel is a step up from the beginner version, with an active left hand part. Click to visit the site and check out the recording.
The First Noel Easy Piano Sheet Music
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Scale Sleuth™ | Musical Scales Workbook for Kids
Pirate Quest | Musical Terms Game
Carnegie Hall Park (Matchbox Parking) | Music Theory Board Game
Free Beginner Piano Sheet Music | Level 1
Free Beginner Piano Sheet Music | Level 2
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 3
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 5
If your kids like silly songs, they’re sure to like Alice the Camel. It’s got a twist at the end that will get them giggling.
The piano sheet music included below is ideal for students with anywhere from beginner with limited experience to 2 years of playing experience, depending on their age and time invested. The mp3 recording included on the site will provided tons of help as your child practices this piece.
Alice the Camel Beginner Piano Sheet Music
The arrangement is written entirely in C Position and includes an opportunity to learn about first and second endings.
Alice the camel has five humps.
Alice the camel has five humps.
Alice the camel has five humps.
So go, Alice, go.
Alice the camel has four humps.
Alice the camel has four humps.
Alice the camel has four humps.
So go, Alice, go.
Alice the camel has three humps.
Alice the camel has three humps.
Alice the camel has three humps.
So go, Alice, go.
Alice the camel has two humps.
Alice the camel has two humps.
Alice the camel has two humps.
So go, Alice, go.
Alice the camel has one hump.
Alice the camel has one hump.
Alice the camel has one hump.
So go, Alice, go.
Alice the camel has no humps.
Alice the camel has no humps.
Alice the camel has no humps.
Now Alice is a horse.
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Scale Sleuth™ | Musical Scales Workbook for Kids
Pirate Quest | Musical Terms Game
Carnegie Hall Park (Matchbox Parking) | Music Theory Board Game
Free Beginner Piano Sheet Music | Level 1
Free Beginner Piano Sheet Music | Level 2
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 3
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 5
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Online piano lessons make piano lessons far more affordable than traditional lessons, which can cost $120 per month on average. Even more in some communities.
Online piano lessons also offer you advantages that traditional lessons don’t. There have been so many times that I’ve sent a piano student home knowing everything they would need to know to be successful with their music, only to have them return confused and playing their music poorly. It wasn’t because they left the lesson unprepared. It was because kids forget what they’re supposed to do, and they forget what their piece is suppose to sound like.
The thing that online piano lessons do best is provide students with the repetition that they need to succeed. Every time students need to hear what the piece sounds like or need the instruction repeated, the video lesson can provide that support. Just login, head to the lesson and start practicing.
Soccer practice or girl scout meetings will never interfere with piano lessons again. You can take piano lessons on your schedule.
It’s best to maintain a routine, but things happen and you need to change your plans. Online piano lessons make it easy. There’s no one you need to call to arrange a make-up lesson. There’s no lost of money for lessons you’ve already paid for. Just get your practice/lesson schedule back on track when things when you are able.
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Here’s they are! Fifteen free piano lessons from MakingMusicFun.net Music Academy and HoffmanAcademy.com that do their best to create piano lessons that provide kids with a traditional piano lesson experience and the advantages of online lessons – most of all big savings!
The following links will provide you access to the video lessons, but you’ll need to subscribe for access to the piano books, sheet music and worksheets that provide the best possible experience.
Middle C Warm-Up | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (First Lesson)
Middle C & D Warm-Up | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (First Lesson)
Musical Alphabet | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Unit 1)
I Love Bubble Gum | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Beginner)
Finger Numbers | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Unit 1)
Five Woodpeckers | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Unit 1)
Doctor Foster | Online Piano Lessons for Kids (Beginner)
Au Clair de la Lune | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Beginner)
Tick Tock | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Level 1A)
Hot Cross Buns | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Level 1A)
Finding C, D, & E on the Piano | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Unit 1)
Piano Posture | Online Piano Lessons for Kids (Unit 1)
Frog in the Middle | Online Piano Lesson for Kids (Unit 1)
Cobbler, Cobbler | Online Piano Lessons for Kids (Level 1)
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Finally, I’ll wind things up with a few practice tips for online piano lessons so you can make the most of the experience.
To accomplish any goal you need a plan. For piano practice it’s great to set aside a certain time every day to practice. When you sit down to practice it’s best to decide what you will accomplish. You always get more done if you know what you’re going to try to do.
Twenty minutes every day right after school is a great plan. If you are a homeschooling parent, consider setting aside a certain time each day in your school schedule for piano practice.
As far as goals, mastering two measures of music may be enough for one day. Maybe it’s learning the melody for your new piece. Whatever your goal, try to stay focused throughout your practice time.
Most piano students won’t be able to play what their teacher plays the first time they try it. Just pause the lesson and try it again. This is how great musicians practice anyway.
The MakingMusicFun.net Music Academy uses a unique system of counting with students in the Primer through Level 2 lessons that makes playing the music perfectly, incredibly easy.
Students often forget to count out loud as they practice. In my experience the result is consistently the same. The rhythms are incorrectly played. When they count out loud the rhythms are correctly played. The challenge with the traditional system of counting is that students must know the values of all of the rhythms and where they occur in each measure. MakingMusicFun.net Music Academy makes it simpler, and helps students to be successful without the challenges of the traditional counting system.
Students love to play their lessons pieces as fast as possible. However, practicing slowly will make them a far better musician in less time. Practicing slowly is also the most important practice habit you’ll ever make.
By practicing slowly students train their hands to do exactly what they want them to do. Then when they want to play fast it’s no problem. Their hands know just what to do.
Practicing with a metronome is also a great idea. It will even out every performance and make everything they play more dazzling! It’s not something I recommend for beginners, but it is something to introduce by the third year of lessons.
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Free Piano Sheet Music for Beginners (PDF)
Free Piano Sheet Music | Beginner/Level 1B
Free Piano Sheet Music | Beginner/Level 2A
Free Piano Sheet Music | Beginner/Level 2B
Free Piano Sheet Music | Easy/Level 3A
Carnegie Hall Park™ Music Theory Board Game
But you don’t what to spend an hour each week driving to and from a piano lesson?
But need it to be way more affordable that traditional music lessons?
In this world where practically everything we do is online, why not piano lessons? While it’s not for everyone, it is the way millions of kids are learning piano today.
Piano lessons online are considerably more convenient that driving to and from a lesson every week at an appointed time. With online lessons, kids can take a lesson when it’s convenient for you. Most of the time it best to keep a schedule, but you don’t need to every week. Sometimes you can move the lesson to the next day, and never miss a lesson again.
Traditional piano lesson cost varies from state to state, but an average cost for a 30 minute lesson is about $30. If you live in Connecticut or California piano lessons cost even more. At this rate, your monthly fee for piano lessons is $120.
If you compare this to the average piano lesson online, you’ll be saving about $100 per month. That’s right, piano lessons online cost less than $20 on average.
Piano lessons have always been a “watch and learn” disciple. You’re show what to do step-by-step, and then you practice at home. The only difference now is that you’re learning with video tutorials. Kids are guided through verbal instruction – just like in traditional lessons – observe finger shape and hand position – just like in traditional lessons, and imitate musical phrasing and dynamics – just like in traditional lessons.
The strength with approach to piano lessons shines in the days that follow the video lesson. In traditional lessons students get help during the lesson, but no support throughout the week. Students often forget what they were taught, or practice incorrectly – simply because they forget what the instruction was or what the piece is suppose to sound like. Online piano lessons solve that by allowing children to listen to the instruction daily if needed, so every lesson can be fully understood and completely mastered.
MakingMusicFun.net has been a leader in online elementary music education for more than a decade, providing graded sheet music, digital print music books, worksheets, and great composer resources. Now they’re making piano lessons more affordable, by providing parents access to HD quality video tutorials, and the site’s extensive collection of premium educational resources for a small monthly fee. What’s incredibly awesome is there’s no added cost for the second child.
Screenshot of MMF Music Academy
Visit the MakingMusicFun.net Music Academy for more info, and to sign-up for a no-credit card free trial.
Looking for a great piano book series for your kids? MakingMusicFun.net offers a primer though Level 3 that you can download instantly – for about half the price of piano methods you purchase from your local music store. It includes sheet music, music theory worksheets and worksheet answer keys.
Introduction
Color That Note Note Name Worksheet | Middle C Position
We Love You America by Fling
Tarantella by Fling
Bingo
Shark Attack! (Jaws Movie Theme Tribute) by Fling
Humpty Dumpty by Fling/Mother Goose
Mexican Hat Dance
Musical Spelling Bee – Treble Clef Note Name Review Worksheet
Musical Spelling Bee – Bass Clef Note Name Review Worksheet
Sweetly Sings the Donkey
It All Adds Up – Basic Rhythm Worksheet (Half Note, Quarter Note, Eighth Note)
The Birch Tree
Little Green Frog
Yankee Doodle
Go Tell Aunt Rhodie – Mother Goose
Cinderella (Dressed in Yella)
Happy Birthday
We Three Kings
Color That Note Note – Worksheet Answer Key
Musical Spelling Bee – Treble Clef Worksheet Answer Key
Musical Spelling Bee – Bass Clef Worksheet Answer Key
It All Adds Up – Worksheet Answer Key
Award Certificate
This piano method is comparable to the Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, and students may begin the MakingMusicFun series at the same level. Student’s may also progress to Alfred’s Piano Lessons book Level 4 following the MakingMusicFun Level 3 book.
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Scale Sleuth™ | Musical Scales Workbook for Kids
Pirate Quest | Musical Terms Game
Carnegie Hall Park (Matchbox Parking) | Music Theory Board Game
Free Beginner Piano Sheet Music | Level 1
Free Beginner Piano Sheet Music | Level 2
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 3
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 5
“Saint Louis Blues” is a popular American jazz/blues song composed by W. C. Handy. It was published in September 1914. It was one of the first blues numbers to succeed as a pop song. It has been recorded by Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Bessie Smith, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
St. Louis Blues (Handy) | Easy Piano Sheet Music
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Famous Composers for Little Fingers
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 3
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 4
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 5
Piano Chord Chart for Beginners | 28 Basic Chords
The Greatest Showman is a musical drama it premiered on the RMS Queen Mary II in 2017, the same year that saw the last performance ever from the predecessor of the Barnum and Bailey Circus – subject of the story. Barnum and Bailey started in 1871 and later merged with Ringling circus. In the mid 19th century P.T. Barnum and his circus troupe performed at the famous circus “The Greatest Show.” Some people loved and others were not sure about the film. It was nominated for a number of Musical or Comedy awards at the 75th Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture and best actor; but it was the music, not the plot that stood out and won awards. “The Greatest Showman” won music awards for the best original song ‘This is me.” It also won best original song in the 90th Academy Awards and Best compilation music from the film soundtrack for visual media at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
In real life, Jenny Lind was a famous singer who founded a children’s hospital in Norwich, England, where Barnum and Baileys circus visited. Based on a true story, the film set a new record number for sing-along-screenings in over 550 cinemas in the UK. The soundtrack was No.1 in the U.K. for 11 weeks, the second recording to do that in 30 years. In the U.S. It was listed in the top 15 of the IMDb list of American Top Grossing Musical Titles. It is currently running as a stage musical with sing-along-subtitles.
Want to play the music from The Greatest Showman? This post includes links to arrangements for beginner and easy piano solo.
This Is Me | Easy Piano Sheet Music
A Million Dreams|Easy Piano Sheet Music
Never Enough | Easy Piano Sheet Music
Rewrite the Stars | Beginner Piano Sheet Music
Grammy Award winning songwriters, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who also wrote the score for “La La Land,” composed all the songs for the “The Greatest Showman.” They’ve been awarded Golden Globe and Academy Awards for La La Land song “City of Stars” and also for “The Greatest Showman.” The composers met at the University of Michigan, where they both graduated with a BFA Musical Theatre Degree. The very next year they won the American Theatre Wings 2007 Jonathan Larson Award. Pasek and Paul compose for television, musical theatre and films including scores for the musical, Dear Evan Hansen, James and The Giant Peach.
It all began with P.T. Barnum, the son of a tailor. Young Barnum fell in love with the daughter of his father’s boss, Charity Hallett, when he managed to make her laugh one day. Charity is sent away to finishing school. Barnum promised her that they would write to each other and meet when they were grown up. In the film the song, “A Million Dreams” is all about this promise. They do meet again, marry, and have two children. Charity is happy, but Barnum wanted to do exciting things. When he lost his job he decided to get a bank loan and buy Barnum’s American Museum in Downtown Manhattan, New York. It was a museum with a variety of things to look at. However, business was slow so his children suggested Barnum try something else. He began a search for unusual people, “freaks” as they were known at the time. Some people liked the show, but others didn’t. Barnum decided he needed to find someone rich to help support. Barnum went to England with his friend Carlyle who fell in love with an African American trapeze artist in the circus. Carlyle’s parents did not approve. Barnum departs again, his troupe to perform on their own. They are teased, but they did not give up. “This is me” is about how they took courage and stood up to the people who bullied them. After meeting with the Queen, Barnum met Jenny Lind, a Swedish singer with an incredible voice. Barnum went on tour to America with Jenny Lind. Barnum then went home and found the circus was on fire. A fire started by protestors who were against the troupe. Barnum lost everything, his home, his family, his wife, his troupe. Barnum was feeling sorry for himself. His troupe found him and told him that they were his family, and they would support him.
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Famous Composers for Little Fingers
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 3
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 4
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 5
Piano Chord Chart for Beginners | 28 Basic Chords
Americans are proud of their United States and have lots of great songs to show this. Patriotic music has been written to make people feel proud and courageous from the times of the founding fathers in the 18th century to the present day. A sense of patriotism (love of ones country) is part and parcel of American history and culture. Patriotic hymns, national anthems, military and theatrical music are all ways to show deep love for the nation. Patriotic songs in the early days were sung by the British settlers and reflected their hopes and dreams. Some of these were re-written with new words to familiar tunes as the United States grew. Patriotic songs arose from the conflicts that made America independent and great.
‘The Star Spangled Banner’ is sung in school assemblies, at sports events and gatherings of all sorts. It is part of who we are as Americans. In 1814, Francis Key wrote a poem inspired by the flag that hung triumphantly over Fort McHenry during the naval battle of Baltimore, known as the ‘Star Spangled Banner’. Like a number of other American songs the poem was set to a familiar tune called, the Anacreon Heaven, written by John Stafford Smith for a London based social music club for men. The song became the official song of the United States Navy in 1889, President Woodrow Wilson endorsed it in 1916, and in 1931 it officially became the American National Anthem, agreed by congress and signed by President Herbert Hoover. The song is symbolic of what it means to be an American. *Anacreon was a Greek poet who wrote short songs.
John Stafford Smith (1750– 1721) was born in Gloucester, England. He was a composer, musicologist and organist. He had a firm grounding in music, he followed in his fathers footsteps as church organist. As a child he sang in the Gloucester Cathedral School choir. He was one of the first collectors of Johann Sebastian Bach manuscripts. He wrote the Anacreonic song which later became known as ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ the patriotic song we known as the American National Anthem.
Print ‘The Star Spangled Banner’
| Free Printable | Intermediate Piano Sheet Music
Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
‘Yankee Doodle’ is a song that has a long history, it is not known who wrote it. The tune to this popular song is thought to be very old, possibly medieval. A 15th century Dutch version with lyrics for a harvest song, form the basis to the modern song, including the word “dudel” which roughly translates as a simpleton. Macaroni is a reference to a 17th century wig and a dandy was a superficial, vain person, someone who was focussed on his appeareance and having a good time. A self made British Dandy was a middle class man who pretended he was from a higher class than he was, someone who put on airs and graces and impersonated the aristcracy. They tended to wear fancy silk and put feathers in their caps. There may be a number of underlying themes in this song.
This tune is hard to pin down to a particular author. It is thought to have had several versions, possibly originating as a song written by the pre American revolution British to mock the American soldiers. It is likely that the current version was written by Edward Bangs in 1776.
‘Yankee Doodle’ Free Easy Piano Sheet Music
Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Father and I went down to camp
Along with Captain Gooding,
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
There was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion,
Giving orders to his men
I guess there were a million.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony,
He stuck his head in a beauty shop
And came out with a Toni.
Yanker, didel, doodle down,
Diddle, dudel, lanther,
Yanke viver, voover vown,
Botermilk und tanther.
‘We Love You America’ is a simple American Patriotic song . It is an easy song to sing and play which is great for building confidence for beginner musicians.
Andrew Fling was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1963. As a child he played clarinet and trumpet in the school band. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition and K-12 music education certification at Arizona State University. He shares his love of music with kids through music lessons, general music and band in Christian and public schools, and through this website which he founded in 2007.
We Love You America (Fling) | Free Easy Piano Sheet Music
We love you America,
Atlantic to Pacific.
We love you America,
We think you are terrific.
Katherine Bates was inspired to write the words for this song in 1883 on a trip to teach summer school in Colorado Springs. She saw and wrote about white buildings at “White City”, the ” World Colombian Exposition” in Chicago, fields growing wheat in Kansas and scenery, including Pikes Peak. Pikes peak was the original name of the poem. It was first published in 1895 for the 4th of July.
‘America the Beautiful’ was set to music by Samual Ward (1848-1903), who was born in Newark, New Jersey. He studied music, wrote hymns, founded the Orpheus Club of Newark and was an organist at Grace Episcopal Church. ‘From Sea to Shining Sea’ is an American idiom referring to the land stretching between the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. A God given land whose beauty is written about in the poem ‘America’ by Katherine Bates, which inspired Samual Ward to set it to music. This became the patriotic song ‘America the Beautiful’. Strange but true, although they lived at the same time, they never actually met! Samual Ward died a year before the song became popular and ironically Katherine Bates did lived to see it.
‘America the Beautiful’ (Ward) |
| Free Printable | Easy Piano Sheet Music
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self control,
Thy liberty in law.O beautiful for heroes prov’d
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country lov’d
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine.O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’, also known as ‘Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory’, is an American Civil War song written by American writer Julia Howe and set to the old song ‘John Brown’s Body’. The song was written during the American Civil war and sung as a Protestant Christian ‘Camp’ song. It has half a century of history written in a few words and is about the good spiritual morals of America.
It is a religious worship hymn, battle march and social activist chant rolled in one. It sounds like a spiritual, an echoe perhaps of its roots, the song Howe may have heard Unionist troops sing as they marched. A song about a man, John Brown who tried to start a slave rebellion, ‘John Brown’s Body’inspired her to write the lyrics which united the abolition of slavery with religeous righteousness. To this day it represents the moral view, be good and God will welcome you in heaven.
William Steffe (1830-1890) was born in South Carolina. He is attributed with writing down the music for the song we know today as ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ in about 1856. It was a camp-meeting song which brought people together and lifted their spirits to God “Glory Hallelujah.” The tune became the Unionist marching song in the American Civil War. William Steffe was a South-Carolina born Philadelphia bookkeeper and insurance agent as well as a composer.
‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ (Steffe) | Easy Piano Sheet Music
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have read His fiery gospel writ in rows of burnished steel!
“As ye deal with my condemners, so with you My grace shall deal!
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,”
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free!
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
Many Americans are proud of their Irish roots. ‘The Minstrel Boy‘ by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) is thought to have written this patriotic piece in memory of friends from Trinity College, Dublin, who fought in the 1798 Irish Rebellion. The ‘Minstrel Boy’ is a patriotic song set to the melody of ‘The Moreen’ which is an old Irish Air. It was a popular song sung by Irishmen during the American Civil War and continued to be sung in WWI. It is sung to this day, especially where there is a strong historical link to Irish-Americans. Many organisations with these links, such as police and firefighters sing it today.
Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was born in Ireland. He was a poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer. He acted in plays and enjoyed music and the performing arts. He wrote ‘The Minstrel Boy’ and also the well known song ‘Rose of Summer’. He was given the nickname of “Anacreon Moore” as he was required to burn Lord Byrons memoirs when he died. Thomas Moore considered becoming an actor, but in the end became a lawyer. Strange but true, Thomas Moore went to several different schools in Dublin and learned to speak with an English accent, he adopted it and spoke with an English accent for the rest of his life. He was friends with students who looked for French support to drum up a revolution against the British, they tried but failed. Thomas Moore is known for writing a collection of Irish Melodies as well as the patriotic song
‘The Minstrel Boy’ .
The Minstrel Boy’ (Moore) | Free Easy Piano Sheet Music
The minstrel boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you’ll find him
His father’s sword he has girded on
And his wild harp slung behind him
“Land of Song!” said the warrior bard
Tho’ all the world betrays thee
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard
One faithful harp shall praise thee!
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman’s chain
Could not bring his proud soul under
The harp he wore ne’er spoke again
For he tore its chords asunder
And said “No chains shall sully thee
Thou soul of love and bravery!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery!”
‘Your’e a Grand Old Flag‘ is sung at Scout meetings all around America. It is a tribute to the American Flag and contains references to a number of other patriotic songs. A popular version with slightly different words is the anthem for Melbourne Football club. George Cohen wrote this marching song for his stage musical ‘George Washington, Jr’ . The title is said to have arisen from meeting a Civil War veteran who held a folded flag which he referred to as “A grand old rag”, Cohen took this and coined the phrase ‘Your’e a Grand Old Flag’. The song was recorded with the original wording and the veteran is penned into the play. The song hit musical the heights in popularity and hit a record, becoming the first song from a musical ever sell over a million copies of sheet music!
George Cohen(1878-1942) was born in Providence Rhode Island, but his birth certificate is said to have contained two mistakes, his date of birth and his mothers name! So sometimes things are not quite what they seem, his family say he was born on the American Patriotic day July 4th, Independance Day. Whether true or not, it is perhaps fitting for a man who would later composed the patriotic song as ‘You’re a Grand Old Flag’. He was an American composer, playwright, lyracist, actor, singer, dancer, in short a multitalented all round entertainer. His career began as part of a vaudeveille act ‘The Four Cohens’ which was a family performance group. He was a prolific composer. He wrote more than three dozen Bradway musicals and over 300 songs. He was an early member of ASCAP the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Because he did so much for American musical theatre, there is a famous statue of him in Tyne Square.
You’re A Grand Old Flag (Cohan) | Easy Piano Sheet Music
There’s a feeling come a stealing
And it sets my brain a reeling,
When I’m list’ning to the music
Of a military band.
Any tune like “Yankee Doodle”
Simply sets me off my noodle,
It’s that patriotic something
That no one can understand.
“Way down South in the land of cotton,”
Melody untiring,
Ain’t that inspiring!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We’ll join the jubilee,
And that’s going some
For the Yankees, by gum!
Red, White and Blue,
I am for you,
Honest you’re a grand old flag.
You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag,
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
Under Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag;
But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
I’m a cranky hanky panky,
I’m a dead square honest Yankee,
And I’m mighty proud of that old flag
That flies for Uncle Sam.
Though I don’t believe in raving,
Ev’ry time I see it waving,
There’s a chill runs up my back
That makes me glad I’m what I am.
Here’s a land with a million soldiers,
That’s if we should need ’em,
We’ll fight for freedom!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For ev’ry Yankee Tar
And old G. A. R.*
Ev’ry stripe, ev’ry star,
Red, White and Blue,
Hats off to you,
Honest, you’re a grand old flag.
You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag,
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
Under Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag;
But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home ‘ was written by Patrick Gilmore an Irish-American, during the American Civil War. It was to become the theme tune for the 1942 musical of the same name. It was originally written under the pen name of Louis Lambert, a fashionable thing to do at that time. It is thought to be a song born from something heard and the circumstance of
Gilmore’s sister waiting for her sweetheart, a Unionist in that war.
Louis Lambert aka Patrick Gilmore(1829-1892) was born in Ballygar, County Galway, Ireland. He is known for his contributions to military music. At fifteen he played in an English band in Canada.He played in various bands and was a band leader, he played at President Buchanan’s inuaguration.
He founded his own band in 1858 and soon joined the war. He fought alongside General Burnside in North Carolina and was later put in charge of re-organizing military music, and given the title Band Master General. He organized Big Band extravaganzas and wrote the 22nd Regiment March. He set up what is now known as Maddison Square Gardens. He was a key figure in 19th century music. He founded the military music of today with his innovation of setting brass against reed instruments. In 1970 he was added to the Songwriters Hall of fame.
When Johnny Comes Marching Home | Easy Piano Sheet Music
When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We’ll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We’ll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah, hurrah!
Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah, hurrah!
And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior’s heart,
And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home
Q1 Who wrote the song ‘The Star Spangled Banner’?
A1 Francis Key wrote the song.
Q2 The ‘Battle Song of The Republic’ is also known as?
A2 ‘Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory’
Q3 Patrick Gilmore aka Louis Lambert first set Brass instruments with?
A3 Reed instruments.
Q4 Why is there a statue of George Cohen in Tyne Square?
A4 Because he did so much for American musical theatre.
Q5 The word anacreon is associated with which two composers?
A5 Stafford and Moore.
Interested in playing a few of the greatest patriotic songs ever? This post includes a wonderful collection of beginner and easy piano sheet music and lyrics for the patriotic songs that inspire us.
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Nursery Rhyme Piano Sheet Music for Children
More Nursery Rhyme Piano Sheet Music for Children
Famous Composers for Little Fingers
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 3
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music | Level 4
Released in 1975, Jaws quickly became the highest grossing film of all time and held that title until Star Wars was released in 1977. The music John Williams composed for the film is today one of the most recognizable movie themes. He used two simple notes to suggest danger and build incredible tension, prompting movie critics to compare him to master film maker, Alfred Hitchcock. Want to play the music of this blockbuster movie? This post includes four arrangements for beginner through easy piano. The first two arrangements are two tribute works that capture the spirit of the movie score, and make the music accessible for even the earliest beginner. The following two arrangements are simplified versions of the original score.
Shark Attack for Beginner Piano Solo
Jaws Theme for Easy Piano Sheet Music 
Jaws Theme for Intermediate Piano Sheet Music
John Williams, composer of the Jaws Movie theme, has been writing music for over six decades. Have you seen Home Alone, E.T. Extra-terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Superman, and the first three Harry Potter films? These are just a few of the movies for which John Williams has composed musical scores. John Williams described his Jaws theme as “grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable.” John Williams has also composed concertos, sports event and news channel themes, such as the themes for the 1984 Summer Olympics and NBC Sunday Night Football. John Williams has written the scores for most of Stephen Spielberg’s feature films. He also served as the principal conductor for the Boston Pops orchestra from 1980 to 1993, and is currently the laureate conductor. John Williams has received 51 Academy nominations, with only Walt Disney receiving more.
Q1 What was the highest grossing film in 1975? A Jaws
Q2 Who composed the film score for Jaws? A John Williams Q3 How does John Williams describe the Jaws theme? A John Williams described this theme as “grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable.”
Q4 The Jaws theme is based on a very short motivic idea. How many notes make up this powerful motive (melody)? A Two
One hot summer the perfect calm of an idyllic beach in Amity, New Hampshire , where a party is in full swing, is suddenly disturbed. A young woman meets her demise while swimming. She was attacked by an unusually large shark. But how is this going to be handled?The police chief, Brody, wants the shark to be hunted down, whilst the Mayor and some local business men want to carry on as though nothing happened.Either way the tourist economy that supports Amity is at risk. Local fisherman catch a Tiger shark and the mayor to declares the case closed. A Great White shark tooth is found in connection with another victim.Against fierce opposition, Hooper, an Ichthyologist, Brody the sheriff and Quint, Captain of the ‘Orca’, set out to capture the shark. We are tipped the wink that Quint is a hero when he regales Hooper with tales of his survival of USS Indianapolis. At this same moment the shark rams the hull of the boat…The Great White Shark is overpowered, the ‘Orca’ is destroyed and the men wash back ashore at Amity beach clinging to barrels from the wreckage. Amity is safe once more…
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