Fur Elise for Beginner Piano

Fur Elise is probably the most famous piano music Beethoven wrote. Even beginner piano players will be able to read and enjoy this free printable sheet music version!

This version is just a portion of the main melody, but it is the most exciting part, the part everyone knows. I have simplified it to make it fit within the Middle C hand position, but kids will like to play it anyway.

Later on, they will feel ready for "the next level" of difficulty, in which they will play all the notes of the main melody (using both hands, still, to play just melody). After that, it will not be such a huge step to playing the entire melody of part I of Fur Elise with right hand alone, with the left hand playing the broken chords.



Printable piano music Fur Elise

Below is a worksheet I sometimes use with Fur Elise. It is a "What's Missing?" kind of worksheet, but I don't send it home with a student for homework -- instead, we do a bit of it right at the lesson every week until it is done. This is a painless way to get some music theory in, and help me know if they are understanding things (or failing to understand anything in particular).

How is it painless? Because they do the worksheet side-by-side with the actual music. I helpfully point out the first spot where a note is missing ("Oh, look, we need a D sharp there."). They glance over at the music sheet, compare, and then draw it in. No stress. And some kids really enjoy worksheets!



Companion worksheet

However, anything can lose its freshness and fun value if that is the only thing that is offered. A teacher needs many tools, and many games, for drilling notes and music-reading skills. Looking at a skill a different way will frequently reveal holes in students' understanding.

For example, I have come to realize over the years that the concept of Middle C can be a mystery for beginners. If not continually reinforced, they may think that Middle C for the left hand is an octave lower than Middle C for the right hand, instead of being the exact same note.

Thanks for stopping by!

Do You Have Questions or Comments About This Page?

Do you have a funny story about this music, or does it remind you of something you'd like to share with other readers? Do you have a question? We'd love to hear it!