Tarantelle, the Spider Dance

Tarantelle is a great 5-finger melody.  Years ago I wrote lyrics for it that younger children enjoy.  Energetic, with swift-moving chords, it is fun to play it faster and faster.

A big arrangement all on one page

Tarantelle sheet music

I call this a "big" arrangement, because it SOUNDS big to kids, and includes the entire melody.

Years ago I wrote lyrics for the tune, and that proved to be fun for younger kids, but a bit off-putting, perhaps, for older kids who would otherwise jump at this piece.  It's a quick and satisfying learn for them, but they don't need any words to distract their own imaginings.

See the download link all the way at the bottom of the other arrangements, way down the page.

An arrangement in Dm

This one has a shortened melody:

Tarantelle, a piano song about a spider.  In the key of Dm, for beginners.

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

Tarantelle and Tarantella are names for fast-moving, exciting pieces based on folk music.   The compositions I have heard always sound like dances to me.

Here is the same Dm arrangement, but with all the notes holding letters inside their heads:

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

Here is the same arrangement as above, but with only a few "AlphaNotes". I call these arrangements "alphanote helpers".   A closeup view: 

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

There are at least 195 Tarantelles and Tarantellas listed at IMSLP, but the version I remember from my childhood came from a John Schaum book with pictures of a boy madly dancing after being bitten by a spider - a tarantula.  

Here is an easy shared-hands version set around Middle C - this version is longer than the Dm arrangements, above.

Tarantelle dance for beginning piano
Tarantelle song, with lyrics about a spider

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

The main difficulty with this piece for a beginner is the 3-4 time signature.  Somehow, three beats are always harder for young kids to feel (at first).

Also, on page 2, the unexpected black notes may throw your little guys off.  But this is good practice for their reading.  

Here is a Secondo part, if you wish to turn this little piece into a duet:

The Spider Dance Tarantelle for beginners, with secondo
Duet secondo for Tarantelle folk song for beginning piano

And here is a solo, very like the one I loved as a child, in the key of Am:

Piano solo Tarantelle
Piano solo Tarantelle for elementary piano


The links to the Dm piano arrangements:



Download short arrangement of Tarantelle in D minor



Download short version with lettered notes, Dm



Download alphanotes "helper" version - just a few lettered notes



The links for the Am beginner arrangements:



Download Tarantelle for beginner piano, shared-hands melody around Middle C position



Download the same arrangement, with just a few "helper notes" - letters inside the noteheads



Download secondo duet part for Tarantelle folk song



Download long Am piano solo Tarantelle, with lyrics



Download the long Am version with NO lyrics, all on one page (shown at the top of this page)



Your young students are going to love this song!



More 5-finger songs at Music-for-Music-Teachers:

Cat Came Back (easiest version) - with fun-to-sing lyrics, many verses!


Erie Canal - Part I has only 5 notes, but is a satisfying introduction to this song


Fuzzy Wuzzy - cute and short!


Go Tell Aunt Rhody


God is So Good - a sweet melody with sweet words


Jingle Bells - every child knows this one


Mary Had a Little Lamb - a song with many uses!


Ode to Joy, the famous tune by Beethoven


Pizza Please (Hot Cross Buns) - 3 notes, arranged for each hand


Sharks (3 notes, for left hand) - this is like the Jaws theme song


Snake Charmer - with fun lyrics and a mysterious minor melody


Tarantelle - the spider dance, with silly lyrics about tarantulas


When the Saints Go Marching In - with several arrangements!


Interested in songs from the Bible for your students or church?  Check out my other website, SingTheBibleStory.com!

SingTheBibleStory.com clickable logo link

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Lori, homeschool mom, songwriter/musician and private music teacher:
Just wanted to say "thank you" for this site and for all of your dedication and hard work! I have literally combed the internet for months on end to find free and "doable" resources for my young students and for my own children... I will be returning to this site over and over again from here on out and am excited to present some of the tools I found today on here to my voice and piano students later this week! My thirteen-year old son is happily, as I type, working with the guitar chord sheets I just printed for him!

Miggy, United Kingdom:
I've just found your website and I think I've died and gone to heaven. I've just taken up the piano again after 35 years absence... buying sheet music was getting expensive/a luxury. The tips are great too. I also live in the middle of nowhere so buying from a shop is not really an option unless I fancy a 120 mile round trip for a piece of sheet music!

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I just purchased O Holy Night to use as a duet for Christmas Eve Mass.  

Thank you so much for this simple, easy to read version as my vocalists are not professional and this music won't be quite so intimidating as other arrangements I have. Your expertise is much appreciated!!  Merry Christmas!

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Comments

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About the Author

Dana Thynes

Hi, I'm Dana!  (Say that like "Anna".)  I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.

Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.

You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.