Beginner Piano Music

Beginning piano music for teachers & students - build your music library quickly and simply! Many levels of many genres, free.  Music-for-Music-Teachers.com

You just can't have too much beginner piano music!

Teachers, supplement your piano method:

With FREE DOWN-LOADABLE kids' sheet music,  

EASY to intermediate piano songs.

Traditional, and classical.

Scales, chords, & exercises, guides & reference sheets to explain the keyboard, guitar tabs, the music staffs, & more!


These easy sheets are the first things I use with my students

Important music sheets for the first week to a month:

Piano Keyboard Charts 

First, kids need to practice saying all the notes of the piano keyboard!  

Piano keyboard to print

Choose one of these handy layouts, from three different styles.


Songs all on the black keys make it simple for beginning piano players!

Black Notes songs

Little songs all on the black keys using only fingers 2, 3, & 4.

Some old, some new, & all easy for beginners!

Check out the long page of black keys songs...


Scales & chords for beginning piano students to shape the hand, with note names written inside the note heads, for beginners.

Piano Scales Sheet Music 

5-finger scales for shaping the beginner's hand posture.

Starting on C position, and moving up to the next all-white keys position.

These scales are the most important beginning technique my students learn.

With note names inside the note heads, and finger numbers with the first set, students catch on quickly!

Scales for left hand, too.


Notes on a staff for practicing reading note direction

Wormies - just printable notes!

Not yet true note-reading, but following UP or DOWN.

This little exercise is just looking at the musical staff as a "ladder".

One slow note at a time, the notes creep up or down - or stay the same.

Now you will KNOW if your students are understanding the movement of notes on the staff.


The easy sheets and songs above are what I send home with my students at lessons 1 - 4.

Some, like the scales & simple chords pictured above,  greatly improve students' recall of what we have gone over at lessons, because they are VISUAL.  They also help parents, who may not be musicians. 

Others, such as the paper keyboard, become a permanent reference, as we add a new key every week until even the black keys' names are memorized.



Additional beginner sheets & music

Beginner piano song "A, B, C"

ABC & CDE piano key notes

Simple 3-note songs set around Middle C; one for left hand, and one for right hand.

Free piano sheet music for beginners

Boil'em Cabbage Down, free piano sheet music pdf for beginners

A very easy and FUN song for beginners to play as a duet!  Teach them to play the open chords one week, and the melody the next.

Piano music "The Cat Came Back"

Cat Came Back lyrics, chords & melody

This silly but satisfying song has several versions, with a couple simplified to just 5 fingers. 

Irresistible lyrics!



Beginning note reading "C & D"

C&B  & C&D piano notes for beginners

One for left hand & one for right hand - super-easy note-reading songs.

Beginner note reading exercise "Crickets"

Crickets Go Hopping

...is really just a re-named version of "Snakes Go for a Walk."

You will find both those sheets at this page.

When students thoroughly "get" Wormies and Snakes, it's time to graduate to this page, which is almost the same, except for surprising "hops"!

Beginner piano song in which both hands must play Middle C

Dueling C's piano music for beginners

Both hands want to play the Middle C.

Your student must determine which hand it actually belongs to!

Simple song for two hands Fuzzy Wuzzy

Fuzzy Wuzzy

This graphic shows a "helper notes" version of Fuzzy Wuzzy.  (Another arrangement without lettered notes is also on this page.)

Just 5 keys are used in this song about the bear with no hair.


Sheet music for piano "Go Tell Aunt Rhody"

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

A simple 5-note song, with a pretty tune.

Several arrangements.

Sheet music for piano "God is So Good"

God is Good lyrics & music

Though this song has skips, it is easy, short, & sweet.

Especially with AlphaNotes! 

But there are other arrangements on this page.

Greensleeves music for piano students - broken chords

Greensleeves

Not the melody, but the easy broken chord accompaniment. 

You may think think this is way too hard for your young students.  Trust me, once they can play a 5-note scale and make a chord, they will be able to play broken chords. 

And they are not READING the notes, but following the chord symbols above the music notes.

The first beautiful piano music for my students.  It will inspire them.

Indian Dance - a powerful melody driven by repeated chords, this is a simple first "hands-together" song

Indian Dance 

High energy with a non-stop melody, this is a song your beginners will be amazed to hear themselves play!

A treble-clef-only version and an "AlphaNotes" version are also available on this site...

This song looks much harder than it is.


Jingle Bells piano sheet music for beginners

Jingle Bells sheet music

Beginners do well with familiar songs! 

They will enjoy it, even if Christmas is far away.

The one shown here has lettered notes, but there are several versions on this page.


Reading a music staff sheet

Jumping Fleas, a "How to practice reading music" sheet

This fun exercise, like Wormies, Snakes, and Crickets Go Hopping, tests students' interval recognition - in a fun way!

Sheet music for piano Kum Ba Yah, beginner arrangement

Kum Ba Yah

An old melody with simple appeals to God.

This is a familiar song to many.

Simple beginner song Lavender's Blue arranged for piano

Lavender's Blue with the Cinderella song lyrics

A pretty nursery song, used in the most recent Cinderella movie.

This is a favorite among young girls. 


Music book for beginners "Just the Black Keys"
Musical intervals for sightreading

Leaping Kangaroos

Test and strengthen your students' understanding of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th intervals.

The 3 main chords: I, IV, and V, introduced as the background to "Louie Louie"

Louie Louie sheet music for piano

Okay - so this is NOT a beginner's version! 

But I do have a LETTERED-NOTE version, very easy to read, on the same page.

This "song" is really just the 3 main chords in the key of C, set to the rhythm of Louie Louie.  

A super fun way to understand the I, IV, & V chords.

Beginner piano music Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Use this well-known song as a foundation for left hand chord technique, and also learning to transpose simple melodies.

Several arrangements; some with finger numbers and chord symbols, and some without.

Piano song for beginners "The Music Alphabet"

Music Alphabet Song piano notes for kids

From A below Middle C & up to G, alphabet practice!

Instead of "C" being the note for thumbs to reside on, thumbs are placed on "D".

Beginner piano music Ode to Joy

Ode to Joy

The famous song by Beethoven, multiple versions! 

Kids like to play a song that has a familiar melody. 

Get it with AlphaNotes or without; with left hand chords or without.

Beginner piano music "Peck! Peck! Peck!"

Peck! Peck! Peck! beginner piano sheet music

Centered around Middle C, a fun little song about chickens eating.

Staccato is the new thing in this piece.

Easy beginner piano music "Pizza Please"

Pizza Please keyboard music notes

"Hot Cross Buns", with new lyrics about pepperoni and cheese!

"Sharks" piano music - a shoo-in for the Jaws theme song!

Sharks, the Jaws theme song

"Sharks" piano music is a shoo-in for the Jaws theme song; at least, kids think so in my studio!

A very ominous-sounding theme, in the bass clef.  Introduce your students early to the sound of "minor"

"Snakes" note-reading sheet - follow the notes up and down!

Snakes piano sheet music for beginners

The same idea as "Wormies" (below), but much longer, with smaller note heads

Easy beginner piano exercise with skips

Snakes Go for a Walk

Just like Snakes, but with hidden "skips".  These are fun to try and spot!

I also have a new version of this exercise - same notes - called "Crickets Go Hopping"!

It is also on this page.

Piano sheet music Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Several arrangements for piano of this well-known song

Easy beginner exercise for note reading, "Wormies"

Wormies - just printable music notes on a staff

One slow note at a time, up or down, or the same!

See if your students "get it."


Jump to a page showing ALL the pieces and exercise above




Music that has letters in the notes to help beginning readers

The Cat Came Back, with letters in the notes

This page, called "Note-Naming Worksheets", is largely beginner piano music.  

Some pieces are much more advanced than beginner level, but are included in this list because they have some "helper" notes added - letters inside the notes.

Though these pieces are real songs, real music, they are also note reading WORKSHEETS in a fun way! 

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!

A list of the songs on the lettered-notes page:

All the Pretty Little Horses   

Amazing Grace

Arabian Dance

Ash Grove

Beethoven's 5th Symphony

Bingo

Blow, Ye Winds in the Morning

Boil'em Cabbage Down

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!

Cat Came Back lyrics and chords

Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly

Egyptian Dance helper version

The Erie Canal Song

The Erie Canal Song helper version

The First Noel

First Noel with some lettered notes

Found a Peanut

Für Elise, by Beethoven

Für Elise original version

Fuzzy Wuzzy

Fuzzy Wuzzy helper version

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

God is Good lyrics and music

God is So Good with a left hand part

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen helper version

Greensleeves (What Child is This)

Greensleeves chords & melody with just a few helper notes

Haida

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday with chords

Hark How the Bells (Carol of the Bells)

Hark How the Bells elementary - 3 pages

Have You Seen the Ghost of John

Hungarian Dance #5

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!

I'm a Pirate 

Indian Dance

Indian Dance helper

Irish Wedding

Irish Wedding "Helper"

Irish Wedding longer

Jingle Bells

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas helper version

Kum Ba Yah

Kum Ba Yah helper version

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!

Lake Pirates helper version

Lavender's Blue, with the "Cinderella song lyrics"

Lavender's Blue helper version

Louie Louie sheet music for piano

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary Had a Little Lamb alphanotes helper

Minka

Monsters Everywhere

Morning Has Broken

Morning Song by Grieg

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!

O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)

O Holy Night

Ode to Joy

Old Joe Clark

Pachelbel Canon in D

Pachelbel Canon in D, longer version

Pizza Please

Sharks, the Jaws theme music in disguise

Sharks, with dynamic markings!

Silent Night

Slumber My Darling (for singers)

Spanish Ladies

Star of the County Down

Star of the County Down helper version

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Tarantelle

The B-I-B-L-E

This Old Man

Toccata by Johann Sebastian Bach, introduction

Toccata, very short

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star helper version

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!

Up on the Housetop the Reindeer Pause, a Christmas song

Wabash Cannonball

Wabash Cannonball melody, helper

Wabash Cannonball Secondo

Waltzing Matilda

Waltzing Matilda with helper notes

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

What Child is This, lettered notes & helper notes

What Do You Do with a Drunken - or GRUMPY - Sailor

What Wondrous Love

White, Orange & Green (for singers)

Wiegenlied, "Mozart's Cradle Song"

Yo Ho Ho

Go here to see the piano music with letters page, "Note-Naming Worksheets"!



A collection of songs and beginning scales and chords for young pianists


Music I give my beginners in the first year of note reading

All the Pretty Horses, one of many "First Year" piano songs arranged mostly around Middle C

Primarily, this music on this page is made up of Middle C songs with "shared-between-the-hands" melodies.  Many will be familiar to your students. These are the same songs (along with many more) that are found in my book Songs Old & Songs New.

Additionally, there are some pieces that make use of left hand chords or very simple accompaniments.  

Most of the Middle C melodies have chord suggestions or illustrative graphics for an enterprising accompanist to devise his or her own backup.  A few also have written-out secondo parts, for easy duet playing.

Some of the songs duplicate songs for Beginners & also music with lettered notes, but this is because I tend to make songs with multiple levels of difficulty for my students.

Go here to see the "The First Year" sheet music!  

All the Pretty Little Horses

All Through the Night

Amazing Grace

Arabian Dance (from The Nutcracker)

Ash Grove, a Welsh folk song

Away in a Manger

Baby Bumblebee

Baby Shark

Bach Minuet in G

Back and Forth

Be Thou My Vision

B-I-B-L-E

Bingo

Blow Ye Wind

Boil'em Cabbage Down

Burleske

Go here to see the "The First Year" sheet music!  

Canon in D (in the key of C)

Cat Came Back

Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

Cowboy's Lament (I'm Going to Leave Old Texas)

Days of the Dinosaurs

Dipping Donuts

Eensy Weensy Spider

Fairies in the Garden

Farther On

Found a Peanut

For the Beauty of the Earth

Funeral March (Chopin)

Fur Elise

Go here to see the "The First Year" sheet music!  

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Go Tell It On the Mountain

Goober Peas

Greensleeves Duet melody

Happy Birthday

Happy Land

Hungarian Dance

I Gave My Love a Cherry - The Riddle Song

If I Give to You My Heart

I'm a Pirate

In the Hall of the Mountain King

Go here to see the "The First Year" sheet music!  

Jingle Bells

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Kum Ba Yah

Lake Pirates

Lavender's Blue, with the Cinderella song lyrics

Little Man Who Wasn't There

Loch Lomond, an old song from Scotland

Minka

The Moldau

Morning Has Broken

Morning Song by Grieg

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

O Holy Night

Old Joe Clark

On Top of Old Smoky

Go here to see the "The First Year" sheet music!  

Pat-a-Pan

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Red River Valley

The Riddle Song (I Gave My Love a Cherry)

Scarborough Fair

Shalom Chaverim

Shortnin' Bread

Sonatina in C by Clementi, easy

Snake Charmer

Spanish Ladies

Spanish Lady

Star of the County Down

Streets of Laredo

Swan Lake

Go here to see the "The First Year" sheet music!  

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Tarantelle, the Spider song

The B-I-B-L-E

Wabash Cannonball

Waltzing Matilda

The Water is Wide

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

What Child is This

What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor

Wolken

Yankee Doodle

Yellow Rose of Texas

Yo Ho Ho

Go here to see the "The First Year" sheet music!  




When the hands gain independence, they can play different parts simultaneously.  I call this level of music "After Year One"!

After Year One, in piano: Canoe Song

These are piano pieces which involve both hands, or add chord symbols for a made-up left hand.

Most of the pieces fit inside a 5-finger position.  Left hand parts are fairly slow-moving, or repetitive.  

Take a look at these piano music downloads for your young students moving from Primer music to Levels 1 and 2.  standing of chords.   

Go here to see "After Year One" sheet music!  

Are You Sleeping - or, Frere Jacques

Baby Shark

Blow, Ye Winds in the Morning

Bohemian Lullaby

Can-Can

Canoe Song

Cat Came Back

Cowboy Song

Desert Sounds

Eensy Weensy Spider 

Erie Canal 

Esther: For Such a Time as This - both original & EASY PIANO editions

Frere Jacques - also known as "Are You Sleeping?"

Funeral March

Fur Elise easy 

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

God is So Good

Go here to see "After Year One" sheet music!  

Hold On, a spiritual

How Doth the Little Crocodile 

Hungarian Dance

Irish Wedding, easy.  

Kum Ba Ya

Lake Pirates

Lavender's Blue

The Lily Maid 

Little Man Who Wasn't There 

Louie Louie

Go here to see "After Year One" sheet music!  

Medieval Bells 

The Moldau

Morning Song by Grieg

My Heart Will Go On, from "The Titanic"

O Susannah

Ode to Joy

Old Joe Clark

Pachelbel Canon (in C)

Pachelbel Canon in D 

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Sakura 

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

Snake Charmer

Streets of Laredo 

Go here to see "After Year One" sheet music!  

Tarantelle, the Spider song

The B-I-B-L-E 

Titanic theme, My Heart Will Go On

Toccata in Dm by J.S. Bach

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor

Winds in the Willow

Yo Ho Ho 

Go here to see "After Year One" sheet music!  




What happens when students start to master chord patterns?  Beautiful music!  I call this level "After Year Two."

Harp Ballad is best for older students or precocious pianists after Year Two

Free easy piano sheet music for your students who are past level one.  

Now students start using moving chords in the left hand, requiring more hand coordination.

Also, the range of notes is greater than in The First Year and After Year One. 

Some, like Harp Ballad, are more appropriate in Year 3 or 4, but for older students, such as students who start as beginners in their teen years, they may reach this level very quickly, with a strong understanding of chords.  

Go here to see the "After Year Two" sheet music!  

All Through the Night

America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)

America the Beautiful

Angel in the Sky

Bach Minuet in G

Bach Prelude in C

Beatitudes

Bingo

Brian Boru's March

Burlesque, by Leopold Mozart

Go here to see the "After Year Two" sheet music!  

Cat Came Back - with an active left hand part, this is a challenge for older students

Come Ye Sinners - one of the old gospel hymns

Cowboy's Lament - (I'm Going to Leave Old Texas)

Down to the River to Pray - this is a spiritual, featured in "O Brother, Where Art Thou"

Egyptian Dance

Erie Canal

Esther: For Such a Time as This - both original & EASY PIANO editions

Funeral March - Chopin's scary "Halloween music"!

Fur Elise original (part 1) - this is the famous part of the piece

German Dance - by Beethoven.  Full of built-in scale passages!

God is So Good

Goober Peas - a fun song from the American South

Go here to see the "After Year Two" sheet music!  

Happy Birthday - several arrangements, from very easy to very full-sounding

Harp Ballad - a beautiful piece that will spur your student to new skills!

Hava Nagilah - well-known Hebrew folk song

House of the Rising Sun - with exciting left hand chords

How Doth the Little Crocodile -a creepy-sounding song with lyrics from Alice in Wonderland

Hungarian Dance - Brahms' #5, a duet version

Go here to see the "After Year Two" sheet music!  

In the Hall of the Mountain King - a one-page arrangement of the main theme

In the Mood - the famous Big Band song, still popular!

Irish Washerwoman - this is NEW! Pretty and full of energy.

Irish Wedding - This is the most advanced arrangement of this popular piece that even my beginners play

Kookaburra - A good arrangement for classroom singing.

Lake Pirates - modeled after The Hobbit Soundtrack, Hobbit 3!

Largo, from the New World Symphony - A famous and beautiful theme.

Lavender's Blue - the "Cinderella song lyrics"!

Louie Louie - a set of chords used as an exercise, that sounds like real music.

Go here to see the "After Year Two" sheet music!  

Minka - Five different arrangements of this frenzied little tune.

Morning Has Broken - the song made famous by Cat Stevens

Morning Song - this is the lovely opening piece in the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg

My Country 'Tis of Thee (America) -
originally from England, known as God Save Our Noble King

My Heart Will Go On - the Titanic music

O Susanna - find several levels of difficulty for this tune, plus guitar music as well

Pachelbel Canon in D longer - I have several different arrangements of this piece.

Rain, Rain, Go Away - a duet and a couple of solos are on this page

Red River Valley - Several different arrangements, for the cowboy-loving students in your midst.

Riddle Song- also known as I Gave My Love a Cherry

Go here to see the "After Year Two" sheet music!  

Sakura - Very pretty, a Japanese song about cherry blossoms.

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God - a three-page arrangement of this familiar melody + descant

Streets of Laredo -Three different arrangements of this old cowboy song.  

Swan Lake -There are three arrangements of Tchaikovsky's ballet theme on this page

Titanic - the love song "My Heart Will Go On"

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - a good song for transposing into different keys

Waltzing Matilda - a famous song from Australia, very pretty


What Will We Do With a Drunken Sailor - an energetic song!


Yellow Rose of Texas - an old song about a pretty lady in Texas

Yo Ho Ho - a song about life at sea

Zum Gali Gali - a pretty minor-scale Hebrew song 

Go here to see the "After Year Two" sheet music!  




Check out a fancy version of the Pachelbel Canon that even elementary students can play!



The threshold of the larger world of piano music - Year 3 and After

Leaving more predictable patterns behind makes left hand chords trickier.  Good reading skills definitely required!

Gaelic Melody is an example of songs for After Year Three

These pieces stretch pianists' abilities.  

More technique is required, with the use of chord inversions, thicker textures in the melodies, and stretched hand positions.  

Additionally, note reading strays far outside the two octaves around Middle C.  

Go here to see the "Year Three and After" sheet music!  

Ae Fond Kiss, vocal score & piano music - A tender love song, saying farewell.

The Beatitudes - from the Bible, the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.  With every word included, a lovely melody.

Black Beauty movie sheet music - a beautiful, energetic piece of music, with a soaring, sing-able melody.  From the movie.

Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair - a very beautiful love song, with a slow start, and an energetic follow-up.  Some lyrics.

Braveheart - the lyrical musical theme from the 1995 film.  Beautiful.

Brian Boru's March - an Irish melody that pulls you along in a theme & variation style.  A driving, mesmerizing tune.

Cat Came Back lyrics and music - easy versions and harder arrangements; mix up the descending single-note bass line with triad chords.

Colorado Trail song - this is a cowboy song!  It is very short, but very pretty.

De Boself - a simplified arrangement of the original piece by T. Van Oesten; brisk and charming.

Down to the River to Pray - a fun song to sing & play.  This is a spiritual, with energy & lots of verses.

Emma, a Jane Austen "Emma" movie tribute - This is very lovely, and parents love it.

Esther: For Such a Time as This - both original & EASY PIANO editions

Funeral March by Chopin - A famous and ominous melody.

Gaelic Melody - traditional Celtic music, very lovely

Go here to see the "Year Three and After" sheet music!  

Goober Peas - a fun song, very singable, from the Civil War South.  

Harp Ballad  - an important piece in my studio, for beginning with big left hand broken chords. It's very pretty too!

House of the Rising Sun - Several arrangements of this famous piece 

I Love You, Lord - a church song popular for years, very pretty

In the Hall of the Mountain King - the famous piece about running from the trolls, by Grieg.  Three stormy pages!  Not too hard.

In the Mood - the famous Big Band song, still popular!

Irish Washerwoman - You know this piece.  It is swingy, fun, and pretty!

Keegan's Waltz - Another very beautiful piece.  This has a singable melody and flowing left hand chords.

Lavender's Blue - An easy melody to sing, this piano arrangement makes the melody sound elegant.

Go here to see the "Year Three and After" sheet music!  

Loch Lomond - This is is beautiful traditional song from Scotland.

Louie Louie - This sheet is showing the arrangement with chord INVERSIONS, which require SKILL.

Minka - A song from Russia, or possibly Ukraine.  Several arrangements here.

The Minstrel Boy - From Ireland, this is a moving patriotic song.

The Moldau (Short) - a famous and stirring theme from a symphonic work 

The Moldau (Long) -
a two-page, fuller arrangement

My Heart Will Go On - the love theme from Titanic

O Susannah - a vigorous arrangement with energetic chords

Once I Had a Sweetheart - a vocal/piano arrangement of a pretty folk tune

The Princess Bride - a lovely arrangement of the theme from the movie

Go here to see the "Year Three and After" sheet music!  

Red River Valley

Sakura

She Moved Through the Fair


Sleepsong - such a beautiful piece, a lullaby

Spanish Ladies, vocal/piano

Titanic music "My Heart Will Go On"

What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor

White, Orange and Green free Irish sheet music - One of my favorite songs of all time.  A patriotic song about a young girl who bravely faces an enemy soldier.

Go here to see the "Year Three and After" sheet music!  



Give your students the joy of learning Beethoven's famous Für Elise in an easy-to-read format... every note from the ORIGINAL piece is here in this beautiful new setting, which uses quarter notes instead of sixteenths.


Christmas Music of all styles, for all tastes

Christmas music collection, sheet music for piano & all instruments

There are all skill levels of songs represented on this very long (and growing!) page, and most of the pieces have multiple versions, and not just for piano, but guitar and voice!  

Also, check on the Black Notes Songs page and the Note Naming Worksheet page for additional, very easy versions of some of these popular songs.  

Go here to see the Christmas sheet music for piano!

All You That in This House - This unusual carol is offered as a lead sheet in several keys, with just one chord, and with an intermediate piano arrangement

Angels We Have Heard On High - Four different versions

Arabian Dance or Arab Dance - intermediate level, from The Nutcracker Suite. Very evocative, very hypnotic.

Arabian Dance - easy arrangement for first or second year

Away in a Manger - an easy but pretty arrangement 

Bring a Torch - a fun, bouncy energy characterizes this sweet carol from France.

Carol of the Bells - a very simple approach to Carol of the Bells, also known as "Hark How the Bells" in my studio

Christ Child's Lullaby - there are no lyrics to this lovely lullaby, but a lilting, unusual melody. 

Go here to see the Christmas sheet music for piano!

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day - This little carol can scoot right along, with the fixed left hand chords. Pretty easy.

Coventry Carol - a minor-key song that tells a sad story about a Bible prophecy.  Very beautiful, and familiar

Deck the Halls - the sounds of this fun carol immediately call Christmas to mind!

Ding Dong Merrily On High - a pretty carol with energy that is fun to play and sing

Entre le boeuf - a pretty minor French carol, with a new English translation.

The First Noel - several different arrangements, and different keys offered.

The Friendly Beasts -arrangements for guitar, piano, and lead sheets too.

Gaudete - especially for singers, the title of this very old Latin hymn means "Rejoice!"

Go here to see the Christmas sheet music for piano!

Go Tell It On the Mountain - several versions of this vigorous melody, including an easy and short version of this well-known Christmas song on the black keys.

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen -these arrangement sound full without having to be continually changing left hand chords.

Greensleeves (What Child is This) - as soon as your young students can play broken chords, they will be able to play this beautiful accompaniment part

Greensleeves solo - a full-sounding but simple solo version of the Greensleeves melody

Hark How the Bells (Ukrainian Bell Carol) - a very satisfying three-page easy arrangement of Carol of the Bells (Ukrainian Bell Carol) that sounds much harder than it is - a great favorite!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing - for piano and guitar, with a lyrics sheet too

Go here to see the Christmas sheet music for piano!

He is Born (Il est ne) - several  arrangements of this pretty French Christmas carol

Holly and Ivy - several levels of difficulty for this older English carol with a captivating energy 

Jingle Bells - several very easy arrangements of Jingle Bells, and one very full arrangement that will challenge your early intermediate students

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas -this beginner's version of the song has a secondo duet part, and also a version with letters in some of the notes.

Lo, I Bring You Tidings - a newer Christmas carol focusing on the words of the angel to Mary, and her response.

Masters In This Hall - an old song from England with unaccustomed lyrics, about how God has helped mankind. It has an exciting, soaring melody.

Nutcracker Music Russian Dance - a very fast piece with high energy!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - with arrangements for piano and guitar.  The piano version is a recital-worthy arrangement, and can be performed with a vocalist.

O Holy Night - a number of different arrangements of this beautiful song

Go here to see the Christmas sheet music for piano!

Pat-a-Pan - a child's song, very energetic, in a minor key. Beautiful and exciting.

Silent Night - perhaps everyone's favorite Christmas carol

Sing We Noel - this is a beautiful and UNFAMILIAR Christmas carol.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - the famous, fun poem of Clement C. Moore from the 1800s, set to an easy melody!

Up On the Housetop - a fun song about hearing Santa and his reindeer up on the roof

Wassail Song - Wassail, wassail all over the town - a joyous-sounding Christmas carol

We Three Kings - a mysterious-sounding song with intriguing lyrics

We Wish You a Merry Christmas - such a fun song to sing & play!

Wexford Carol - one of the most beautiful Christmas songs your students have never heard

What Child is This (Greensleeves) - several versions of this beloved carol

When Christ was Born- instrumental only, a flowing melody and compelling harmony.

Go here to see the Christmas sheet music for piano!



Easter Music - on this site & my other site

Easter song piano music

Can There Be a Place

This song lays out the history of humankind briefly - losing Paradise through the words of a Deceiver, learning about sorrow and dying.

The sadness and separation we have all experienced, especially in recent times, but Christ - the Messiah - has won over ultimate death for all who accept His free gift of eternal life, demonstrating that through His physical return from the grave.


Halloween Music - something for everyone

Halloween music collection

From brand-new Middle C note readers to kids who've been playing for years, there is something on this page for every student! 

Some classical music, lots of new music. Please click on the Halloween music link to be taken there!

Please click on the Halloween music link to be taken there!




Purim Music - this long dramatic piece tells the entire story of Esther in easy-to-remember verses

Piano and vocal music for Purim: Esther, For Such a Time as This

Queen Esther in the Bible, For Such a Time as This

A 57-page vocal/piano song telling the whole story of the Book of Esther! 

Never before has there been music for Purim, a song of Esther, like this!  With drama and poetry...

Now with both original & EASY PIANO editions.

Below, watch a video of the first 3 pages:


Thanksgiving Music

America the Beautiful piano music for easy piano

America the Beautiful

Several versions on this page, including lead sheets.

The Doxology - Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. A lead sheet for all musical instruments.

Doxology

A very old and SHORT hymn, offered here in many keys.

For the Beauty of the Earth piano sheet music

For the Beauty of the Earth

Several different arrangements.

A very pretty non-denominational sort of hymn... with general lyrics that few people could object to.

A musical prayer for Thanksgiving.  Guitar tabs and standard notation.

For Health & Strength - a prayer for Thanksgiving

Short and repetitious - to the point!  Also, it is joyful-sounding and pretty.  This is a SINGING round.

Find guitar tabs and also a lead sheet on this page.

Thanksgiving Song for beginner piano

Over the River & Through the Woods

New, but already becoming a favorite with my students!

This old-fashioned song has several arrangements, and a pretty duet secondo.


Groundhog Day

A song for piano about the groundhog



Just one song - but two versions:

One in which the groundhog is male, and one in which the perky little groundhog is female!

The Groundhog

One or more of your students may think Groundhog Day is worth celebrating with music...




Valentine's Day Songs

Songs for Valentine's Day for piano


Some of these songs have sweet lyrics, and at least one is just silly (Chocolate Romance).

Chocolate Romance

"Truffles, he loves me.  Orange, he loves me not!"


If I Give to You My Heart

A sweet little song about promising never to part.


Piano music Lavender's Blue

Lavender's Blue, with the Cinderella song lyrics

An old nursery song... but very pretty, unlike so many children's songs!  

In the Lily James Cinderella movie from just a few years ago, Cinderella is found by the Prince when he hears her singing this song from high in the attic where she is imprisoned by her stepmother.

Numerous versions, including a lovely one that imitates the arrangement in the movie.  

Wooden Heart

This is a folk tune from Germany, made famous in the United States by Elvis Presley.  Because his lyrics are copyrighted, I've supplied alternate lyrics (and you can also sing the German).




Do you long to introduce your students to classical piano sheet music?

Try these intros and excerpts - they are a non-threatening way to approach these pieces.

Clementi piano Sonata sheet music

These are different from the rest of the classical piano music on this site, in that they are short introductions, or excerpts from longer works.

Here are the pieces you will find on this very new (and growing) page:


Allegro Burlesco, by Kuhlau

Can-Can by Offenbach, the fun middle section with descending octaves.

Canon, by Pachelbel, the introduction with broken chord inversions.

Canon, the melodic, quick-moving section further into the piece.


Go here to see the short Classical Piano Sheet Music pieces!

Egyptian Dance by Saint-Saens

Etude in C, by Stephen Heller

Fur Elise, the beginning section 

German Dance, by Beethoven, transposed to C

Golden Wedding, from "La Cinquantaine"

Go here to see the short Classical Piano Sheet Music pieces!

The Moldau, by Smetana

Moonlight Sonata, a six-measure introduction, with every note - but in Cm.  Beethoven.

Prelude in Cm, J.S. Bach, the first eight measures

Sonatina Op. 36, No. 3, Clementi.  This is a happy-sounding piece, with a long scale and lots of broken chords squeezed into the first eight measures.

Symphony 6 Theme, Beethoven.  Not a piano piece, but such a joyous melody that every musician should know it.



Go here to see the short Classical Piano Sheet Music pieces!




Lead Sheets for All Instruments

Erie Canal, and other lead sheets

See all the free lead sheets at Music-for-Music-Teachers! 

Most of these sheets are in treble clef, in multiple keys, and many of them also have guitar tabs.  A few songs are featured with bass clef.  

All of these songs have lyrics & the chord symbols over the staffs - very handy for groups!

The lead sheets are not listed here; please click on the link above to go there.




Left Hand Only or Right Hand Only - click here

Classical Themes for the left hand


Students with one hand do better with music written with them in mind. 

Get started on your search for more music for your one-handed student here... Please click on the link above.



Duets & Ensembles for Piano & Keyboard - click here

British Grenadiers and other duets for piano


Piano duet & ensemble sheet music for students of every level; classical, folk tunes, Christmas duets, and some original music! 

Please click on the link above.

Piano duet sheet music for students of every level; classical, folk tunes, Christmas duets, and original music. 

Please click on the link above!



Hymns, Anthems, & Patriotic Songs - click here

These songs are part of the lifeblood of a nation and a people.  Here are arrangements easy enough for your young students, and some lovely and "big" enough for church or other public gatherings.  Click the link above to be taken to the page.


Broadway Music - click here

A comprehensive list of the most beloved musicals of all time!  

Which ones are right for your beginning singers?  

Which songs ought you to be wary of?

Oh, yes; there are definitely a few of those!




Piano Teaching Tools - click here

These pages include:

  • paper printouts of piano keyboards, 
  • scales and chords (both major & minor), 
  • flashcards large and small, 
  • exercises such as Hanon & Aloys Schmitt, 
  • staff paper of all sizes, 
  • theory exercises, 
  • ideas for note-reading and also rote learning,
  • my favorite book selections, and more. 

You will also find vocal & guitar helps on that page.  Please click on the link above.


Every kid, & every situation is unique

Every kid, every situation is unique... some kids will happily play week after week from their piano method books, enjoying each turn of the page with its new challenge, while others find the books boring and dig in their heels as you attempt to drag them through their lesson book. 

Some beginners move along quickly, while others need months and months to digest the small handful of notes around Middle C.

Some kids have heard classical piano music from the time they were born; with others, all they know is video game music.


So how do you choose instructional materials for them?

So how do you choose beginner piano music?  Well, all kids love to play what is familiar to them.

You will have to stretch them, expanding their tastes, but you must still satisfy their desire to play what sounds like music to them (the reason they were excited to play piano in the first place!) or risk losing them as students.

Never will I forget an account by the late John Holt (writer and early home-schooling advocate, and lover-if-not-master of the cello) in his book, Never Too Late: My Musical Life Story, about meeting another adult cello student.


Give them more than just SCALES...

Like him, she was a beginner, and they were comparing notes (no pun intended). Holt was thoroughly enjoying himself with the growing number of real cello pieces he could play, even though he knew his abilities were modest.

But the poor woman cellist was confined to scales by her teacher, week after week. At the end of each lesson this man would say something like, "I think you're almost ready for a real piece... but no, we'd better continue with the scales."

Yikes! Can you imagine?

I don't think too many of us would do that to our students, but the story is a useful reminder that LOVE, a sense of wonder, and excitement are what draw children to music, and we teachers must not forget that.

Boy at piano, Music-for-Music-Teachers.com


Yes, they need the basic foundation.  And more...

Scales? Yes. Exercises? Yes. Note-reading? Of course. 

But with beginner piano music, always at least one FUN piece, a piece that gives the child something to look forward to at practice time.

Keep looking until you find a piece they enjoy, and they will likely work on it happily until it is perfect.

So where do you find that perfect piece? It's so easy to make a wrong choice for a picky student!

And there's the nagging little voice in the back of your mind reminding you that copying is definitely not legal...


But sheet music is so expensive!

If only there were sources of free kids' sheet music, beginner piano music!  Music, in addition, with suggestions for teachers, and stories and tips.

Well, now there is.  My site, and other sites too.

I have a large and ever-expanding collection of beginner piano music, and what I offer here has been tried and found worthy of keeping!

Much of it is just supplemental to the beginner piano music method books I use, but a lot of it is music I consider essential for my students, to lay down a hands-on foundation of understanding music theory.

Add some spice to your students' music diet without breaking the bank -- almost all the beginner piano music you will find here is free and easily printable, with no strings attached.  

Furthermore, you don't have to guess what's there before you hit the "Download" link - you can look my free sheet music over before downloading it onto your computer!

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

SingTheBibleStory.com clickable logo link

Recent Articles

  1. Sweet Hour of Prayer Hymn Sheet Music for Late Elementary Piano

    Swe
    Sweet Hour of Prayer hymn music has been around a long time, and is greatly loved still. Check out 3 arrangements for beginning to elementary piano!

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  2. Vivaldi "Spring" Piano Sheet Music for Elementary Piano

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    Vivaldi Spring piano sheet music in two versions for early students, with and without note names. A nice introductory piece to the classical repertoire!

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  3. 12 Major Scales Free Download for Piano: Chords, Arpeggios & Scales

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    12 major scales & chords: free, printable downloads. One & two-octave scales, I, IV & V chords & inversions & arpeggios, & a new PART 2!

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  4. Printable Piano Music What Do You Do With a Drunken or GRUMPY Sailor

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    Printable piano music What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor, late elementary & first-year sheets! This may be your student's favorite for a long time.

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  5. The Wellerman Sheet Music: Easy Piano & Lead Sheets!

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    The Wellerman: sheet music & lyrics for piano & other instruments. Such a fun, high-energy song to sing & play - learn it fast with letters in the notes!

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Songs Old & Songs New

All the first-year material I give my beginner students. 

Piano keyboard sheets, scales, chords, note-reading exercises, and over 256 pages of music!

The Story of Esther - a Bible opera!

Queen Esther in the Bible

This beautiful song book for piano & voice "Esther, For Such a Time as This",  available as a digital downloadtells the riveting story of the time when  Jews in ancient Persia faced a foe named Haman, and how a  brave young queen risked her life to save her people.

A good choice for a singing story-teller, an operatic group, a short theater production, or a class of children!

This book is also available from Amazon as a paperback.


Just the Black Keys, a piano song book for young beginners.

Just the Black Keys

This book is available as a digital download  from this site.  Visit this page to see some free examples from the book.

It is also available from Amazon as a paperback!

This is the perfect easy start for little pianists.

And when they start reading white-key notes on the staff, this is a fun easy resource to say each week, "Choose a new black-key song at home this week and figure it out to show me next lesson!"  They will be spending more time at the piano.

The Adventures of Tonsta, Volume 1, is a book about a young boy travelling over mountains and fjords from village to village, encountering trolls and helping folk in distress.

The Adventures of Tonsta

A perfect read aloud storybook
for little boys or girls. 

The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young boy with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.  

With a red cap on his head and a sack of tools slung over his shoulder, Tonsta seems to meet people in distress wherever he goes.

Lots of trolls in this book - including one who gives him a Christmas gift!

Available at Amazon

Piano duets Disney Duets music book

Kay, US:
...wanted to let you know that I love using your early beginner sheet music with the alphanotes.

I have 10 beginners who began piano this fall, and your materials are great, especially the Christmas pieces, to bridge that time of just starting to read a few notes and being able to play more complicated rhythms. 

Your site has helped my studio a great deal.  Thank you for sharing!!!!    Merry Christmas!

Christmas Around the Piano music book

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!

April:
Thank you so much for all the information and materials! Your site is very thorough and well organized!

I am a piano teacher in New Orleans, LA and in the process of putting together my own curriculum and recordings. You have inspired me to make my materials available to all online!

Easy Piano Songs for Children

Kristen:
Hi Dana, I just wanted to send you a short note and say thank you for the AMAZING resources.

I've been teaching piano for about 10 years, and I wish I would have come across your website sooner. I've especially been using your songs for my young beginners who are entering 1st grade. Thanks again!

BIG NOTE Christmas Songs for piano

Comments: Do you have a story or a question about music teaching? Share it!

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...

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Hi Jolly 
I'm looking for the words and music to the song Hi Jolly about a camel driver who worked for the US Calvary. Dana: I don't know it, Katie. I suggest …

Should I Ask for Donations, or Charge for Music? 
Hello, Let me just say that, as a piano teacher of 20+ years I find your site educational, informative and refreshing! I've been toiling with the …

I Need Help Reading Notes 
Dana: I am placing a link to a PDF book here that talks about basic notereading . (I've tried to place this link before; hopefully it will work …

How Do You Find Students and Run a Successful Business In a Small Town? 
Rachael says: Hi, just a little note to say I've enjoyed your site. I'm a guitar and piano teacher too.. also living somewhere off the beaten track …

Once I Was a Pretty Good Pianist... Not rated yet
Hi, I took lessons and played piano from 2nd grade through 12th. I wasn't an amazing pianist, but played at the usual level for that many years. I am …

First Piano Lesson Not rated yet
What are the most important things to include in a student's first piano lesson ? Where should I start ? What should I teach first ? Also, can you maybe …

My Student Wants Fast Intermediate Pieces Not rated yet
Hello, Does anyone have suggestions for fast pieces for a student? I would say she's an advanced beginner. She can play a more difficult version of Fur …

O come O come Emmanuel Not rated yet
As a long-time piano teacher, I am always happy when students request pieces that are unfamiliar to most, but so hauntingly beautiful! I love your site. …

Frustrated That I Can't Play Piano as Well as I Once Did Not rated yet
Dear Dana, This website was just a real pleasure to discover... I cannot wait to be able to play piano again! I thought you could maybe help me with …

Awesome! Not rated yet
I was looking for some Christmas music for my beginner students and a co-worker sent me a link to this page. I can't wait to use some of the music with …

Somewhere in time Not rated yet
Can you do the beginner sheet music for Somewhere in Time that my daughter can learn to play. Thanks Dana Sorry, Aaron, but this music is under …

This is a wonderful site Not rated yet
This a wonderful site. I am teaching my younger sister to play the piano and she picked it up in 5 minutes and of course I will donate it will be my pleassure. …

¿Puedo...? Not rated yet
¿Puedo decir la partitura exacta que quiero? Dana : Hi, Bego, English please... I am not too good at Spanish. Only what you can find on my site …

I'm confused...! Not rated yet
I learnt how to play piano and was really good at it and accepted the challenges...but it got really hard and I gave it up and didn't practise it for a …

Mother of 10 Year Old Boy Piano Player Not rated yet
I was wondering if you had any piano sheet music for songs about hockey? My son will be participating in a Music Bridges Performance and he chose hockey …

Rustic Chapel - Do you know it? Not rated yet
I cannot remember the name for sure, it was a piece I played probably in the early 50s. what do I need I need to do to get more information on your …

Do You Have Any Suggestions for a Non-Traditional Method/Course? Not rated yet
Loved your site, especially the tips for teaching improv. I am looking for a beginner's piano method to teach my children. Do you have any suggestions …

Older player likes chords and scales Not rated yet
Thank you so much for the time you put into creating the chords and scales, as I'm studying on my own the grade two material and needed to know the fingering …

Thanks so much! Not rated yet
I used to learn piano but my teacher went away and I found this website the best, now I have some music to read and play. I like the carols the best …

Absolutely Wonderful! Not rated yet
I was always interested in playing the piano as a child, but never had the chance to. Now as a mother I wanted to give my son a chance to appreciate …

Do you have clarinet sheet music? Not rated yet
Do you have clarinet sheet music? Dana: Hi, Katy, For clarinet sheet music, the best bet is my long list of LEAD SHEETS . These are mostly …

Easy way to know your piano notes. Not rated yet
I noticed the first day when I practiced my recorder,it has the same exact notes as on piano, and on sheet music the notes look exactly the same. So if …

I Just Began Playing Piano... What Should I Do First? Not rated yet
I just began playing piano and I wanted to know what I should do first? There are so many different sites that say so many different things and I dont …

I Really Love Piano Not rated yet
Hi, I'm 22 and I love really love piano. But in my country the piano is really expensive and in this 22 years I only dream about it at night. I hope …

Click here to write your own.

Shoshone Love Song?  Not rated yet
Any chance of a search option on your site please? The range is so extensive it is difficult to find a particular piece. Thanks Dana: A search …

Concerned Teacher -- Why isn't the song I want here? Not rated yet
My kids love the song Mary Did You Know. But for some reason it's not on here. I also love that song. So it would be nice to Have Mary Did You Know. …

The Day I Learned Piano Not rated yet
The day I learned piano was the happiest day of my life. My piano teacher is named Muad Carroll. She is 90 years old but she has the hand of a cheetah. …

Could You Offer Songs Like Grease? Not rated yet
Ok I have found a few great songs that I think I would love but I have done a few of them already. I need some sheet music to play that is fun and upbeat …

GREAT WEBSITE! Not rated yet
Great website I'm telling everyone I know who loves the piano!!!!!!!!!!!! Dana: Thanks, Kiah!

Voice and Piano Teacher Not rated yet
This site is FABULOUS. For all the reasons you explain on the site itself--this is exactly what piano teachers need! (I still need to go look at the …

Awesome Not rated yet
Awesome! Thank you for your piano music. I love it! I actually am not a teacher except to myself. I am ten years old and am trying (and succeeding) to …

Teaching for the First Time Not rated yet
I'm 11 (I'm not kidding!) and am supposed to teach my 6 year old brother to play a song on the piano while his two friends sing to it. His friends are …

Hello, I'm a beginner here and I have a question... Not rated yet
Do all beginners get good after the first semester..? Dana: No, Kitty, like most of life's pursuits, you get out of music what you put into it. …

Thank You Not rated yet
Thank you for your web site. My children and I will enjoy playing the music you have available.

Part of Your World  Not rated yet
Why don't you have Disney music on here? Every child loves, let's say for instance, Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid. So if you want more people …

Click here to write your own.


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.