Go Tell Aunt Rhody
Lyrics & Sheet Music
"Go Tell Aunt Rhody" is a very well-known old song that is found in a lot of beginning musician books. Why?
An important song for beginners
This song doesn't stray far with its melody notes, staying inside the reach of the five fingers (for piano), or the easiest beginner notes, for other instruments.
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Be sure to point out the "C" and "G" symbols above the melody lines... I like to check that my student remembers the purpose of the chord symbols by asking them, "What's this for?" or "What does this C mean?"
Concerning lyrics for modern children?
What about these sad lyrics that mention the dead goose?
Well, some kids won't even really notice, but you might comfort those who seem concerned about the goose by telling them that the feathers and down were traditionally (and even to this day) highly prized for pillows and comforters! So that when a goose died of old age, it still could be a part of the family, in a way.
Even easier - a few lettered notes
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
A pretty 2-hand arrangement
Here is a piano arrangement for progressing beginners, with moving left hand notes that do not follow a pattern: the hardest kind of left hand for young students, I think!
But the harmony is pretty:
Part of the Suzuki violin repertoire
Beginning violin students play this song - by ear! - but note-reading students who come from another instrument, and another method, will find sheet music for the tune handy:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
If you are both a pianist and a violinist, you will notice that the melody is simplified for violin in the second line, avoiding a movement of a third for beginning fiddle players...
An easy-to-read approach
In the violin sheet music below, the string name and finger number for each changing note is stated above the notes:
The links for the piano music:
Download Go Tell Aunt Rhody easy lead sheet
Download easy piano arrangement with some letters in the music notes
Download two-handed piano arrangement for advancing beginners
The links for the violin sheet music:
Download Go Tell Aunt Rhody for beginner violin
Download the easy-to-read setting for beginner violin
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
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!
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Interested in songs from the Bible for your students or church? Check out my other website, SingTheBibleStory.com!
All the first-year material I give my beginner students.
Piano keyboard sheets, scales, chords, note-reading exercises, and over 256 pages of music!
This beautiful song book for piano & voice "Esther, For Such a Time as This", available as a digital download, tells 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.
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.
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!
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About the Author
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.
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