Mary Had A Little Lamb
is a nursery rhyme of American origin dating from the 19th century. It was first published in 1830 as an original poem by Sarah Josepha Hale.
Its one of the most played piano songs for beginners in the United States.
This may be due in part to its extreme ease. Thats why we put it in this ranking.
So lets see how to play the notes of on the piano.
Notes Of The Right Hand
To learn how to play the right hand of Happy Birthday on the piano, simply play the following sequence of notes:
G A G C B G G A G D C G G G E C C B A F F E C D C.
The letters above correspond to the sequence of notes in the right hand of the song.
Lets see now how to play those of the left hand.
Reading Piano Sheet Music For Beginners
Learning how to read music as a beginner simply means learning what the symbols on the page are telling your hands to do. This includes knowing the names of the piano keys, the notes on the musical staff, time signatures, note values, and different musical symbols.
But, before we dive into basic music reading skills , youll want to make sure you have all the supplies you need. This means some blank staff paper, an erasable pencil , and a keyboard instrument of some kind. You dont need a Steinway to get started a small keyboard will do fine for learning the basics of music reading. You will, however, want at least 66 keys to play complete most pieces of music.
You May Like: How To Play Music From Apple Watch
How To Maintain & Improve Your Sight Reading Abilities
Once youve got the hang of reading music, its not enough to simply check the skill off your list. Learning an instrument means practicing and building muscle memory around your piano playing. After all, you dont want to just be able to read sheet music in your own living room. You want to be able to walk into a room of musicians and join a band practice, or to get up onstage and jam out with a bunch of pros.
To truly master your music reading skills, follow these steps:
- Create a daily practice routine where you warm up your fingers and hands with some simple scales, and play through some easy music
- Join a community choir, band, or orchestra where youll be challenged to sight read music regularly.
- Find a piano teacher who can help you close any gaps in your knowledge or correct your technique as you advance
- Take a music theory class. Music theory is the study of what actually goes into the music on the page and how it relates to the music you hear.
Working your new skill into your daily life, practicing, and learning from an expert are some proven ways to improve your music reading abilities.
Focus On Counting Intervals And Landmarks
A quick easy way to get started reading sheet music is to focus on counting intervals based on landmark notes. The three notes that make the most sense to use are middle C, bass F, and treble G.
Middle C is directly in the middle of bass F and treble G, and so counting notes within each staff from those landmark notes makes note reading faster. The landmark middle C will mostly be used for reading notes that are on ledger lines, or just above the bass staff, and below the treble staff.
Take a look at the sheet music example below from this collection of easy classical piano songs.
In the Diabelli Bagatelle, the pianist can easily find their starting notes by using all 3 landmarks. Looking at the bass staff, there is a chord made up of two notes.
To figure out the bottom note, simply locate bass F and then count up an interval of a second.
This gives us G. The note above the G is simply a skip above giving us B. For the right hand, simply take note of where middle C is located, and then count up a 2nd to get D.
To play the rest of the piece you can compare the relative distance between each beat, or even each measure on a broader scale.
Landmark notes are a quick way to identify exactly where to go on the piano and they are great for when a beginner pianist gets stuck and is not sure where to go.
Don’t Miss: How To Redeem 6 Months Free Apple Music Verizon
Why Learn How To Read Music
Being able to read music means you can see and understand the structure of the piece and how its put together, allowing you to develop a greater understanding of the whole composition. The symbols of sheet music, like most spoken languages, have been around for centuries. Each symbol represents a different pitch, rhythm, and tempo of a specific song. The symbols also represent the techniques used by whoever is playing that musical piece.
Some musicians will tell you that reading piano sheet music isnt necessary to be a competent player, but you only limit yourself by going that route. Many pianists will attest that learning and studying sheet music early and often is the right choice.
Learning this essential skill:
- Unlocks a world of expression and freedom on the piano
- Means youll be able to play in a band or other ensemble
- Helps you sight read on other instruments including strings, brass, or woodwinds
- Allows you to communicate about music with other musicians
Even if your main instrument is not the piano, learning the basics of how to read music note names can be easier when you know your way around a keyboard.
Studying the piano and learning how to read sheet music go hand-in-hand. To develop your skills in the most efficient way possible, you must start learning how to read sheet music right off the bat.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle Twinkle is probably the first song anyone ever learns on the piano, especially younger students. Adults can benefit from learning this song at the beginning of their playing too. Get prepared to play by placing your right-hand thumb onto the middle C note. All of the notes you need for the song will now be sitting under your fingers apart from the highest note in the piece. This note is only one note above your pinky finger though so it wont take much stretching.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
C C G G A A G
How I wonder what you are
F F E E D D C
Up above the world so high
G G F F E E D
Like a diamond in the sky
G G F F E E D
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
C C G G A A G
How I wonder what you are
F F E E D D C
Also Check: How To Upload Songs To Amazon Music
Summer Camp Fun Look No Further Free Online Camps For Kids 5
After all, weve all heard a tune on the radio and thought, Wow, I would love to be able to play that. And weve all been envious of friends and family members who have performed in bands, constantly fantasizing about rocking out on stage with them. But how do you make those musical dreams become a reality?
Whether you want to casually play the piano at a party or tickle the ivories like a professional in a dimly-lit cocktail lounge, developing your music reading skills is the first step. Knowing how will give you an advantage in musical situations.
In Order To Properly Perform This Strategy And Learn How To Read Sheet Music For Piano Follow These Three Simple Steps:
With music, there are many different strategies that can help you move quickly to a better understanding. Everyone approaches music differently. Some beginners intuitively grasp complex concepts, others need a little help along the way. Some may even find this strategy more confusing than the standard approach.
You May Like: How To Play Minecraft Music On Piano
Top 30 Easy Disney Piano Songs For Beginners
Since 1923, Disney has played an important role in everyones childhood. It doesnt matter whether youre a senior or a Gen A kid. Were pretty sure almost anyone has vivid childhood memories attached to Disney.
The company has created thousands of amazing animated movies and shows to bring colors into kids lives. Be it the earliest Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs or the latest Coco these thoughtful animations are popular throughout the world.
So, in todays post, weve rounded up the top-30 easy Disney piano songs for beginners. The difficulty level increases down the list. That said, even the most challenging one has a 6/10-rating. Read more!
How To Use The Sheet Music Pages
Tap on a Sheet Music title to see its front page and listen to how it can be played. Only members can download and print all our PDF files. Non-members are able to download a small selection of our free files, these are marked “Free Printing”
The MP3 and MIDI files have been created to play the music to a good style, so they can be used to help improve your musical skills, as well as understand the dynamics of each piece. You can listen to these files free of charge but downloads are restricted to our members.
Instrumental parts are included in our member files.
If the sheet music is not available on our site then it may be available in this store.
If there is a piece of music already on the site but it is not arranged for your particular instrument or ensemble send us a request, we may be able to help .
Don’t Miss: How Can You Listen To Music Without Wifi
Additional Beginner Sheets & Music
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
Wiegenlied, “Mozart’s Cradle Song”
Go here to see the piano music with letters page, “Note-Naming Worksheets”!
Give Them More Than Just Scales
Like him, she was a beginner, and they were comparing notes . 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.
Recommended Reading: What To Do In Music Row Nashville
Get A Head Start On Classical Piano
Love classical music but not sure where to start? Head over to Classical Piano Quick Start, four free lessons designed for beginners taught by Victoria Theodore. Victoria is a classically trained pianist with degrees from Oberlin College and Stanford University, and has played with Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder. Start your classical journey with Victoria today!
Practicing Piano Hands Separately Slowly
Sheet music should only be digested in small bits rather than all at once. A simple strategy is to start reading each hand separately at a slow tempo. Take your time going through each measure aiming to be as accurate as possible.
To properly sight read sheet music you should focus on eliminating any pauses or abrupt stops. While note accuracy is important, its very tough to develop a sense of rhythm with constant hiccups.
Because our ears are an important part of making music, its important to try to play everything correctly the first time you encounter a piece of music. To help with this I recommend phantom playing.
Phantom playing is a lot like tapping. You will play the music, except not on the keys. Instead, the music will be played in your lap or on the piano fallboard.
What this does is help establish correct finger placement, recognizing the distance between intervals, and also doubling down on the importance of rhythm. Unlike tapping rhythms, what phantom playing also does is develop a feel of transferring weight between individual fingers.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Streaming Service For Classical Music
How To Download Print And Save
To the file , just click on one of the “free piano collection for beginners” file’s name below. Adobe Reader will open another window, and display the sheet music on the screen:
- To print it, just click on the little “printer” icon on the top left corner of the displayed sheet music. Oh yes,don’t forget to turn on your printer! )
- To save it, just click on the “save” icon , on the top left corner of the displayed sheet music.
Simple. Clean. Easy.The “free piano collection for beginners” file’s format is PDF. If you don’t have Adobe Reader, necessary to read PDF files, click on the icon below and install it for free.
Here It Is: Your Free Piano Collection for Beginners
Grade 1
Clapping And Tapping Rhythms
Most beginner pianists have a habit of jumping straight into playing the music on the page. While the notes are important, rhythms are equally important.
As you look at a new passage of music, begin by clapping or tapping the rhythms on the page. For a beginner, I recommend clapping the rhythm of each hand separately. This helps ensure that you have a firm grip on what rhythms each hand is responsible for.
As you clap the rhythm make sure to count out loud. Counting out loud is an important part of playing any piece, and it helps solidify that youre in the correct time meter. Using your voice to count also helps with establishing a steady rhythm.
Putting the hands together while playing can be a challenge. This is also the same when it comes to the proper execution of the rhythms. To helps with this I ask many of my piano students to tap the rhythm in their lap or on a flat surface.
When tapping the rhythm its important to count and make sure the hands enter at the correct time. If a pianist can tap and clap the rhythm correctly, it increases their chances of playing the notes correctly in time once they are added in the next step.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Apple Music Replay
What Do I Need To Know Before I Learn Songs
Before you look at the song suggestions we have here, you should at the very least be able to
Identify the notes on your piano or keyboard.
Play the piano at least a root note independently to your right hand in various simple rhythms.
Be able to hold a 3-note chord instead and play the notes independently in an arpeggio style.
Your options will be far greater if you can also
Identify the notes on a musical staff for both hands.
Read and study rhythms.
Have a few basic chords memorized for contemporary pieces
The truth is that a bit of musical theory is required to study a song on any instrument. You could try to work the notes out by ear, but it is a long process and requires perfect ears.
It may work for easy piano songs, but to be able to work out all notes held at one time doesnt come quickly without already having substantial knowledge of chords, at least.
Actually, as far as pop songs are concerned, you only really need to take in 8-10 popular chords to play the majority of go-to progressions. Pop is a genre with pretty easy musical accompaniment. It relies on catchy lyrics and interesting vocal melodies. The piano is there to back the superstar, so to speak.
In fact, there are loads of tutorials available online easy piano songs that will show you that with just 3 or 4 chords under your belt, you can already jam your way through renditions of hundreds of popular songs.
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music
Piano sheet music that’s fun to learn and easy to play. Arranged for early to early intermediate levels.
We’ve listed some of our best easy piano pieces below including well known traditional pieces, hymns, classical pieces, and originals written specifically for early elementary through early intermediate students.
Sheet music on our site is free to view and play. Paired with a tablet or even a smartphone, you can easily sight read our pieces in the browser while seated at the piano. We also have an option for PDF downloads/prints for every piece on our site.
You May Like: How To See Your Loved Songs On Apple Music