Learning How To Play The Piano

The piano is such a foundational instrument in music. No matter what instrument you want to play, a fundamental knowledge of the piano can help you. It can be a gateway to virtually all other instruments. Playing the piano can improve memory, sharpen concentration and focus, improve self-discipline, improve motor skills, improve math skills, and it uses the whole brain. Plus, it can make you happy!

The grand orchestral (yet pianistic) arrangement of this piece feels like it could be part of a musical. It begins with a Hanon-like exercise being played on the piano – along with a full orchestration behind it! (Charles-Louis Hanon was a famous French composer and pianist from the 1800s who wrote numerous piano training exercises which are still widely used today.) No doubt any of your students who study piano will feel the familiarity right away.

While the melody isn't terribly difficult, there is a bit of a challenge at the bridge, beginning in measure 19. One possible sticking point is the A# in measure 20, and how it contrasts with the A♮ in measure 24. This is a good section to practice, and playing the melody on the piano (Hey, see what we did there?) can help your students to hear the difference and sing it correctly. The good news is, the orchestration will help keep your singers on track, as the melody is covered by various instruments.

Lyrically, there are really only two verses (the first one repeats) along with a bridge. The words are both instructional and educational as you might expect. One thing to pay attention to is the pronunciation of the word piano as two syllables in some places and three elsewhere.

The orchestration of this piece is so very delightful, we recommend letting your students listen to it without the singing just to hear it well. Besides the expected piano lines, there are other splendid moments like the piccolo trumpet entrance the third time through.

If you use this in a performance, what better way to sing about the instrument than by having a piano on stage? Or perhaps one or even several smaller keyboards. If you're using our accompaniment tracks, a student could pretend to play the piano, or an actual pianist could play the part along with the recording.