Online Sheet Music Blog

15 Best Christmas Songs of All Time

2017-12-13T15:17:00.002-08:00

Who doesn't have a special place in their heart for Christmas songs? The festive songs of the holiday season help us to tap into all our warm and fuzzy feelings. We've compiled 15 Christmas songs that you are guaranteed to love this holiday season!

1. "The Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth"

2. "Christmas Time Is Here"

3. "What Christmas Means To Me"

4. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

5. "Carol of the Bells"

6. "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"

7. "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch"

8. "I'll Be Home for Christmas"

9. "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear"

10. "O Holy Night"

11. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

12. "Santa Claus is Coming To Town"

13. "White Christmas"

14. "Please Come Home For Christmas"

15. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

10 Spooky Songs for Halloween

2017-10-23T11:45:00.002-07:00

What is the best way to get ready for the spookiest time of the year? With music, of course! Set the mood for your Halloween festivities with these 10 spooky songs.

1. "Witchcraft" by Frank Sinatra

2. "The Time Warp" from 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'

3. "Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett

4. "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell

5. Theme from 'The X-Files'

6. "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker, Jr.

7. "I Put A Spell On You" by Jay Hawkins

8. "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

9. "Evil Woman" by Electric Light Orchestra

10. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson

Cooling Down: 10 Songs for Fall

2017-09-22T11:06:00.001-07:00

Happy First Day of Fall! As the weather cools down and the leaves begin to change, people are heading back to school and back to work after long summer vacations. To help ease this time of transition, learn some songs that suit the season!

1. "Autumn Leaves"

2. "September Song"

3. "November Rain"

4. "Autumn Serenade"

5. "Forever Autumn"

6. "September"

7. "Leaves That Are Green"

8. "Harvest Moon"

9. "Autumn In New York"

10. "The Chill of an Early Fall"

Back to School: 10 Songs to Get You Pumped for School

2017-08-01T11:59:00.001-07:00

Summer is over and kids everywhere are preparing to head back to school. That means new classes, new friends, new schools and new experiences. Prepare for the first day with 10 songs about school to get you ready to own this new year!

1. "ABC"

2. "Hot for Teacher"

3. "Teacher"

4. "Another Brick in the Wall"

5. "Rock and Roll High School"

6. "Campus"

7. "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"

8. "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)"

9. "Fifteen"

10. "Jeremy"

Warning: Don’t Download Free Sheet Music Again Until You Read This

2017-07-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

Here’s the big misconception…

Everyone knows that Limewire, Pirate Bay and KickAssTorrents are not words you go shouting about, or even mentioning without looking over your shoulder first. We all know downloading music and movies is illegal, although it doesn’t really feel like that big of a deal… It’s not like you’re robbing a bank or committing a murder. It doesn’t even feel like a “crime”. It’s not like you’re hurting anyone or that anyone will find out or care you downloaded some stuff. Right?

But the reality isn’t so pretty. Yeah yeah, I know we’ve all heard it before, it’s stealing—but so what? I’ll tell you what, and hold tight because I’m dropping the REAL myth-buster in just a couple paragraphs, plus something really exciting.

It’s a crime punishable by hundreds-of-thousands of dollars, and you will likely spend quite a few years in jail. Yikes. And the person you’re hurting the most, besides yourself potentially, is the artist—whom you’re a pretty big fan of if you’re downloading their music. Although, many of us may feel like “Well yeah I like Beyoncé, and I’m downloading her songs because duh hello…but honestly I don’t really give a flip about stealing from her, she’s rich af!”. True story, she is rich af, but it doesn’t make stealing any less of a crime unfortunately, or the penalty any less harsh.

So how come nobody gets caught?

Actually they do, it’s just not something you usually hear about on the news (the news tends to cover things much more entertaining, like what’s new with The Bachelor, how pregnant Beyoncé is, and Trump’s ever-changing hairstyle). Although, you may have heard about that Minnesota woman who was fined $1.9 million for downloading just 24 songs illegally, according to CNN.com. That was a whopper.

Ok, so what does this have to do with downloading sheet music?

You may only be an innocent cello player in your high school band just trying to learn the Moana soundtrack! Well my friend, you’re not so innocent if you’ve been downloading free sheet music. Unless it’s Mozart or Mary Had a Little Lamb, if it’s free, it’s illegal. With the exception of course if it’s a licensed distributor of legal sheet music offering a promotion or a sale. Like we happen to be right now!

We’re offering one free download of the sheet music for any song on any instrument of your choosing, totally free, and totally legal! Click here to get your coupon code—it’s only available for a limited time!

Alright, we’re ready for the bomb-dropper. What’s the big deal with downloading sheet music illegally? It’s probably just a slap on the wrist compared to downloading music and movies, right?

Wrong!

Get this; you can be fined up to $100,000, and you can go to jail for it too. Seriously, for sheet music? Yes friends, for sheet music. This goes for not only downloading sheet music illegally, but making copies of sheet music you have bought! When you purchase sheet music you are purchasing only one copy, and every additional copy you want must be purchased separately according to copyright law. And the law don’t care if you “didn’t know”, if you’re only an innocent kazoo player, or if you’re Winona Ryder. The law says, quote, “Nah, idc”. Savage.

Ok, so we get that downloading or making copies of free sheet music is illegal and you can get in a lot of trouble for it. Any other reasons? *I laugh in the face of danger, HA HA HA!*

Simba, calm down. And yes, there is!

If the law isn’t a good enough reason, you probably didn’t know that illegal sheet music is often inaccurate. Yep, you may very well be spending your time learning the wrong notes or chords. You may also be missing whole parts, even pages. This is because most illegal sites have unauthorized versions of artists’ music, so they’re usually not the real deal. Just like the days when you thought you were downloading Our Song by Taylor Swift on Limewire only to find out it was actually a Chinese man singing for 30 seconds. That was always a bummer.

And if all else fails to convince you, just remember The Golden Rule. Musicians, of all people, should appreciate and understand the harm of someone stealing their work. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Happy Birthday, America | 10 Songs for 4th of July Celebrations!

2017-06-30T14:53:00.003-07:00

Barbecues! Fireworks! America! Summer is in full swing and the 4th of July is next week. What songs are you playing to celebrate? We have selected 10 patriotic songs that are sure to be a hit!

1. "You're A Grand Old Flag"

2. "America The Beautiful"

3. "The Marines' Hymn"

4. "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)"

5. "Anchors Aweigh"

6. "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

7. "The Caissons Go Rolling Along"

8. "God Bless America"

9. "Stars and Stripes Forever"

10. "This Land Is Your Land"

Don't see your favorite? Browse more patriotic sheet music here!

5 Songs for Dad

2017-06-15T18:06:00.002-07:00

With Father's Day around the corner, now is time to think of some songs to serenade the man who has been in your life from day one. Here are 5 songs to spark some inspiration for this Sunday!

1. "Papa Don't Preach"

2. "My Father's Eyes"

3. "The Greatest Man I Never Knew"

4. "Father and Son"

5. "Dance With My Father"

Tony Awards 2017: A Recap

2017-06-12T17:05:00.001-07:00

Broadway’s biggest names hit the stage yesterday for the 2017 Tony Awards, which aired live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Kevin Spacey hosted the event honoring theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway.

Bette Midler took home the award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in 'Hello, Dolly!' "I'd like to thank all the Tony voters, many of whom I’ve actually dated," Midler cracked. The last time Midler was recognized at the Tony Awards was over 40 years ago when she won a special Tony Award in 1974, not long after she began her career on Broadway in the 1967 production of 'Fiddler on the Roof.'

'Hello, Dolly!' actor Gavin Creel also won Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical.

Accepting his award for Best Actor in a Musical for 'Dear Evan Hansen,' which explores bullying and teen suicide, Ben Platt said, “To all the young people watching at home, don’t waste any time trying to be like anybody but yourself. Because the things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.” 'Dear Evan Hansen,' which also won Best Musical, also earned super-duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul the award for Best Score.

Cynthia Nixon won Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for her performance in 'The Little Foxes.'

Walking away with a total of six awards, 'Dear Evan Hansen' was the evening’s biggest winner. In comparison, 'Hamilton,' last year’s biggest winner, snagged 11 Tonys. 'Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812' led this year’s race with 12 nominations but only won two awards.

See the full list of winners below:

Best Play:
"Oslo" (WINNER)
"A Doll's House, Part 2"
"Indecent"
"Sweat"

Best Musical:
"Dear Evan Hansen" (WINNER)
"Come From Away"
"Groundhog Day The Musical"
"Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"

Best Book of a Musical:
"Dear Evan Hansen" — Steven Levenson (WINNER)
"Come From Away" — Irene Sankoff and David Hein
"Groundhog Day The Musical" — Danny Rubin
"Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" — Dave Malloy

Best Original Score:
"Dear Evan Hansen" — Music & Lyrics: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (WINNER)
"Come From Away" — Music & Lyrics: Irene Sankoff and David Hein
"Groundhog Day The Musical" — Music & Lyrics: Tim Minchin
"Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" — Music & Lyrics: Dave Malloy

Best Revival of a Play:
"August Wilson's Jitney" (WINNER)
"Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes"
"Present Laughter"
"Six Degrees of Separation"

Best Revival of a Musical:
"Hello, Dolly!" (WINNER)
"Falsettos"
"Miss Saigon"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play:
Kevin Kline, "Present Laughter" (WINNER)
Denis Arndt, "Heisenberg"
Chris Cooper, "A Doll's House, Part 2"
Corey Hawkins, "Six Degrees of Separation"
Jefferson Mays, "Oslo"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play:
Laurie Metcalf, "A Doll's House, Part 2" (WINNER)
Cate Blanchett, "The Present"
Jennifer Ehle, "Oslo"
Sally Field, "The Glass Menagerie"
Laura Linney, "Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical:
Ben Platt, "Dear Evan Hansen"(WINNER)
Christian Borle, "Falsettos"
Josh Groban, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"
Andy Karl, "Groundhog Day The Musical"
David Hyde Pierce, "Hello, Dolly!"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical:
Bette Midler, "Hello, Dolly!" (WINNER)
Denee Benton, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"
Christine Ebersole, "War Paint"
Patti LuPone, "War Paint"
Eva Noblezada, "Miss Saigon"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play:
Michael Aronov, "Oslo" (WINNER)
Danny DeVito, "Arthur Miller's The Price"
Nathan Lane, "The Front Page"
Richard Thomas, "Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes"
John Douglas Thompson, "August Wilson's Jitney"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play:
Cynthia Nixon, "Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes" (WINNER)
Johanna Day, "Sweat"
Jayne Houdyshell, "A Doll's House, Part 2"
Condola Rashad, "A Doll's House, Part 2"
Michelle Wilson, "Sweat"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical:
Gavin Creel, "Hello, Dolly!" (WINNER)
Mike Faist, "Dear Evan Hansen"
Andrew Rannells, "Falsettos"
Lucas Steele, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"
Brandon Uranowitz, "Falsettos"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical:
Rachel Bay Jones, "Dear Evan Hansen" (WINNER)
Kate Baldwin, "Hello, Dolly!"
Stephanie J. Block, "Falsettos"
Jenn Colella, "Come From Away"
Mary Beth Peil, "Anastasia"

Best Scenic Design of a Play:
Nigel Hook, "The Play That Goes Wrong" (WINNER)
David Gallo, "August Wilson's Jitney"
Douglas W. Schmidt, "The Front Page"
Michael Yeargan, "Oslo"

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
Mimi Lien, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" (WINNER)
Rob Howell, "Groundhog Day The Musical"
David Korins, "War Paint"
Santo Loquasto, "Hello, Dolly!"

Best Costume Design of a Play:
Jane Greenwood, "Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes" (WINNER)
Susan Hilferty, "Present Laughter"
Toni-Leslie James, "August Wilson's Jitney"
David Zinn, "A Doll's House, Part 2"

Best Costume Design of a Musical:
Santo Loquasto, "Hello, Dolly!" (WINNER)
Linda Cho, "Anastasia"
Paloma Young, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"
Catherine Zuber, "War Paint"

Best Lighting Design of a Play:
Christopher Akerlind, "Indecent" (WINNER)
Jane Cox, "August Wilson's Jitney"
Donald Holder, "Oslo"
Jennifer Tipton, "A Doll's House, Part 2"

Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Bradley King, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" (WINNER)
Howell Binkley, "Come From Away"
Natasha Katz, "Hello, Dolly!"
Japhy Weideman, "Dear Evan Hansen"

Best Direction of a Play:
Rebecca Taichman, "Indecent" (WINNER)
Sam Gold, "A Doll's House, Part 2"
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, "August Wilson's Jitney"
Bartlett Sher, "Oslo"
Daniel Sullivan, "Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes"

Best Direction of a Musical:
Christopher Ashley, "Come From Away" (WINNER)
Rachel Chavkin, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"
Michael Greif, "Dear Evan Hansen"
Matthew Warchus, "Groundhog Day The Musical"
Jerry Zaks, "Hello, Dolly!"

Best Choreography:
Andy Blankenbuehler, "Bandstand" (WINNER)
Peter Darling and Ellen Kane, "Groundhog Day The Musical"
Kelly Devine, "Come From Away"
Denis Jones, "Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical"
Sam Pinkleton, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"

Best Orchestrations:
Alex Lacamoire, "Dear Evan Hansen" (WINNER)
Bill Elliott and Greg Anthony Rassen, "Bandstand"
Larry Hochman, "Hello, Dolly!"
Dave Malloy, "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812"

10 Songs for Summer

2017-06-09T16:16:00.002-07:00

School is out and the sun is shining! Celebrate the season with the best songs of summer including one hit wonders, pop hits, and funky favorites. Did your favorite song make the list?

10. "Summer Nights"

9. "Cruel Summer"

8. "Summer Wind"

7. "School's Out"

6. "Summertime Sadness"

5. "All Summer Long"

4. "Summer"

3. "Summer Love"

2. "California Gurls"

1. "Under the Boardwalk"

5 Songs for Mom

2017-04-26T11:30:00.001-07:00

What better way to celebrate the women who gave us life than with music? With Mother's Day around the corner, we have compiled a list of 5 songs for mom. From Tupac to Ozzy, these are 5 songs you and your mom are sure to love!

1. "Mama I'm Coming Home"

2. "Dear Mama"

3. "Hot Mama"

4. "Oh Mother"

5. "Mother's Little Helper"

2017 ACM Awards: Complete List of Winners

2017-04-03T15:07:00.001-07:00

Did you miss the ACM Awards yesterday? Don't worry! We've got you covered.

Country music’s biggest stars rocked Las Vegas Sunday night at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. The show opened with a medley of performances by stars like Carrie Underwood, Luke Brayn, Keith Urban and Entertainer of the Year winner Jason Aldean. Florida Georgia Line were also part of the opening, but their big performance was at the end of the night when they were joined by Backstreet Boys to sing "God, Your Mama, and Me" and" Everybody."

Co-hosts Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley joined rocker Joe Walsh for a tribute to rock legend Chuck Berry, singing his 1955 classic, "Johnny B. Goode."

Sam Hunt surprised his fiancee Hannah Lee Fowler by singing "Body Like a Backroad" directly to her in the audience. Thomas Rhett took the award home for Male Vocalist of the Year and Miranda Lambert did a solo acoustic performance of her song "Tin Man" and later won the awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year.

A full list of the winners is below:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean — winner
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Thomas Rhett — winner
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert — winner
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Big & Rich
Brothers Osborne — winner
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town — winner
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Kane Brown
Chris Janson
Chris Lane
Jon Pardi — winner
Brett Young

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Lauren Alaina
Cam
Brandy Clark
Maren Morris — winner

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

A Thousand Horses
Brothers Osborne — winner
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“Black” Dierks Bentley
“Dig Your Roots” Florida Georgia Line
“Hero” Maren Morris
“Ripcord” Keith Urban
“The Weight of These Wings” Miranda Lambert — winner

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR

“Blue Ain’t Your Color” Keith Urban
“H.O.L.Y.” Florida Georgia Line — winner
“Humble and Kind” Tim McGraw
“My Church” Maren Morris
“Vice” Miranda Lambert

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Blue Ain’t Your Color” Keith Urban (written by Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen)
“Die A Happy Man” Thomas Rhett (written by Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe London) — winner
“Humble and Kind” Tim McGraw (written by Lori McKenna)
“Kill A Word” Eric Church feat. Rhiannon Giddens (written by Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde)
“Tennessee Whiskey” Chris Stapleton (written by Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove)
“Vice” Miranda Lambert (written by Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

“Fire Away” Chris Stapleton (directed by Tim Mattia)
“Forever Country” Artists of Then, Now & Forever (directed by Joseph Kahn) — winner
“Humble and Kind” Tim McGraw (directed by Wes Edwards)
“Peter Pan” Kelsea Ballerini (directed by Kristin Barlowe)
“Vice” Miranda Lambert (directed by Trey Fanjoy)

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

“Different For Girls” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
“Forever Country” Artists of Then, Now & Forever
“May We All” Florida Georgia Line feat. Tim McGraw — winner
“Setting the World on Fire” Kenny Chesney feat. P! nk
“Think of You” Chris Young feat. Cassadee Pope

10 Songs for Spring

2017-03-22T11:54:00.001-07:00

Spring is officially here! March 20th marked the vernal equinox, or the First Day of Spring. Looking forward to the blooming flowers, green grass, and rays of sunshine? We are celebrating a season perfect for song with 10 songs for Spring!

10. "The Robin's Return"

9. "Spring, Beautiful Spring"

8. "First Day of May"

7. "Some Other Spring"

6. "The Echoes of Spring"

5. "You Must Believe in Spring"

4. "April in Paris"

3. "April Love"

2. "Spring Song"

1. "April Come She Will"

5 Essential Chuck Berry Songs

2017-03-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Chuck Berry, the father of Rock 'n' Roll, died Saturday at the age of 90. He was an incredible musician who, in both sonics and lyrics, forged a new art form. The 5 below songs are some of Mr. Berry's greatest. Did your favorite Chuck Berry song make the list?

1. "Maybellene"

2. "Johnny B. Goode"

3. "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"

4. "Roll Over Beethoven"

5. "Memphis Tennessee"

5 Best Breakup Songs

2017-02-28T16:50:00.000-08:00

Not everyone passes the test. Did you remember? Were you grateful and loving... or complacent and apathetic? Were you thoughtful... or lazy?

If you failed to do The Right Thing on Valentine’s Day, then you may be in need of a morale boost. Few things are more painful than a bad breakup. (Or, if you were the dumper, then maybe you feel great having unburdened yourself of a lackluster partner!) Whether justified or completely unexpected, it is immensely difficult to pick up the pieces and move on.

Music has a way of soothing the soul in times of distress. Here are our top 5 favorite breakup songs. (At least, here’s what we listen to cope…) Did we miss your favorite song? Let us know!

Love the Way You Lie - Eminem

Love Takes Time - Mariah Carey

Burn - Usher

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Surprises at the Grammys!

2017-02-13T13:28:00.002-08:00

The 59^th Annual Grammy Awards have come and gone. Critics endlessly hyped the contest of the evening – Adele versus Beyoncéin each of the four categories both artists were nominated for. The results are in, and it was a lopsided victory for Adele, who swept all five awards she was nominated for. “25” won Album of the Year, with flagship “Hello” winning Song of the Year. Although “Lemonade” took Best Urban Contemporary Album, Beyoncé has for the fourth time failed to win the Album of the Year category. Nevertheless, Adele repeatedly paid tribute to Beyoncé, praising her artistry and influence. Adele also won Record of the Year (“Hello), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Hello”), and Best Pop Vocal Album (“25”).

Twenty One Pilots raised plenty of eyebrows with their unusual response to winning Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Stressed Out.”When the announcement was made, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun dropped their pants and walked to the stage to collect their prize. Chance The Rapper surprised many by taking Best Rap Album for “Coloring Book,” the first streaming-only album to both be nominated for and win a Grammy. Chance also won Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance for “No Problem.”

What surprised you about the 2017 Grammys? Feel strongly that someone else should have won, or that another song or album deserved an award? Let us know!

5 Valentine’s Day Songs

2017-02-08T13:41:00.002-08:00

Fraught with peril, Valentine’s Day presents a challenge to many a young (and not so young) couple. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the certitude of your love and forever win the affection of your partner… or lose everything in a rash display of carelessness or forgetfulness. It celebrates togetherness and romantic love as much as it exposes the fragility of relationships.

This Valentine’s Day, take the time to be thoughtful. Has your partner dropped hints about anything? How would your partner want you to express your love?

Although surprising the love of your life with a song may not be the answer, you may perhaps find inspiration in music about this delightful day. Here are some of our favorites. Did we miss anything? Let us know!

1. Today Was a Fairytale - Taylor Swift

2. Valentine's Day - Linkin Park

3. Valentine's Day - James Taylor

4. My Valentine - Paul McCartney

5. My Funny Valentine - Frank Sinatra

La La Land: The Smash-Hit of 2016

2017-01-30T21:12:00.001-08:00

The critically acclaimed musical La La Land is the surprise smash-hit of 2016. The film won seven Golden Globe Awards, winning every category it was nominated in and breaking a record for total number of wins. It has been nominated for fourteen Oscars, tying records set by Titanic (1997) and All About Eve (1950). Some critics have contended that it has revitalized, or even resurrected, the “bygone” genre of jazz musical.

Winning Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “City of Stars” in the Golden Globe Awards, La La Land features a creative and memorable soundtrack by Justin Hurwitz. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote lyrics for all of the songs except for “Start a Fire,” which was written by John Stephens, Justin Hurwitz, Marius De Vries, and Angelique Cinelu.

Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, the film boasts extraordinary and enormously entertaining performances, an enchanting love story, and a heart-rending conclusion. Director Damien Chazelle brings to life a remarkable set, ensuring this masterpiece will be talked about for a long time.

Top 5 Greatest Presidential Campaign Songs

2016-11-04T15:22:00.002-07:00

Every four years, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in the United States of America come together to decry the negativity and hyperbole flooding the airwaves and to complain that election season is way too long. Then, on Election Day, we collectively give a sigh of relief to celebrate the end of the craziness.

As we approach the end of the 2016 presidential race, we thought we’d pay our respects to some of the greatest songs used (sometimes without permission or approval of the artist) during campaign events organized by candidates for the presidency. Here are our top 5:

Happy Days Are Here Again by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen

Used most famously by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932, “Happy Days Are Here Again” helped convey optimism in a troubled time, when the country was mired in a deep economic depression, and when political strife in Europe and Asia suggested another war world was possible.

California Here I Come by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Meyer

Like Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980 signaled a political and ideological shift in the country, which had been beset by economic stagnation and international turmoil. Reagan, in running against an incumbent, argued that his successful service as Governor of California would translate to success as President, and he would be able to lead the country in very challenging times.

Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac

Bill Clinton won the Democratic Party nomination in 1992 despite a contentious primary, during which he secured himself the moniker “The Comeback Kid” after losing a state he had been projected to win due to damaging revelations. “Don’t Stop” has become his theme song in many ensuing political events.

Only In America by Brooks & Dunn

“Only In America” has been used widely by a variety of campaigns, most prominently by George W. Bush and by Barack Obama. In both cases, it served as an uplifting anthem to rally a deeply divided country.

You Can't Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones

Donald Trump has run a unique campaign, channeling the frustration of millions of people who have not felt heard or represented by government. The campaign songs used by his campaign similarly reflect the dissatisfaction and anger made manifest in a highly polarized nation.

What are your favorite campaign songs? Let us know!

Top 10 Disney Songs

2016-11-01T11:42:00.002-07:00

For decades, Disney has produced innumerable hit songs featured in their films. Beloved by children and adults alike, these songs run the gamut – fun Broadway-esque showstoppers, romantic ballads, and silly sing-alongs. These “evergreen” works will remain familiar and popular; well-written, catchy, and enjoyable both to perform and listen to, they are masterful works.

We decided to review Disney soundtracks and identify our top 10. Do you agree with these selections? Let us know!

1. "Let it Go"

Frozen

2. "I'll Make A Man Out Of You"

Mulan

3. "Once Upon A Dream"

Sleeping Beauty

4. "When You Wish Upon a Star"

Pinocchio

5. "A Whole New World"

Aladdin

6. "The Bare Necessities"

The Jungle Book

7. "Can You Feel The Love Tonight"

The Lion King

8. "Be Our Guest"

Beauty and the Beast

9. "Under the Sea"

The Little Mermaid

10. "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"

Mary Poppins

Marginally Interesting Moments in Musical History (Edition 1)

2016-10-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

Do you remember when you were studying history in school, and how extraordinary the events and people you covered were? And, despite that, did you ever feel like your teacher had the unique ability to turn everything that was exciting and remarkable into the most dreadfully dreary and boring material? Welcome to Marginally Interesting Moments in Musical History, a continuing series of bite-sized tidbits and trivia that may or may not be apocryphal, but always fun to read!

In this edition, we’ll recount the tale of the brief encounter between the famous stride pianist Fats Waller and the notorious mobster Al Capone.

Successful early in life, Fats Waller, composer of such hits as “Ain’t Misbehavin,’” found himself on the wrong end of the barrel of a gun after a performance in Chicago in 1926. Several men pushed him into a car, and the understandably terrified Waller anticipated an untimely demise. He was taken to a building and shoved inside.

Although for very different reasons, Al Capone, the Prohibition era gangster dubbed “Public Enemy No. 1,” was similarly successful early in life. On the very evening Waller was kidnapped, Capone was celebrating his birthday. He and his goons warmly greeted their surprise (and surprised) guest, Waller, who promptly was ordered to play the piano in the room. Waller did so.

Three days later, when the party concluded, Waller departed. Very tired and perhaps a little drunk, he had nevertheless enjoyed a prosperous outing. The partygoers evidently had appreciated the services rendered, as they had provided Waller thousands of dollars in tips.

Stay tuned for the next Marginally Interesting Moment in Musical History!

A Brief Introduction to Dynamics

2016-09-27T18:28:00.001-07:00

In musical notation, dynamic markings instruct performers to play a passage loudly or quietly. Dynamics provided are relative – that is, there is not a specified volume level associated with a particular marking. There are two fundamental indications: f, or forte, and p, or piano. The forte marking means “loud,” and the piano marking means “soft.”

Very rarely will a performer be instructed to play a piece entirely at one dynamic level. By concatenating forte or piano markings, a composer imparts the level of loudness or softness. The marking ff (“fortissimo”) is louder than f, and pp (“pianissimo”) is softer than p. Continuing to link together the marking indicates more intense levels – fff is louder than ff, which is louder than f; ppp is quieter than pp, which is quieter than p. In the middle are mf, or mezzo-forte, and mp, or mezzo-piano, which indicate a moderate level of loudness and softness, respectively.

Other instructions let the performer know whether to employ a dynamic marking suddenly or gradually. “Crescendo” instructs the performer to gradually increase the volume, and “diminuendo” means gradually become softer. “Sforzando,” abbreviated sfz, tells the performer to accent a note or play a note louder. The fortepiano indication, fp, means play loudly initially, then immediately play softly.

Dynamics are very important and help provide color and interest to music. A passage ordinarily played quietly can impart a very different experience to an audience if played loudly and forcefully. It is crucial to understand dynamics to properly interpret the intentions of a composer, but it can also help a performer develop their own unique approach to interpretation when dynamics are not provided.

10 Songs for Fall

2016-09-21T13:07:00.003-07:00

Thursday, September 22^nd, is the Autumnal Equinox – the first day of Fall. We’ve compiled our listening list! Have you?

From yearning for the changing colors of the seasons to sadness about the end of a blissful summer, here are ten songs for the onset of Fall. Did we miss anything? Let us know!

1. Autumn Leaves by Roger Williams

2. September Song by Frank Sinatra

3. Autumn Serenade by Mel Torme

4. Autumn in New York by Frank Sinatra

5. Hold On by Tom Waits

6. Leaves That Are Green by Simon & Garfunkel

7. Der Herbst - The Autumn / L’Automne - from The FourSeasons by Antonio Vivaldi

8. November Rain by Guns N' Roses

9. When The Work's All Done This Fall by Alan Lomax

10. Forever Autumn by Moody Blues

10 Piano Pieces for Beginners

2016-09-19T20:32:00.004-07:00

Have you been playing scales, arpeggios, and other piano exercises? Looking for some actual music to sink your fingers into? There’s a lot of music out there. Some pieces are amazing to listen to, but technically challenging and beyond the reach of many pianists. Other works are easy to play, but perhaps lacking in musical aesthetic.

Here’s a list of works that are approachable, but also fun. Some will require more practice and skill than others, but none should be out of reach of pianists who are learning their craft and diligent in improving their skills:

Minuet In G by Johann Sebastian Bach

Für Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven

Gymnopedie No. 1 by Erik Satie

Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major (from TheWell-Tempered Clavier Book I) by Johann Sebastian Bach

The Entertainer by Scott Joplin

Rondo Alla Turca (Finale) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Moonlight Sonata (First Movement) by Ludwig van Beethoven

Two-Part Invention No. 4 in D minor by Johann SebastianBach

Christmas Time Is Here by Vince Guaraldi

Clair de Lune - Piano by Claude Debussy

Top 5 Beethoven Piano Sonatas

2016-09-14T13:57:00.001-07:00

There are few collections of musical compositions more important that Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas. These are the transitional works that signaled the end of the Classical era and the onset of Romanticism. They influenced innumerable composers following Beethoven – their innovative structures, use of counterpoint, dynamic contrast, and general mastery of craft all forever changed the direction of music. Several of Beethoven’s works were so visionary that they would not be appreciated literally for decades after the composer’s death.

Each Sonata is unique, and all have elements and history that make them remarkable. Here are five that have stood out in the test of time:

1. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, ("Pathétique")

This is a popular work from Beethoven’s “early period,” reflecting considerable influence from Mozart and Haydn. It portends the dynamic contrasts that would define many of Beethoven’s works throughout his life. It includes a rare instance of hundred twenty-eighth notes.

2. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2("Moonlight")

Arguably the most recognizable of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas, “Moonlight” features a highly evocative melancholy first movement. Although this movement sets the tone, the piece is unusual in that the structurally most important movement is placed at the end of the work.

3. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57("Appassionata")

Piano Sonata No. 23 is remarkable for its stark contrasts in dynamics and tone as well as structural innovation. It is a very challenging piece to play, and arguably the most difficult Beethoven wrote until he completed Piano Sonata No. 29.

4. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B Major, Op. 106 (“Hammerklavier”)

Regarded as the most technically demanding Piano Sonata Beethoven wrote, “Hammerklavier” is long, complex, and relentless. Like many works in Beethoven’s “late period,” it is highly contrapuntal and includes an extraordinary fugue in the final movement.

5. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111

This is Beethoven’s final Piano Sonata, and one of few with only two movements. The second movement is a series of variations on a theme, and the third variation in particular is notable for its ragtime or boogie-woogie-like sonority.

5 Tips for Practicing

2016-09-07T22:03:00.003-07:00

The fun part about playing music is the ability to perform a piece you’ve mastered. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to get to that point. Practicing is usually frustrating and generally unpleasant. Just as composers suffer the “tyranny of the blank page,” so too do performers have the comparable struggle of learning a challenging piece they don’t yet have under their fingers.

So, how do you get through the very real struggle? Here are 5 tips to help you practice:

1) Take it slow. There is a great temptation to play a piece at the given tempo right from the start. This comes from a desire to master the piece quickly. Unfortunately, it takes time to develop that mastery. Playing sections slowly, and increasing the speed very gradually, will help you get the piece “in your fingers” - that is, you will develop kinesthetic memory for it. More importantly, you won’t pick up a bad habit: if you play piece too quickly, you’ll make mistakes, Keep doing this, and those mistakes might stick with you!

2) Repeat, repeat, repeat! It’s boring, but, like playing sections slowly, it will help you learn a piece to the point where you’ll develop a kinesthetic memory for it. Don’t try to play the entire piece at once; learn it section by section, and once you’ve mastered a section, move on to the next one.

3) Reduce distractions to the greatest extent possible.Focus on learning the section you are studying. Don’t be tempted to play other, unrelated pieces. If you have trouble concentrating or get frustrated, take a break, but don’t get lost in other things.

4) Maximize the productivity of your practice time. Set aside a specific amount of time to practice – even if only for half an hour. Much more important than the amount of time spent practicing is the QUALITY of the practice. If you know you’ll only be able to meaningfully practice for 30 minutes, then set aside that amount of time. Two hours sounds good, but if you only focus for a small fraction of that time, then have you really practiced for two hours?

5) Play in front of supportive friends. Playing in front of other people is a very different experience from playing alone. Your friends can better evaluate dynamics, phrasing, and other musical elements no less important than just the notes and rhythms. Most importantly, you will be better equipped to play in front of your actual audience!

What is your favorite practice tip? Let us know!