Let me be clear, I love Christmas as much as anyone. The trees, the snow, the lights inside and outside, fires, stockings, I could go on and on!
But also in my top 3 favorite holidays is Thanksgiving. I love the coziness of fall, the delicious food, watching the parade with my family, and focusing on all the things we are grateful for. I think it is so wonderful and important that there’s a day we slow down and talk about all the things we’re thankful for – big and small!
If you aren’t quite ready for Christmas music in your piano studio, check out these free Thanksgiving themed piano songs! This piano music can be used in so many different ways…
Thanksgiving Sheet Music for Students
Use “Apple Picking”, “Leaves Are Falling”, and “Harvest Time” as a quick addition to your piano students’ repertoire before you break out the Christmas and winter music.
Sight Reading Exercise
Another great way to use this Thanksgiving sheet music is by integrating them into your lesson time as sight reading exercises. Choose a song that is one level or one half level below your student’s current piano level. Have the student sight read the song during your lesson. Sight reading is a great exercise to improve students’ skills – note reading, rhythm, time signatures, dynamics, and articulations. If you’ve never taught students to sight read, check out my sight reading articles to walk you through teaching sight reading to beginner piano students.
Play From a Lead Sheet
I have included two different arrangements of the song “Harvest Season” in this post. One of these arrangements is formatted as a lead sheet, using only chord names in the left hand. Use this song as a simple introduction to teaching how to read lead sheets on piano. The simple right hand melody and chord progression makes it easy for students to succeed at reading lead sheets. Use it for any age group to help everyone feel like great musicians!
Compose a New Ending or Introduction
The last great idea for these songs is to use them as a composition activity for your students. Have students compose an introduction or an alternate ending to the song. Take out a line in the middle and have students compose a new line that fits with the rhythm of the lyrics. If you’re new to teaching composing, check out my article “How to Compose a Song – Piano for Beginners”.
No matter how you choose to use this Thanksgiving sheet music, make sure to include it in your studio this year. Grab your free Thanksgiving sheet music today!
