Since most of us are confined to our homes with more time to play the piano, I decided to post the complete Rhapsody in Blue today, rather than spreading it out over the next two months. Pages 3-4 present the final and most beloved theme, with a powerful, majestic finish. There are many octaves on the last two pages; if it feels too difficult to play all of the notes for these widespread chords, you can drop the bottom note of each of the right hand chords, and/or drop the top note of each left hand chord. *Note* I also changed the last chord on p. 2 to an arpeggio followed by a fermata, to adhere more closely to the original sheet music. After you play the arpeggio, the fermata signals a pause in the music before continuing on to page 3.
CLICK HERE to print Rhapsody in Blue (complete)
*Remember my free sheet music is only posted for a year, so print it now!*
We have all been so immersed in news of the Coronavirus, I don’t want to write too much about it here, but you can click here to read some suggestions for piano players coping with confinement.
What are you playing right now? How is it going? Leave a comment below and tell us about your piano practice. If you are having any challenges with your playing or your students’ playing, please tell us about them! Perhaps I can offer some advice if you would like it. I am teaching online for about 4-5 hours per day instead of my usual 6-7 hours of in-person lessons, so I have more time too.
I hope you have enjoyed playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. It is a wonderful piece and I have done my best to maintain the integrity of the original sheet music in my intermediate arrangement. With any luck, our social isolation will be over by the time you master the piece! I look forward to the days ahead when we begin to emerge from our cocoons, transformed by the experience of confinement, feeling gratitude for our return to some of life’s simple pleasures.
By the way, this will be my last post on Blog.UpperHandsPiano.com. I will be refocusing on other musical projects that will preclude me creating piano arrangements and discussions. Thanks for joining me these past eight years!
😂😂😂APRIL FOOLS!😂😂😂
Hahaha – Nope, just fooling. I love blogging and arranging music for you, and nothing can keep me away! If you want to receive notice of my free piano sheet music, musical worksheets, exercises and discussions via email, please subscribe! I never share or spam email addresses. Best Wishes for a happier, healthier April. With love and music, Gaili
Author, Upper Hands Piano: A Method for Adults 50+ to Spark the Mind, Heart and Soul. Available on Amazon with instructional videos on Youtube.
Thanks lots for the Rhapsody In Blue sheets, they are terrific, now I just need to learn pages 3 and 4 and then memorize it all!
You’re so welcome Henry! Wow memorizing would be great, but don’t feel that you HAVE to! Enjoy pages 3-4!
Good one Gaili, really had me going there for a minute or two. Really love your blog. Please keep up the good work.
Blessings and stay safe.
Haha, well it’s nice to know that people actually care! I’m so happy that you are finding the blog useful 🙂
Lol, I’m glad that you will still be blogging and arranging music! Thank you, and stay well!
Haha thanks Stephanie! xo
Okay. You got me on that April Fools joke! Thanks for beautiful arrangements. You have lighted a new fire under my 13 year-old son with your arrangements. I’m a fan!
Really? Wow I’m so excited to hear that about your son! Sorry about the April Fool, I thought I should come up with something to fool people with that wouldn’t be too painful 🙂
Dear Gaili,
Thanks so much for the Rhapsody arrangement. Some of my students will be able to learn it, and I myself love to play it!
You really gave me a shock with your April Fools joke… I have been downloading your arrangements for several years already and would be really sad if you stopped.
Thank you for all the work, time, energy and expertise you put into this. It’s wonderful you share it for free.
Regards,
Joost Boekhoven
I’m so glad you will be using my Rhapsody arrangement! Sorry to shock you, I just thought I ought to do something to mark April Fools Day! I’m happy to share my arrangements for free. I love creating them, and knowing they are being used and enjoyed. Thanks for your kind comment!
I wanted to thank you for all your good pieces, learning items and so on and wanted to wish you a very good music future with new projects, but now I read your last comment. Pff, I feel like a fool, ha, ha. Thanks anyway 🙂
Haha, well I guess that is the point, to fool and be fooled! Thanks for your generous response to my joke. One never knows if anyone would even read down that far! 🙂