Piano Friends, I am so excited to offer you a medley of Rhapsody In Blue by George Gershwin! One of the most beloved pieces by an American composer, Rhapsody In Blue just came into the public domain in 2020. I have created an intermediate arrangement which I will post in sections: each month you will receive a new part (if you are a subscriber!) until the piece is complete.
Here’s the Rhapsody In Blue video from Fantasia 2000:
And here is HyeJin Kim playing the full piano solo:
Rhapsody in Blue is a long piece, so I have included most of the main themes and have simplified some (but not all) of the chords. It is such a beautiful piece, and I have strived to maintain the integrity of the harmonies. I hope you enjoy playing it! Do you feel that Rhapsody in Blue is a jazz piece or a classical piece? Please leave your comments below as you are learning it. As with a book club, we can experience playing the piece together, and share our progress!
Another incentive for leaving a comment is that I will be holding a drawing for 20 of these ↗️ sheet music page holders on Valentine’s Day, to express my love and appreciation for my followers! Each time you leave a comment on a post in December, January, and February you are entered to win. (Only one comment per post will yield an entry!) On February 14th I will draw 20 names out of my cloche hat, and will post a video of the drawing as a story on my UpperHandsPiano Instagram account. (Sorry international friends, you must live in the US to win the page holders.)
Have a wonderful month of February 💌 love. Hopefully the groundhog will bring us an early spring tomorrow! But if not, stay cozy and play your piano. Feel the magic of the keys under your fingertips. With love and blue music, Gaili
PS- If you don’t already know about my piano instruction books for adults over 50, you can take a look at them on my website, or on Amazon:
This is such a fun song! Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome! You have chose to hide your name and email from me so I can’t enter you into the giveaway unless you email me: upperhandspiano@gmail.com. Thanks for your comment!
I love Rhapsody in Blue! Thank you so much for simplifying it and sharing it! Looking forward to each new installment!!
You’re welcome Donna! I hope you enjoy playing it
Thank you for the wonderful music you offer. Love seeing each month the new one. Rhapsody in Blue is lovely!!
You are so welcome! Yes, isn’t Rhapsody in Blue one of our best American pieces ever? Hope you enjoy playing it
inspirational!
Thanks Anna!
Thank you for your beautiful arrangements. I’m looking forward to you Rhapsody in Blue pieces.
You’re so welcome!
This is such a fun piece! I think I’ll teach it as half-wrote, half-read!
That sounds like a good idea!
Hi Raechel! You won one of the sheet music page holders. I sent you an email but you need to write me back with your address so I can send it to you! Please respond by February 21st 🙂
Your books are the absolute best!
Thanks Jenny!
You’re the best! Your encouragement is above and beyond the norm. You inspire me!
Wow! Thanks for that! I aim to encourage and inspire wherever possible 🙂
Please send Irish music, intermediate level. Thank you!
Absolutely! On its way
Very informative. It’s like how we teach piano vs how we learn guitar. i.e. piano is a theory first, playing music comes later. Guitar, you learn 3 chords and you can make music right away. I’m pulling my son out of his piano lessons because I need a different approach for him
Absolutely- I think that we piano teachers best serve our students when we introduce music theory gradually as they learn to play songs and pieces. Enjoying the music must come first and inform the technique and theory that is learned along the way!
I can’t print Rhapsody in Blue
Hi Ruth- the free sheet music is only posted for a year- I can only keep 12 arrangements on the website. I would be happy to send it to you. Just email me at UpperHandsPiano@gmail.com and I will send it to you via email.