Posted on by gailischoen

September Free Sheet Music: Clair de lune

Clair de lune

I have had many requests for easy sheet music to Debussy’s Clair de lune, and so have transposed it to C and simplified it for the intermediate piano student. I have also arranged a one-page EASY version of Clair de lune for the beginner.

CLICK HERE TO PRINT Clair de lune (intermediate and/or easy)

Note: I can only keep each free sheet music arrangement on my website for a year. But I have reissued it here.

Here is a performance of this intermediate arrangement of Clair de lune:

Clair de lune, (translation: “moonlight”) is the third movement from the Suite bergamasque by French composer Claude Debussy. It has been featured in many films for its beautiful, emotive quality. I have written in fingering, but as always it is only a suggestion, and you can change it per your own comfort.

Labor Day feels like the beginning of the end of summer. Are you sorry to feel the air chilling and the days shortening? Autumn is my favorite season so I am happily anticipating the days ahead. Perhaps you or your students can learn Clair de lune to play for your family on Thanksgiving! Remember that sharing your music is a gift to your loved ones, and planning to play for an event is a great way to get motivated to practice. 

For those of you new to my blog, let me tell you quickly that I am a piano teacher of over 30 years, who has spent the last decade doing research on how the brain learns and retains musical information. I’ve used principles of the learning sciences to write a series called Upper Hands Piano: A Method for Adults 50+ to Spark the Mind, Heart and Soul (available on Amazon.com), and am currently writing a series called Piano Powered, for children and young adults. I have an article coming out in the magazine American Music Teacher soon about teaching older adults, with an article about the best ways to learn and retain music, to follow. 

Thanks for subscribing to my blog. Feel free to request simplified sheet music for pieces you love (written before 1923!) and reach out with your questions, comments, observations and celebrations. I love to hear from you! With love and music, Gaili

Gaili Schoen

Author, Upper Hands Piano:A Method for Adults 50+ to Spark the Mind, Heart and Soul, and Songs of the Seasons.

UpperHandsPiano.com

PianoPowered.com

84 Replies to “September Free Sheet Music: Clair de lune”

      1. I would love to have a copy of the Clare de lune easy in C please, just back on the piano after years and years away.so excited
        Y

        Reply

        1. Anthony I am so sorry, but I am out of the country until January 12. I will have to send it to you after I return as my files are in my home computer. I’ll make myself a note to send them to you then. So sorry for the delay.

          Reply

    2. This is a wonderful thing you have going here, especially for me. I’m an old-timer, and have special interest in your ideas on music and aging. I’ll report to you how it’s going from time to time. Thanks a million!

      Reply

      1. Hi John- thanks so much for your comment! We would LOVE to hear how your process is going. Listening to music is great for the brain and playing music is a full-brain workout! Thanks for following!

        Reply

  4. The Clair de lune in C is perfect. Thank you for sharing. I would like a copy of the one for beginners too. Such a beautiful song.

    Reply

  5. Gaili, thank you, thank you for Clair De Lune. I can play it and with practice, Wow.
    Always loved that tune but lost all my music due to moves and no piano.
    Love fall, too.
    Terry

    Reply

  6. Gaili, thank you. Always cherished this song. Please send me the beginner version as well.
    Thank you for all you do.
    Terry

    Reply

  12. Thank you for this! Could I also have the beginner version as well? I have an adult student who will probably go straight from the beginner to the intermediate and love every minute of it!

    Reply

  14. Hello Gaili,

    Great that you make this beautiful piece accessible for less advanced students. It’s an art to simplify music without losing the beauty of it. I’m really curious how you simplified it even further. Please send me the easy version. Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Thank you! Yes it takes a lot of time and thought to simplify without losing the essence of the piece. I try to keep the chords intact and replicate the rhythms as closely as possible. I’ll send the easy arrangement now 🙂

      Reply

    1. I’m so sorry- you logged in anonymously so I can’t see your email. If you want to try logging in again I will see your email and send you the one page arrangement. I w I’ll not use your email for any other purpose, I promise!

      Reply

  20. Yes, please send me the simplified Clair de Lune. I’ve printed the intermediate sheet. I’m just finishing book one and will order book two soon.
    Thanks,
    Irwin (the 87 year old beginner)

    Reply

  21. Hi Gail! I just found your website today and I love it! I teach piano lessons and I have an older student who started about a month ago. I have been looking for songs that she will enjoy. This is perfect! Can you please send me the one page beginner version. My younger students will enjoy it too. Thank you so much!!

    Reply

  25. Hi I was wondering where to find the intermediate arrangement. I followed the link but it looks like Alla Turca has now replaced it as the Sept piece. Thanks!

    Reply

        1. Hi John – here are some instructions:
          When you are on my blog, you will see “Click to print…”
          When you click there, it will take you to the “Free Sheet Music” page on my website.
          You can click on any of the titles/photos you see, and it will bring up your sheet music.
          Then you should be able to just click on your computer’s print button and print the sheet music.
          I hope that makes sense! Thanks again for joining my blog!

          Reply

  27. Hey, I love your website! So cool and innovative. Well done!
    Would it be possible to please send me a copy of the Claire de lune easy one page piano sheet music. I’d really appreciate it.
    Thanks so much

    Reply

  29. Hi, I am a piano teacher and found your blog by chance while searching for simple scores for my students. She would really love to learn this piece and I think your arrangement is perfect for her to learn it. Would it be possible for you to send it to me? Thank you!

    Reply

  34. Hi Gaili, I love your website! As a 72 year old coming back to piano I can certainly relate to the concepts! Great work! Can I please have a copy of Claire de Lune, Thanks Julia

    Reply

  35. Hi, I have a young student who would love to learn Clair de Lune for her mom. Even this easy one might be too hard but it might give her a chance! Whenever you get time, I see you’ve been out of town. 🙂

    Reply

  36. Thanks for the sheet music, but isn’t there an additional part within the piece that i’ve heard in other versions? Do you have the complete version by any chance? Thanks, Henry Thaler

    Reply

    1. Sorry I have not written a complete arrangement. In my efforts to simplify pieces such as Clair de lune I often shorten them as well, which is always a painful process. But my mission is to make these pieces more accessible to the intermediate and beginning pianist, so I do have to make cuts. You can find the complete arrangement on websites such as Sheet Music Plus and Musicnotes.com

      Reply

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