Letters Inside The Note Heads
Those notes with letters inside the heads are called “AlphaNotes”, and they give new piano students COURAGE.
Is this a crutch? No, a tool. Pay attention to your student, and you will know when it is time to pull off the “training wheels”!
I call arrangements with JUST A FEW lettered notes “helper” versions.
About Ode To Joy By Beethoven:
“Ode to Joy” is a very famous melody from the final movement of Symphony No. 9 by a German composer, Ludwig van Beethoven from the classical era. It is sung and or played on occasions such as celebrations, memorials, and protests throughout the world. The symphony was the last symphony composed by Beethoven when he was completely deaf. To learn more about Symphony No. 9 and its composer, Beethoven, please visit our pages, “About Symphony No. 9” and “About Ludwig van Beethoven.”
Maintain A Steady Beat
Piano students are notorious for fudging the beat, because they’re almost always playing alone. If you find yourself slipping into this bad habit, try one of the following:
a) Play with a Metronome – There are many free metronome apps available for your mobile phone. Give a few a try and see which one you like best. b) Play with a Drum Track – There are several free drum machines available online or you can get creative and compose something with GarageBand. c) Play with a Backing Track – Backing tracks are fun to play with and may even encourage you to practice more.
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Ode To Joy Presentation
Ode to Joy is one of the most popular piano songs. It has even become the official anthem of the European Union because it celebrates brotherhood and unity. Originally inspired by Friedrich Von Schillers poem, An die Freude, written in 1785, the fourth part of Ludwig Van Beethovens 9th Symphony sets this poem to music as early as 1824.
About The Composer Of ‘ode To Joy’ From Symphony No 9

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770, to Johann van Beethoven and Maria Magdalena Keverich. Although Beethoven’s exact birth date is not known, his family celebrated it on December 16. Beethoven’s first music instruction came from his father Johann who was said to have been a harsh instructor. Johann later asked his friend, Tobias Pfeiffer, to teach young Beethoven. Although, it seems that the harsh treatment continued, as Johann and his friend would come home late on occasion to pull young Ludwig from his bed to practice until morning. Read more…
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Be Consistent With Fingering
When you start a new piece, figure out what the best fingering will be for each phrase. If you don’t take the time to figure out the best fingerings, your fingerings may be different every time and you’ll play things incorrectly more often.
Try to get started with one of these tips this week. Add another one next week. When all of these tips are a part of your regular routine, you’ll be awesome at practicing and well on your way to being a great musician!
For A Beginner & An Accomplished Pianist
Here is page one of almost the exact same duet, but the primo part uses just one line, one hand, and is therefore able to be played up just one octave above the secondo part.
That’s my preference, personally. I always feel like if kids play TOO high, their music starts to sound like mice singing in a closet!
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
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Pause The Piano Lesson
Most of you won’t be able to play what your teacher demonstrated on your first try. That’s okay! However, don’t miss out on the greatest strength of online piano lessons. Pause the lesson and try it a few times. Listen to the teacher’s demonstration a second time, and try it again.
All this repetition is how your teacher got to be a great musician. It’s also what you need to do to be a great musician yourself!
Ode To Joy Easy Piano Notes
Click here for Ode to Joy Easy Piano Notes PDF
Ode to Joy is one of those melodies that we all know, and have come to love. We may not even necessarily know that Beethoven was the composer. We may not even know where we’ve heard it, but the melody is beautiful and familiar. Play it on the piano or xylophone now with your kids with these easy to follow piano notes.
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Notes About This Piece
Description: Famous Choral theme from 9th Symphony for very easy piano. Download includes version without note names Skill Level: 1 out of 9 Composed by: Ludwig van Beethoven .
Ludvig van Beethoven is possibly the most well-known classical composer that has ever lived or certainly one of. A genius!
Genre: Repertoire
Browse our other Ludwig van Beethoven sheet music
Explore our otherPiano | sheet music.
What Makes This Melody So Intuitive
After finding the starting notes, this song is almost on autopilot, if your student knows the melody at all. For the most part, reading “Ode to Joy” is like following Wormies or Snakes, two beginning note-reading sheets!
It is just possible your student has heard the song sung by a quartet at the end of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
However it may be, if they have heard this most famous of Beethoven’s songs before, they will want to play it themselves!
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Let Beginners Experience The Majesty
I’ve had kids play the chord accompaniment different ways in this piece, but always starting it as a duet with them on the melody and me on the chords — BIG chords.
It’s good for them to feel the majesty of this piece and to learn to feel comfortable with all the sounds happening while they strive to keep the melody going rhythmically.
If they get too lost and confused initially, then I drop my fancy accompaniment and just play along with them, doubling their part.
Here’s what I mean by “majestic”:
This is the kind of accompaniment I might make – FOR ME, THE TEACHER!
Then we switch places, and I have them try C and G open chords all the way through, striking the chord on beat 1 only.
Changing chords may be a little slow at first, but this student may have been playing the C, F, and G chords of Louie Louie for at least a few weeks by now, to get them ready for fast-moving chords.
What Is The History Of Ode To Joy

According to Wikipedia, “Ode to Joy“, is an ode written in the summer of 1785 by German poet, playwright, and historian Friedrich Schiller and published the following year in Thalia. “Ode to Joy” is best known for its use by Ludwig van Beethoven in the final movement of his Ninth Symphony, completed in 1824.
Click here for Ode to Joy Easy Piano Notes PDF
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Symphony No 9 Opus 125
Instrument Play for free with the 14-day free trial or 3.99 With finger annotations Information about the piece
Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most influential composers of all time. Although he was a classical composer, he greatly influenced the Romantic period .
In his lifetime, he wrote nine symphonies. Ode to Joy is part of Beethoven’s ninth and last symphony, one of his most iconic works. It was written between 1822 and 1824, and is often referred to as the ‘choral’ symphony. Ode to Joy is the fourth movement in the symphony and it is played by an orchestra, four vocal soloists and a choir. The words of the piece are taken from a poem by Friedrich Schiller .
This piece has become a symbol of hope and unity, and is the official anthem of the European Union.
The key to playing this piano sheet music is balance: the right hand is made up of thirds, so it’s important to make sure the melody sings out
Play the piano sheet music for Ode to Joy on solo piano, set at an easy level. With Tomplay piano sheet music, we provide separate recordings of the left and right hands, so that you can practice one hand while accompanied by the other.
Tips For Playing Level 1 Ode To Joy:
This particular arrangement of “Ode to Joy” is at Level 1 . The hand positions are on the C major position for both hands for the entire song without changing the positions at all. After you download it, please locate the hand positions on the tutorial page. The fingering numbers are provided on every note on the music score. You’ll be playing only the melody notes without any additional harmonic notes in this arrangement. Even though Beethoven wrote this section of the Symphony No. 9 in the key of D major, this arrangement is written in the key of C major to accommodate entry-level piano players.
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Free Printable Pdf Piano Sheet Music For Beginners
Ode to Joy printable PDF with piano sheet music for beginners in G
Ode to Joy printable PDF with piano sheet music for beginners in C
Ode to Joy printable PDF with piano sheet music for beginners in F
If youd like to see the original German lyrics of Beethovens Ode an die Freudeand download a printable lyrics PDF file for free, click on this button:
To read the lyrics of Joyful, Joyful we adore thee set to Beethovens Ode To Joyand download a PDF file with lyrics for free, click on this button:
To download for a printable PDF file with Guitar Chords,Tabs and Sheet Music for this song for free, click on the button below:
Click on the button to watch a tutorial video for xylophone / glockenspieland download a PDF file with sheet music and a note chart of this song for free.
For listening to our Orff arrangement of the song and downloading for freethe corresponding Printable PDF files, click on the button:
Want Your Child To Learn Piano And Music
For more information into the Color Me Mozart music curriculum, click here to find out more. Your child can learn music, piano and xylophone with real music education that they can apply to any instrument in the future. Give the gift of music to your child or students.
Here at Color Me Mozart, we believe every kid has the ability to learn to music. Most importantly, we feel that every child should have the opportunity to learn music, piano or any other instrument. Music is such a rich language that helps with cognitive, emotional and social development.
That is why we created a curriculum that was not only effective in teaching music and piano, but also affordable to add to any home or classroom.
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How Should Beginners Use The Chord Symbols
What will those chords look like, for your beginners?
I suggest just a single bass note. Yes, tell them it’s like a bass guitar. Single note C, then G, then C… I may even demonstrate by using my pointer finger only, as unpianistic as that may be! It is slow, but completely understandable.
When should you start adding chords? As I said, not until the melody is well in hand.
Ode To Joy Piano Piano Music For Beginners
Ode to Joy is one of Beethoven’s most recognized and beloved melodies, and now it’s back with another EASY & EARLY beginner sheet, along with multiple EARLY and LATE beginner arrangements!
Surely your student’s older brother has played this familiar melody on his trumpet in school band, or perhaps she or he has heard it sung in church as “Joyful, Joyful, we adore thee…” Your student will recognize this tune.
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Lots Of Arrangements Solo & Duet
See below many arrangements of the famous music, now with:
- An ADVANCED solo arrangement with a “majestic” sound, in 3 keys
- Two duet versions for teacher plus student, using that majestic arrangement!
- Three beginner arrangements with the Ode to Joy LYRICS.
- Several one-hand beginner versions, with and without lettered notes
- A late elementary arrangement offering a challenging and interesting set of left hand chords for students in their second year!
First The Easy Piano Versions

Please scroll down the page for the download links.
This newest easy arrangement, above, was made for my 6-year-old granddaughter, who has just started playing in the last few weeks, and wants to play everything that will fit into 5 fingers! She also likes to sing as she plays, so I added verse one of the hymn in English.
Here are several easy music downloads. These pieces of simple, free kids sheet music for beginning piano players can be dressed up with chords.
Here is the VERY EASIEST Ode to Joy, a lead sheet :
Please scroll on down the page for the free downloadable links!
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Practice With Hands Separate
There are instances that it is best to practice with both hands together. However, most of the time it’s best to practice one hand at a time, and then put both hands together.
This is exactly how MakingMusic.net Music Academy lessons are presented to our piano students. One hand at a time, and then both hands together.