Sakura, Easy Piano Music
Sakura, a beautiful traditional Japanese song, is famous all around the world. I loved to sing and play this evocative piece as a child, and I am betting your students will love it too.
Two very different arrangements - a late elementary/ intermediate piano version of this lovely song, as well as an easy arrangement for beginners. Download them for free!
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
A kind of minor scale lends some wonder
As a little girl, I loved the mysterious sound of this tune. I sang it to the words, "Cherry trees... cherry trees..."
Piano teacher Tabitha S. Kierszka of the Netherlands, who arranged the version below, says, "Cherry blossoms -- kersenbloesem."
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Playing the tune is easier than reading it
Though the left hand ledger line note "E" is not within the note-reading repertoire of many beginner piano students, yet this arrangement is very easy for beginners because it all lies within a five-finger position, in what I call a "mirror" hand position -- thumbs side-by-side.
What makes this song different?
Here is some more information Tabitha gives about this traditional folk music:
"Sakura, sakura is based on a pentatonic scale consisting of A, B, C, E, F (skip D's and G's). In this pentatonic scale the intervals are very uneven because there are both minor seconds and major thirds.
Try some improvisation with this scale
"If LH plays ABCE with fingers 5 4 3 1 and RH plays FABC 1 3 4 5 (same position as the piece itself, in both hands you simply skip finger 2) a student can improvise something Japanese sounding while someone else (teacher) plays a simple accompaniment of A's and E's.
"Keep it sober and tranquil. This sounds lovely and will make the student aware of what causes the piece to sound as it does."
Information found on Wikipedia
She adds the following quote from Wikipedia:
"Sakura, sakura" also known as "Sakura", is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting spring, the season of cherry blossom.
Contrary to popular belief, the song did not originate from ancient times, not from the Heian period [9th to 12th century] or prior. It was first composed during the Edo period [17th to 19th century] for children learning to play the koto.
Originally, the lyrics "Blooming cherry blossoms" were attached to the melody. The song has been popular since the Meiji period, and the lyrics in their present form were attached then. It is often sung in international settings as a song representative of Japan."
The links for the piano music:
Download intermediate/late elementary level broken chord arrangement of Sakura
Download easy piano sheet music for beginners Sakura
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
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And when they start reading white-key notes on the staff, this is a fun easy resource to say each week, "Choose a new black-key song at home this week and figure it out to show me next lesson!" They will be spending more time at the piano.
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The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young boy with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.
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Yolanda:
I used to teach piano lessons, and then did not for a number of years. Now, suddenly, I have three beginning students and I am thrilled.
I was looking for printable scales and found your wonderful website. Thank you so much. I know this will be a big help to me and my students.
Wynn:
Thank you so much for this site. I admire you so much for taking the time to reach out and share so much with others. After years of singing professionally I am finally making myself re-learn the piano in order to play for myself and to do some piano bar work. Your scales and your feedback are inspiring! Create Beauty and fill the world with LOVE!
Comments
Do you have a funny story about this music, or does it remind you of something you'd like to share with other readers? Do you have a question? I'd love to hear it!
Please note that all comments are moderated, and will not appear until I have approved them. Also, IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR MUSIC THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, YOUR REQUEST WILL BE IGNORED. That's pretty much any music written in the last 75 years...
About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.
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