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beautifully

History is full of famous piano players in all musical genres. This article focuses on the most famous and innovative piano players in classical music history. They are the “Big 5,” those who had the most significant impact on piano playing.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750):...

Question: I am trying to learn how to move from octave to octave without looking at my hands. For example, I begin with both hands on the keyboard with the thumb #1 finger of both hands on middle C.

Looking at the sheet music, the right hand thumb is on the middle C, the number 5 finger on the...

Question: Mr. Frantz,

First of all I’d like to thank you for your amazing site. Everything you wrote and explained there has served me considerably.

I am an 18-year-old girl who has decided (a year ago) to pursue piano studies in university. I started to play at a very late age (15), but...

Question: How can I readily identify any chord when played?

– Timothy (Nigeria)

Albert’s reply: The first step in chord ear training is to learn to identify the basic types of chords, starting with triads in root position. Since a triad is composed of two stacked thirds and each of...

Question: In your opinion, which are the best urtext editions with regards to fingering, paper quality, critical commentary, etc.?

Thank you,

– Marcel (Ireland)

Albert’s reply: First, it’s essential to point out that there is no such thing as a true “Urtext”...

key-notes is pleased to offer The Entertainer sheet music for free download. Composed in 1902 by ragtime pioneer Scott Joplin, The Entertainer is among the most popular ragtime pieces ever written.

Simply click the link to download the Entertainer sheet music.

About the Music

Born in Texas in...

I’d like to share with key-notes readers the best imaginable resource for out-of-print sheet music ever. Its mouthful of a name, the International Music Score Library Project Petrucci Music Library, probably won’t be memorable, and for that reason it’s pretty difficult to find...

Question: Albert,

Do you know where I might find a written out cadenza for W.A. Mozart’s Concerto No. 5 in D Major, K. 175? I’m aware that Mozart wrote one out for his sister but I am not sure if one was ever published. However, on several recordings the cadenzas are the same, which...

Question: Can I get easier sheet music for the Moonlight Sonata first movement?

– Annemarie (Netherlands)

Albert’s reply: The first movement of the Moonlight Sonata is really already as simple as it could possibly be – deceptively so, in fact. (The Moonlight Sonata sheet music...

I'm pleased to present a beautiful new edition of Beethoven’s beloved “Moonlight” Sonata. The first movement, available for free download, was edited by Albert Frantz directly from the manuscript and first edition and beautifully typeset using professional music notation...

By very popular request, key-notes is happy to offer the Happy Birthday sheet music for free download. This no-frills arrangement is easily accessible and suitable for early intermediate pianists.

“Happy Birthday” was originally a children’s song called “Good Morning to...

By popular demand, key-notes is offering the Für Elise sheet music for free download. This special, professionally typeset edition has been prepared just for key-notes visitors.

Simply click this link to download the Für Elise sheet music.

About the Music

The German title Für Elise...