Darkest Night

Darkest Night Description:

• Level: Early Elementary (rote), Elementary (reading)
• Pages: 5 pages, 2 pages of music, cover included
• Format: Instant PDF download
• Studio Licence Bonus: Cover art, “make it your own” suggestions for students
• Collections: The First Winter – Soundscapes

Darkest Night is a brooding piano piece for your teen to adult beginner piano students that’s perfect as a recital showstopper and is easy to teach by rote!  Your students will explore lower ranges of the piano with chord bridges to create this soundscape.

Darkest Night Level:

“Darkest Night” is an early elementary (rote) to elementary (reading) level piano solo.  The left-hand chord bridge accompaniment pattern repeats throughout the song and is best taught by rote.  The right-hand melody is designed for students to practice reading simple melodies.

• Mode: E minor (accidentals written in)
• Time Signature: 3/4
• Concepts: both hands play bass clef, tied whole notes (cross measure), sharp, chord bridges, D.C. al Fine

“Darkest Night” includes finger numbers for starting notes + circled finger numbers any time hand position changes.  Accidentals, rather than a key signature are used, in this 3/4 time piece.  However, the piece is designed so the F sharp only appears in the right-hand melody.

The rhythm is augmented so the shortest note is a quarter note and covers the three most common rhythm patterns in 3/4 time for this level.

Darkest Night Bonus:

All sheet music comes with original cover art.  “Darkest Night” comes with “make it your own” suggestions for students to experiment with developing their own voice.

More About “The First Winter – Soundscapes”:

“Darkest Night” is part of the “The First Winter – Soundscapes” that gives your teen and adult students music they can be proud to play at your studio’s Winter recital!  Harmonies are simplified to create a complex soundscape without the need for more advanced techniques.

“The First Winter – Soundscapes” includes:

• Aurora’s Lullaby: Tranquil lullaby inspired by the Aurora Borealis in 4/4 time with basic harmonies and simple rhythms.
• Darkest Night: Broody moodscape in 3/4 time that explores the three most common rhythms at this level with interesting chords.
• Eerie Wind: Mysterious, eerie moodscape in 3/4 time that explores ebbing and flowing dynamics.
• Winter’s Thaw: Peaceful exploration of chord bridges (broken + solid) in 4/4 time that is perfect for students that love patterns with small changes.

What is a studio licence?

When you purchase “Darkest Night” you get a studio-licence PDF of the piece.  This piece is sent digitally via an email receipt.  If you have a multi-teacher studio, please contact Rosemarie directly for additional licences.  Thanks!

A studio licence is a great way to stretch your studio repertoire budget.  Purchase music once and use for years (even decades) with students you directly teach!  For online teachers, if you share the piece during online lessons, students must print immediately and not retain an electronic copy of the piece.

For more information on your studio licence, check out the Terms and Conditions page.

If you purchase a collection you will need a program to open zip files to access all pieces within the collection.

Should I print all pages for students?

Yes!  Each page is designed with students in mind.

• Page 1: Cover art
• Page 2: Description, tips for students to make it their own, terms of use
• Page 3+: music
• Last page: other music they may like

Students love a bit of cover art since it can help them get into the mood and story of a piece.   I’ve included ways to adapt or play with the music so students become part of the creative process.

The terms of use are there to educate students and their families about copyright law.  We know, but they may not realize what they are innocently doing may cause you to lose your studio licence.

Lastly, having other pieces at a similar level can keep students excited about what the next song in their musical journey can be!