Staff Picks: September 2022
Our Sheet Music Direct team plays, strums and sings just as much as you do! We're a team of musicians who love music of various styles and, when we're not busy with all things Sheet Music Direct, play at home, church, and gigs. Each month, we're sharing some of the favorite songs we're currently playing and why we think you'll love them too. In honor of Piano Month, our September picks feature our favorite piano pieces and piano-based songs to play. Check them out below or head over to our Staff Picks page which we update regularly with the latest picks.
Find something you love? Let us know in the comments, or share it with the rest of the Sheet Music Direct community over on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Annie's Pick
Fantasy in D Minor, K. 397, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart's "Fantasy in D Minor" journeys through many different tempi and moods, which makes it a very interesting piece to play. It starts off with very expressive slow arpeggios, then moves through feelings of sadness and anger, eventually leading to a joyous ending. There are also two Presto cadenza-like sections that allow the pianist to show off their speed, as well as several dramatic pauses to draw the audience in.
Bill's Pick
Philosophy, Ben Folds Five
Taken from their 1995 self-titled debut album, Philosophy was an early showcase of both the songwriting prowess and piano skills of frontman, Ben Folds. The opening piano line alone, is a beautiful selection considerably more challenging than many of their contemporaries.
Dan's Pick
Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon, Ramin Djawadi
The highly anticipated prequel series for Game of Thrones debuted last month and is off to a riveting start. While it's a slight disappointment we didn't receive a new theme for the show, it's hard to argue with the rousing nature of Ramin Djawadi's original theme that served viewers well for eight straight seasons.
Becca's Pick
Ordinary People, John Legend
Released in 2005 off his debut album Get Lifted, "Ordinary People" became one of John Legend's first greatest hits. I was immediately captivated by this song when it came out, eager to learn the piano part note-for-note, and it still remains one of my favorite songs to play to this day.
Sam's Pick
Manhattan Sunrise, Ola Gjeilo
Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo is best-known for his contemporary choral works, but his last two albums, Night and Dawn are written exclusively for solo piano. Taken from the latter, "Manhattan Sunrise" is a beautifully serene composition inspired by his adopted home of New York.
Laura's Pick
Tiny Dancer, Elton John
Elton and Britney might have teamed up for the dance track "Hold Me Closer," but you truly can't beat the original source. The famous eight-bar intro gets everyone of all ages excited and ready to sing along and have a great time.
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