Simpedia

Gordon H., Australia

I thought Julie’s Simpedia post was spot on (“Keeping Accompaniments Alive”).

It got me thinking that it might be useful to compile a list of popular accompaniment pieces from outside the program. Here’s a selection from me for starters:

Imagine
House of the Rising Sun
Unchained Melody
Let it Be
Hey Jude
Yesterday
I Still Call Australia Home
I am Australian
Piano Man
My Heart Will Go On (from Titanic)
Tears In Heaven – Eric Clapton
Born To Try – Delta Goodrem
Waltzing Matilda – a natural after the split chords in On My Way Back
In Dreams from Lord of the Rings
Somewhere Out There from An American Tale
A Whole New World from Aladdin
Over the Rainbow arranged by Pamela Schultz
Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John (from Lion King)
The Rose

Collections:
Shrek (easy piano version)
The ‘Easy to Play’ series: the Beatles and Elton John

For Australian teachers, I heartily recommend, as I have before, The Sing Book, which is published annually and is widely used in schools. Coincidentally, it’s compiled by Rhonda Macken, one of our Sydney SM teachers.

Personally, I’m most interested in suitable current pieces, that is material on the pop charts at the moment. I find it hard to keep up with what the kids are listening to, and particularly to know what’s going to work as piano accompaniments. As Julie suggests, some songs just won’t sound that good with just piano. At the moment here in Melbourne the kids are really keen on Missy Higgins, whose material is piano-based and ideal for students toward the end of the Level 1 Accompaniment program. If they asked for Missy Elliott, that might be trickier!

Janita P., Nebraska

We use the “Wee Sing” Series. They have a myriad of titles—Wee Sing America, Silly Songs, Bible Songs, Christmas Songs, Nursery Rhymes, Around the World, In the Car Tunes, Fun and Folk Songs, etc. Very simple arrangements; usually the students are using the books within the first weeks of introducing the Accompaniment Program.

You can find samples most likely at your local library. We tend to find these wonderful little books at thrift stores, garage sales, library book sales, etc. I’m sure you can also buy them new.

Karen T. Illinois

They like the Disney songbooks. Even my students up through age 12-13 like them. And I might as well be honest with you, I like some of them myself!