Behind the Music – How I Create Custom Arrangements for My Students
I’ll admit, I usually use Hot Cross Buns for a first piano lesson with kids ages 5-12. But after the first lesson, I tailor the music to the student’s tastes when possible.
While there is great value in progressing methodically through lesson books, I really see kids light up when I present them with their favorite Christmas carol, or help them learn their favorite pop song for our spring recital.
In recent years I’ve been pushing myself to create more custom arrangements, especially for beginner piano students.
Why Custom Arrangements Matter
Many popular songs are too difficult for beginners. They may need music that is easier to read than the arrangements available on sites like musicnotes.com. These difficult songs are often more motivating than the songs that are at the student’s “correct” level.
This year I had a 5 year old student who wanted to impress his older brother by playing music from Harry Potter, and he really worked hard to learn it! I could not convince him to practice Mary Had a Little Lamb, but he jumped into the deep end and learned about sharps and flats. This isn’t the usual order for learning piano, and his fingering wasn’t perfect, but his enthusiasm was the most important part. There will be plenty of time for the other fundamentals, as long as he loves playing piano.
This kid ended the year with a sense of ownership, and pride in his musicianship. If I had forced him to play what I wanted, it would have been a fight instead of a joy.
My Process: How I Create Custom Arrangements
Listen to the Family
I get to know my student, and ask what songs they want to learn. Sometimes they answer “I don’t know” so I ask about their favorite movies, books, or video games to give me some insight into what they want to play. I also check in with parents to make sure they approve of the music we are working on.
Creating the Score
I have spent many hours learning how to efficiently use music notation software. Finale is my tool of choice, but I am also learning to use Dorico because the Finale company has stopped updating their products. My keyboard plugs into my computer with a MIDI to USB cable to allow me to enter notes onto the score by playing. Then comes the tedious part, cleaning up the arrangement to make it readable. It takes me 1-2 hours per page of music, depending on complexity. Even the simple songs take time and multiple edits to get a good product. I add my logo and sometimes fun graphics.
Simplify without Losing the Magic
I keep the melody as close to the original version as I can, but I simplify rhythms or position on the white keys to make it readable for the student. I often keep these arrangements very short for younger beginners, and sometimes add sections when they’ve mastered it.
My favorite arranging tool for beginners is called AlphaNotes-it adds the letter into the center of the note so kids who are still learning to read on the staff can learn any song quickly.
Add Learning Goals
If we’ve been working on staccato, I add staccato into the music. If a student has weak fingers, I sneak in a satisfying chord shape at the end of the song for a little extra practice keeping fingertips firm.
Share and Edit Together
I have my students help me edit the arrangements by looking for mistakes (I make plenty!), and adding pizzazz through dynamics. Which parts should we play loud? Which parts should we play soft? Should we repeat any sections? Including students in these decisions helps them understand what makes music powerful.
Famous Examples I’ve Arranged
Hedwig’s Theme (Harry Potter)
Imperial March (Star Wars)
Rainbow Connection
Do You Want to Build a Snowman? (Frozen)
Blackbird (The Beatles)
Everything Is Awesome (The Lego Movie)
Catchy Song (The Lego Movie 2)
Treehouse (Alex G)
Happy Birthday
Schpledoingle from Cannibal! The Musical (possibly my favorite, most hilarious arrangement request)
Watching kids proudly show off their preferred music at our spring recital makes all the time I spend creating these really worth it.
The Parent Perspective: Why Families Value This
Parents are the ones responsible for the daily grind of making sure the student practices their music. This can be a pain point, but saying “Hey, go play me a few notes of that really cool song you know!” can bring students to the keyboard without complaining.
Having a custom arrangement of a song your child loves elevates the piano lesson experience. Instead of passing through songs they don’t care about, your child creates a meaningful connection to music. This is not cookie-cutter education, it’s a bespoke tutoring experience.
But you don’t have to take my word for it! Here are testimonials from three parents who got custom arrangements from me last year as part of their online piano lessons.
This student learned my arrangement of Blackbird by the Beatles:
My daughter has really enjoyed her 1:1 sessions! She has been able to practice songs that she likes as she is growing her skills. Great teacher! Highly recommend. -D., parent
This student wanted a beginner version of Happy Birthday to You:
Thank you so much for making a positive impact on my kid and generating curiosity to learn keyboard. She absolutely loved all of your sessions and your teaching methods. -A., parent
This student learned Hedwig’s Theme to impress his older brother:
We had a wonderful experience with this piano teacher—always positive, encouraging, and skilled at making the piano approachable for our child. The teacher helped our child overcome initial fears and build a genuine interest in music, which made lessons something to look forward to every week. Even after we had to stop classes, our child continues to practice with enthusiasm—an amazing testament to the teacher’s impact! -M.S., parent
Working hard with my keyboard connected to my computer!
