|
|
Notes from The Music Hub
May 25, 2026
|
Happy Memorial Day!
It is Memorial Day in the United States, where I live, and a day we honor the memory of the men and women who have died in service to our country.
Right now we are in a conflict with Iran (can we call it a war if Congress never voted to declare it?).
And there's a lot of division politically, over this and many other things.
But I think we can come together around Memorial Day and what it means.
I was moved this past weekend to arrange America the Beautiful, which is my most favorite patriotic song.
These are the lyrics to all four verses (the final version, from 1911):
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
This country is far from perfect, still full of "flaws."
So, for me, this song is a prayer, expressing gratefulness for the good that we have, but also a desire for betterment and refinement so that we can become the best version of ourselves.
I believe that music has the power to bring people together. There have been studies that show that people who sing together like each other more.
Maybe playing through this song today might be a way for you to honor those who "more than self their country loved" and also pray that God would "mend [our] every flaw" and that we will someday reach a unity of brother (and sister) hood.
I arranged it 3 ways:
- Beginner level - a single note melody spread through both hands
- A "late beginner" level - melody in RH with a simple interval-based accompaniment in the LH
- An "early intermediate" level - melody in RH with broken chords and octave accompaniment in the LH
The melody has dotted rhythms, and the beginner level has 1 flat at the beginning of the staff, along with one accidental written in.
The other arrangements require some finger crossing.
If you are unsure about how to count or play dotted rhythms or accidentals, or if you don't know how to properly cross fingers, I cover all this information in the Piano Accelerator Levels 1&2 in The Music Hub.
I was planning to make a demonstration video as well, but I discovered yesterday that the USB-C port on my computer has died and needs to be replaced. Until that is done, I cannot use my camera or transfer data from my phone. Quite an inconvenience!
If you would like these arrangements, click the button below:
And if you know anyone else who might like them, feel free to forward this email!
1 More Week to Register!
If you've been thinking about joining The Music Hub, now's a great time!
The Music Hub opens registrations just three times a year, and the current registration period ends May 31, 2026. The next time it will open registration will be September.
Have questions? Respond to this email, and we can set up a quick Zoom call to see if this program is a good fit for you!
If you've been wanting to learn piano, summer is a great time to get started.
Having video-based lessons means you get to watch them around your schedule. Plus, you save money learning online at home instead of driving to private lessons!
I host a couple of open group sessions (call them "office hours" if you like) where you can pop on and get help with specific challenges you're having with your piano playing.
If you are just starting out or need a refresher on basic skills, the Piano Accelerator Levels 1&2 will cover everything you need to confidently read music and play with both hands together.
If you have more experience, you can find intermediate-level songs in the other sections of the classroom.
Registration is open until the end of May 2026, and the first 25 people who pay for the year in full will receive 4 FREE (30 min.) private online lessons with me to use throughout the year - a $150 value!
For more information, check out the link below.
https://heather-niemi-savage-music.kit.com/products/music-hub-membership
Thank you for being a valued member of The Music Hub Community!
Please contact me by responding to this email if you have any questions or concerns!
Happy Music Making!
Heather Niemi Savage, composer, pianist & educator
Founder of The Music Hub
