Best websites for sheet music.

As a music lover, piano teacher, and mom of four, my favorite place to find sheet music is online!  Not that I don't love taking a toddler to the music store where they can tear pages and pound piano keys to their heart's content (and their mother's dismay.)  But there are some great websites out there with sheet music, and here are my favorites:


Musicnotes  This one is my favorite and most used as a piano teacher.  This website has a huge variety; everything from movies to classical to pop.  Another feature I love about this website is that you can change the key on many of the songs.

I Can Play It  This page, created by lds.org, has taken many Primary songs and Hymns, and arranged them at an easier level.  It's great to introduce piano students to playing church songs.

8notes You can subscribe (pay $$) to this website to get more music, but it already includes many traditional and classical songs for free that are perfect for beginner piano students.

Onlinepianist This website doesn't have a huge variety, but has some popular songs which are really fun for kids and even adults to play.

Sally DeFord Music  If you're looking for beautiful and unique arrangements of your favorite hymns or church music, check this site out.  She also composes many of her own pieces-each one beautiful and uplifting.

Free LDS Sheet Music  The name says it all.  This is a great resource for choirs, ensembles, instrumental, and arrangements.

Free Sheet Piano Music Another site with a small selection, the pieces here focus on the classical genre.  Great for beginner recital pieces!

My Top 10 Songs of 2014

Here is my 2nd annual list of my favorite songs for the year!  I had a really hard time making up this list this time.  The top 5 were easy, but after that-they are just kind of songs I liked, but not necessarily loved.  It would take way too long for me to sit and analyze which songs I absolutely love, let alone the order of my preference.  Anyway, like last year, I will try and explain a little about why I chose these songs.


10. Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay

First of all- Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay has an amazing auto-tuned voice.  I say that because I heard him live once and it was awful.  But anywhere else, his voice is perfect.  I can love an auto-tuned voice, can't I?  Anyway, the song is great too.

9. Rather Be - Clean Bandit

I had never heard of this band or whoever sings this song before.  I haven't even looked them up, so I honestly know nothing about them.  But I love the instruments in this song and the lyrics.  It's a great song to run to as well.

8. Centuries - Fall Out Boy

Speaking of great running songs- this one is another favorite.  I'm starting to really like Fall Out Boy, even though they've been around for a while.

7. I Lived - One Republic

This song is just one of those uplifting, feel-good, motivating songs; a great one to start off your new year!

6. T.S. 1989 - Taylor Swift

I don't deny that I get hooked on certain main-stream music.  And I couldn't choose just one song from her new album.  I love it all.  I also have a theory about Taylor Swift: you either love her from inside the closet, or outside the closet.  Either way- everyone loves Tay.  If you don't believe me, just watch this.

5. Annie Soundtrack - Annie

Speaking of entire soundtracks, this is one is the best!  I have always loved the original movie, so when this one came out, I was a bit skeptical.  But I could not have loved it more.  They modernized it, of course, and the music is great!

4. Be Still - The Fray

This song is so beautiful.  I love to listen to it when I need to take a step back and just reflect or meditate or "be still."

3. Madness (cover) - hester See & Andy Lange

This song was #1 on my list last year, but it was the original.  This year I am including this cover, because it's my new favorite way to listen to it. I seriously can't get enough.  Listen to it now!!

2. Long Time Traveller - The Wailin' Jennys

I literally just heard this song for the first time last night.  In fact, I was half-asleep in bed while my husband was watching TV.  This song came on during a tv show, and I sat straight up and "Shazaam'd" it because I needed to know what it was that second.  The harmonies and voices are so pure and clear and incredibly beautiful, as is the song.

1. The Walker - Fitz & the Tantrums

This song is fun to listen to, great to run to, and definitely relatable for me.  Especially, the above quote.  I love everything about it.

Quote #3

Music speaks to me like nothing else can.  I find this quote to be very true in my life, as I'm sure it is with most people.  I turn to music when I'm feeling sad, confused, happy, scared, peaceful, etc.  Music helps, heals, and is such a powerful influence.

My Top 10 Songs of 2013

Since music is pretty much my favoritest thing ever, I decided to make an annual list of my favorite songs of the year. This list does not mean that the songs came out that year, just that they were my favorite during that time. I will also try to give some brief explanation of why each song was important to me. As you can see, Imagine Dragons is a definite favorite of mine. I also discovered a band that has been around for a while, but I never really heard of - Muse. It's probably my next favorite band, even though their song got number 1. Okay, here goes:

 10. Counting Stars - One Republic 

This song basically just has some lyrics that I really like, and a really catchy tune. 

 9. Some Nights - Fun. 

This song starts with amazing harmonies, and that's what hooked me. I really like the voices of this group. 

 8. Demons - Imagine Dragons 

This song is on all the time, everywhere I go. And most people I talk to absolutely love it. I think the reason (at least for me), is because it reminds me that I have my own "demons" and makes me think of how I am going to conquer them. I also really like the music video. 

 7. Feel This Moment - Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera 

This song is one of my most favorite to run to. It helped me through learning to run a 5k, and adding on even more miles. It definitely keeps me motivated. And I don't know why, but I have a special place in my heart for that old "Take On Me" melody. 

 6. Love Don't Die - The Fray 

I just love the music in this song. And the lyrics are really good too. 

 5. On Top Of The World - Imagine Dragons 

This song makes me happy! When I listen to it, I think of all the fun times my family and I had over the year, and remember how blessed we are. 

 4. It's Time - Imagine Dragons 

This was one of the first songs I put on my Running playlist. Whenever I did a race, it would be the first song to come on. "It's time to begin..." would get me motivated for my run. Now it is a tradition, I guess you could say. Every time I race, it is - and will be, the first song I hear. 

 3. Roar - Katy Perry 

Okay, I have to preface this by saying that I do like Katy Perry, and this song is really catchy. However, the lyrics are completely plagiarized. I can name about 7 different songs that use each phrase. However, it is fun and my kids love it. And as corny as this may sound, the biggest reason I love it is because it reminds me of my best friend. End corniness. 

 2. Radioactive - Imagine Dragons 

This song is incredible. I don't even know why. Their voices, the music, etc. I just love it. It's amazing. The music video? Worst ever. 

 1. Madness - Muse 

There are so many reasons I love this song. The style of the music and feel of the song is awesome. When I listen to it, I HAVE to put my earphones in, turn it up loud, and close my eyes so I can hear everything. I don't know why this song speaks to me, but it does. Maybe it reminds me of all the "madness" that I went through over the year. The "mist of darkness" that I walked through, but have stayed strong. It's beautiful.