For Children, Book I, No. 1 (Children at Play)

Béla Bartók · Level 1 (Novice) · 20th century · Piano

The first piece of the collection: a very simple Hungarian children’s song, with both hands in a fixed position. From For Children (1908–1909), eighty-five little pieces by Bartók on Hungarian and Slovak folk songs, written for beginners. C major, 2/4, 24 bars (about one minute), complete score.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

  • Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
  • Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
  • Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
  • One hand at a time first, then together, very slowly; both hands stay still, each finger on its key. Start hands separately in Wait mode, then put hands together at a slow tempo before speeding up gradually.

More pieces by Béla Bartók

Source : PDMX / MuseScore · CC0 1.0