Functional Piano Resource Book
By: Rachel Curfman
Table of Contents
Song Title Accompaniment Pattern
Bicycle Built For Two ……….…….…..……………………………………………….………..…………………...waltz
Jingle Bells………………………………….………………………………………………….…...boom-chick (in 4/4)
Battle Hymn of The Republic……………………………………………………….…………………………..march
Firework by Katy Perry……….…………………………………………………….…………………………..arpeggio
Praying by Kesha……………………………………………………………………….……………………………...rocking
Hello by Adele…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...implicit
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day………….…….…………………………….rock and roll
I Love the Mountains….……………………………………………………………………………………………...loping
Lava………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..calypso/reggae
Bicycle Built For Two- Waltz
D G D
Daisy! Daisy! Give me your answer true.
A D Em A
I’m half crazy all for the love of you!
D
It won’t be a stylish marriage,
G D
I can’t afford a carriage.
D A D A
But you’ll look sweet upon the seat
D A D
Of a bicycle built for two.
This song could be used as a movement activity for older adults. This song is well
known with that population, and could incorporate movement by moving their feet
as though they were pedaling a bicycle.
Jingle Bells- Boom- Chick (in 4)
C
Dashing through the snow
F
In a one horse open sleigh
G
O'er the fields we go
C
Laughing all the way
C
Bells on bob tails ring
F
Making spirits bright
F G
What fun it is to laugh and sing
G C
A sleighing song tonight
C
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
C
Jingle all the way
F C
Oh, what fun it is to ride
G
In a one horse open sleigh
C
Jingle bells, jingle bells
C
Jingle all the way
F C
Oh, what fun it is to ride
G C
In a one horse open sleigh
This song could be used with an instrument play experience. The clients would all
receive jingle bells, and would play and sing along. Clients could either be instructed
to play in a certain way, (fast or slow) or play on certain words (such as jingle, or
bells)
Battle Hymn of the Republic- March
G
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
C G
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
G B7 Em
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible, swift sword;
Am D G
His truth is mar-ching on.
G C G
Glory! Glory! halle-lu- jah! Glory! Glory! hallelu-jah!
G B Em Am D G
Glory! Glory! halle- lu - jah! His truth is mar-ching on.
This song could be used in a movement experience for multiple populations,
including older adults and children. This song has a very steady beat, that could be
used for the clients to march along to.
Firework by Katy Perry- Arpeggio
G Am Em C
G Am
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
Em C
drifting through the wind wanting to start again?
G Am
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Em C G
like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
G Am
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Em C
6 feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
G Am
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
Em C
'Cause there's a spark in you
G Am Em C
You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
G Am Em C
Just own the night like the 4th of July
G Am Em C
Cause baby you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth
G Am Em C
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh" As you shoot across the sky-y-y
G Am Em C
Baby, you're a firework, Come on, let your colors burst
G Am Em C
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe- awe-awe
This song could be used with an art experience. All clients would be given the
opportunity to draw their “firework” as a form of self expression.
Praying By Kesha- Rocking
Gm F Bb Gm F Bb
Well, you almost had me fooled Told me that I was nothing without you, oh
Gm F Bb Gm F Bb
And after everything you've done I can thank you for how strong I have become
Gm F
'Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell
Bb
I had to learn how to fight for myself
Gm F Bb
And we both know all the truth I could tell, I'll just say this is I wish you farewell
Gm F Bb
I hope you're somewhere praying, praying
Gm F Bb Eb
I hope your soul is changing, changing
Gm F Bb
I hope you find your peace, falling on your knees
Gm F Bb Bb/D Eb
Praying
Gm F Bb
Gm F Bb Gm F Bb
I'm proud of who I am No more monsters, I can breathe again
Gm F Bb
And you said that I was done
Gm F Bb
Well, you were wrong and now the best is yet to come
Gm F Bb
'Cause I can make it on my own
Gm F Bb
And I don't need you, I found a strength I've never known
Gm F Bb
I’ll bring thunder, I'll bring rain, ah-oh
Gm F Bb Bb/D Eb
When I'm finished, they won't even know your name
Gm F
'Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell
Bb
I had to learn how to fight for myself
Gm F Bb Eb
And we both know all the truth I could tell, I'll just say this is I wish you farewell
Gm F Bb
I hope you're somewhere praying, praying
Gm F Bb Bb/D Eb
I hope your soul is changing, changing
Gm F Bb
I hope you find your peace, falling on your knees
Gm F Bb Bb/D Eb
Praying
This song could be used as a lyric analysis for adolescents. The singer of the song
mentions how she has found something that made her strong, and a discussion could
be lead about what in their lives makes the clients strong.
Hello by Adele- Implicit
Em G D C
Em G D C
Hello, it's me.
Em G D C Em G D C
I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet, to go over everything
Em G D C
They say that time's supposed to heal you, but I ain't done much healing.
Em G D C
Hello, can you hear me?
Em G D C Em G D C
I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be when we were younger and free.
Em G D C
I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet.
G D Bm C
There's such a difference between us
G D C
and a million miles.
Em C G D
Hello from the other side,
Em C G D
I must've called a thousand times to tell you
Em C G D
I'm sorry, for everything that I've done,
Em C G D
But when I call you never seem to be home.
Em C G D
Hello from the outside,
Em C GD
At least I can say that I've tried to tell you
Em C G D
I'm sorry, for breaking your heart
Em C G D
But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore.
This song could be used as a journaling experience. Clients would journal about a
person in their life that they are no longer connected with, and what they would
like to say to them if they could speak to them.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams- Green Day- Rock and Roll
Em G D A Em
I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known
G D A Em
Don't know where it goes, But it's home to me and I walk alone
Em G D A
Em G D A Em
I walk this empty street, On the Boulevard of broken dreams
G D A Em
Where the city sleeps, And I'm the only one and I walk alone
Em G D A Em
I walk alone, I walk alone.
Em G D A
I walk alone, I walk a....
C G D Em
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
C G D Em
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
C G D Em
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
C G B
Till then I walk alone
Em G D A
Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ahhh-Ah
Em G D A
haaa-ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah
This song could be used for a songwriting experience. The client could replace
certain lyrics (such as I walk this…. And Boulevard of Broken Dreams) with ones
that they have written.
I love the Mountains- Loping
C Am Dm G7
I love the mountains, I love the rolling hills
C Am Dm G7
I love the flowers, I love the daffodils
C Am Dm G7
I love the fireside, When the lights are low
C Am Dm G7
Boom-dee-A-da, boom-dee-A-da, boom-dee-A-da, boom-dee-A-da
C Am Dm G7
Boom-dee-A-da, boom-dee-A-da, boom-dee-A-da, boom-dee-A-da
This song could be used as a songwriting experience for children. They would
replace the lyrics with things in their life that they love, in place of the lyrics,
mountains, rolling hills, flowers, daffodils, etc.
Lava- Calypso/Reggae
C G7
A long long time ago, there was a volcano.
F C G7
Living all alone, in the middle of the sea.
C G7
He sat high above his bay, watching all the couples play,
F C G7
and wishing that, he had someone too.
C G7 F
And from his lava came this song of hope that he sang out-loud every day,
C G7
for years and years.
F C
I have a dream I hope will come true,
G7 C
that you’re here with me and I’m here with you.
F C
I wish that the earth, sea, the sky up above
F G7 C
will send me someone to lava.
This song could be used as an instrument play song with children. The chorus is
very repetitive, and has a steady beat, so it would be very easy to use as a sing
along and with instrument play.
