January Free Sheet Music: Gershwins' Embraceable You

Yesterday was Public Domain Day! It's a happy day for music arrangers like me who get a new set of songs to arrange for the year, royalty-free! Newly-released Embraceable You by George and Ira Gershwin is so romantic, with a beautiful engaging melody. Though I'm not a fan of Ira's lyric, "Don't be a naughty baby, Come to papa do," I can forgive this cringy, chauvinistic phrase, because the rest of his lyrics are gorgeous. Don't you love the term "embrace?" It sounds so much more sensual than "hug," right? Ira was a wonderful lyricist, using beautiful sensory language to touch us so deeply, and George's melody is so smooth, uplifting and enticing.

I arranged Embraceable You for intermediate piano, but the beginner can play just the top notes of every right hand chord that has lyrics below it. My arrangement is available to you for free for 1 year, so print today! After that, you can purchase it on Sheet Music Plus.

PRINT Embraceable You

Here is a slow demonstration of my intermediate piano arrangement for Embraceable You:

Happy New Year piano friends! I hope that you're feeling hopeful, enthusiastic and ready to greet 2026 with a renewed resolve to get to your bench at least a few times per week, even if it's just for 10 minutes. Research shows that frequency is more important than quantity of time when it comes to retaining what you learn during practice. January feels like a fresh start, so let's do it together. Schedule practice time into your phone calendar with alerts, at least 3-4 times per week. Don't start your bedtime prep until you've played for at least 10 minutes. You will sleep better, and your sleep will help consolidate the piano skills you just studied. It's kind of magical!

Tell me, what are you interested in learning more about the piano or about music in 2026? I have lots of ideas but share with us if there is a specific issue you have been struggling with or want to understand better. I love helping students, and after teaching for about 39 years now (whew!) I bring a great deal of experience with me to the keyboard.

I wish you love and hope for a healthy and peaceful 2026. Many thanks for following my blog, it's great to have you show up and play my arrangements!

With love and music, Gaili

P.S.If you are new to this blog, welcome! I post free sheet music every month, arranged for beginning to intermediate piano students, plus worksheets, practice tips and information on music and the brain. I have written piano instruction books for older adults (UpperHandsPiano.com), younger adults and teens (called Piano Powered), Songs of the Seasons piano sheet music books for seasonal classical and popular favorites, and my latest piano/guitar/vocals books called The Music Remedy: sheet music collections to restore and revitalize the spirit.

In her review of my Upper Hands Piano BOOK 1 for Clavier Companion, The Piano Magazine (May/June 2016), Susan Geffen writes: “Upper Hands Piano, Gaili Schoen’s comprehensive method for adults over fifty, is so good and so original that it’s difficult to know where to begin. With the expert selection of repertoire? Or perhaps with Schoen’s emphasis on the mental benefits of playing the piano? Or maybe with her friendly, encouraging tone? And certainly her well-considered approach to harmony is worth mention.”

I hope you will check out my books on the links above as book sales support this blog and make my freebies possible. Thanks so much for your support!