For decades, Auld Lang Syne has bravely carried the entire piano world into the New Year — one piece, one job, year after year.
It’s meaningful. It’s familiar. And it absolutely belongs in January lessons. But it doesn’t have to be the only way we mark the start of a new year at the piano.
That gap is exactly why we created Blue Reverie.
Blue Reverie is a modern, lyrical New Year piano piece written for late Level 2B to early Intermediate 1 students. It’s very loosely inspired by The Blue Danube Waltz, famously associated with the New Year concert in Vienna and the music of Johann Strauss II.
Blue Reverie doesn’t try to sound like The Blue Danube Waltz — and that’s the point. It’s an original piece with just enough familiar sparkle that students can enjoy uncovering small musical nods along the way.
(If you’d like to grab the printable, it’s waiting for you at the bottom of this post.)
Why Blue Reverie Works So Well in January Lessons
From a teaching perspective, Blue Reverie supports several important skills. Written in 3/4 time, it introduces waltz-style playing in a natural way. The simplified left-hand waltz pattern is comfortable and approachable for young students. The melody sits clearly in the right hand, with left-hand accompaniment that reinforces balance and projection.
The piece also includes grace notes that are not side-by-side, which encourages wrist flexibility. Long slurs promote arm weight and connected finger transfers. Students also gain experience with left-hand clef changes in a musical, purposeful context.
This New Year piano printable works especially well in January lessons. It feels fresh without being overwhelming. Students experience an achievable challenge and enjoy opening music that feels expressive and mature.
If you’re looking for New Year piano music that moves beyond novelty, Blue Reverie is a lovely way to start the year.
Check it out at the bottom of the post.
The Books That Carry Students Through Level 2
One of the reasons we love sharing seasonal pieces like Blue Reverie is that they highlight what many Level 2 students are growing into musically.
That growth is exactly what WunderKeys Elementary Piano Lesson Book 2A and WunderKeys Elementary Piano Lesson Book 2B are designed to support. Together, these books guide students through the full Level 2 journey, building strong reading skills while gradually introducing more musical nuance, control, and expressive awareness.
If your goal is to move students smoothly and confidently from Level 2 into intermediate playing, WunderKeys Elementary Piano Lesson Book 2A and WunderKeys Elementary Piano Lesson Book 2B are built to get them there.
Click on a cover below to learn more.
Download A “New” New Year Piano Piece
Click here or on the image below to download Blue Reverie from the Teach Piano Today Homework Pages.
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