On this page we give you everything you need to perform a show using the piano accompaniment files. We provide you with  20 songs in many different keys. All of these songs are in public domain and you can use them for the specific purpose of entertaining in nursing homes or other care situations. If you learn these songs and perform them, the residents will enjoy the show and you will have a GREAT time! 

Give My Regards to Broadway
Alexander's Ragtime Band
April Showers
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
By the Beautiful Sea
Bill Bailey
Daisy
Darktown Strutter's Ball
Baby Face
Shine on Harvest Moon
For Me and My Gal

St. Louis Blues
Peg O' My Heart
Danny Boy
My Melancholy Baby
Let The Rest Of The World Go By
Margie
Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me
Till We Meet Again
Amazing Grace

The Politics of the Lyrics - Some singers have expressed concern with some of the ideas in these lyrics. My comment to them as been that these are the songs the folks love and they represent what was accepted at that time. If you have a problem singing any of these songs, there are many, many more to choose from.

The songs are available in many keys! The key is the most important factor for singers and should be the "right" key. It will take some time to determine the best key, but it is well worth it. All the information you need is on this web site.

Disclaimer: All of these songs have been learned by ear and, consequently, I cannot guarantee that the melodies or chords are exactly as written. If you have any questions, refer to the original sheet music.

THE FIRST STEP - FIND THE RIGHT KEY FOR EACH SONG

Using The MIDI Files (FEMALE OR MALE KEY) The MIDI files can be played on your computer - just point to the song and click.

You can play the MIDI files by clicking the song for a particular key in the tables below. Learn the 20 songs in the show. First listen to the MIDI files with the melody to become familiar with the rhythm and melody. Look over the lyrics at the same time. Get familiar with the story of the song. Then play or sing along with the MIDI files. Once you have these 20 songs memorized, you're ready for the show.

Public Domain Show #1 -

Procedure to find the right key:

1- Choose either male or female key table below. Generally you will find the right key in one table. However, if nothing sounds right for a particular song, try the other table.

2- Play the song in the 0 key (the key it was originally recorded in) and sing along. If this is a good key for you, make note of the song title and the 0 key. If it is too high, play the song in the -1 key; continue lower until you find the right key.  If it is too low, play it in the +1 key; continue higher until you find the right key. Remember, the right key can make the difference between sounding good and singing in tune or not.

3- Make a list of all 20 songs and the keys for each song.

4- Practice the songs using the MIDI files WITHOUT the melody in Table 2, below.  When you can sing through the 20 songs without using the melody, you are ready to perform a show.

5- You can make your own CD by converting the MIDI files (to wav files) and then burning a CD  .... or

6- Send us the list and we will customize your show. 

Table 1 - Female and Male Keys Played with Melody

use these files to learn the song - lyrics are available on the Lyrics Page

Female Keys (Played with melody)

How To Use The Packaged Show

Using CDs - Total Cost $100 (20 songs at $5 each)

The Public Domain Solo Piano Sing-A-Long Show consists of two CDs with 20 songs each: the first one is just the piano accompaniment to the songs. Sing along with the CD until you are comfortable with the timing of the song and your phrasing. Try not to rush the words and try to find the meaning in the lyric. The secret to being able to sing is not having a great voice, but rather knowing how to tell a story.

You can use the CD with a small CD player and perform shows - it's being done by a number of performers in the Bay Area.

These CDs will give you the freedom to sing whenever and wherever you'd like!

Using MIDI Files - Total cost around $1,000

If you want a more realistic sound, you can use the midi files themselves and the following system to reproduce the actual playing of the song. This system gives the most realistic representation of the music, but costs about $1,000 for the equipment.

The system that allows you to use MIDI files for these Solo Piano Sing-A-Long Shows consists of four basic items:

* MIDI File 
* MIDI File Player (i.e. sequencer)
* Piano Sound Module (could also be an electronic piano with MIDI)
* Amplifier (to produce sound)


It starts with a MIDI File which is what you are using when you click on a song on this website. Once you've clicked on the song, it has been downloaded to your computer and is either in your Windows/Temporary Internet files directory or a directory you specified. You can move them anywhere on your computer, or copy them to a floppy disk for use on a gig.

The MIDI File contains the information to tell the MIDI File Player what to do. That's the part we are providing; the rest is up to you.

The MIDI File Player (sequencer) then sends a signal to the Piano Sound Module to tell it what notes to play.

The Piano Sound Module sends the sound to the Amplifier.

The Amplifier plays the sound in the room.

This type of system gives you the most realistic sound reproduction. I use a Yamaha MPF-3 (MIDI File Player) and a Roland EP-70 electric piano (with an amplifier built in) and the overall sound is great. It sounds exactly the same as when I'm playing live.

If you need help getting started, please contact us at robert@heart-soul-music.com and we'll do what we can to help. The overall goal is to get more music in the places where it's really needed and we'd like to help you, if we can.

On a personal note, I can tell you that using these MIDI files to perform a show really works. I have a recurring problem with tendonitis. When it hits really bad, I can barely play. I purchased the MIDI File Player and recorded the piano part from a typical show and started using that to perform the show while I sang. The people enjoy the show almost as much as when I'm actually playing the music. It was when I was watching the audience start tapping their feet and singing along when I was using the MIDI File Player that I realized this music could help anyone do a show who wants to. If you can sing or play an instrument in time with these MIDI Files, the residents will enjoy the show.