- Level: Mid elementary
- Pages: 5 pages, 3 pages of music, cover included!
- Style: Bright with an Irish feel
- License: Studio license – reproducible for students you directly teach
- Bonus: mp3 recording without voiceovers
- Format: PDF instant download
Many students may not have heard of I Saw Three Ships, an English carol. But they will love the Irish flavor and the mature and beautiful sounds they’re able to play at an elementary level. Thanks to triple meter, the piece has a peaceful sort of sea shanty sound, which is perfect for a carol about 3 ships, though many think the reference may be about the wise men coming on camels! A motive that is easy to learn but includes pedal allows beginning students to feel and sound mature, making this a wonderful recital piece.
What is the I Saw Three Ships?
I Saw Three Ships is an elementary level piece written in triple meter. Pedaling is indicated, but only during a motive that is repeated a few times. This makes it perfect for students who are new to (or still feeling unsure about) pedaling. The smallest note value is a quarter note. Dynamics and some fingerings are included. The left hand plays both treble and bass clef throughout the piece. The left hand plays an open fifth throughout the piece that gives a much bigger sound than is typical for this playing level.
What is a Studio License?
I Saw Three Ships is available as a studio license which means that you only have to purchase it one time, and you are then licensed to print as many prints as you need for yourself or any student you directly teach! It’s like getting an unlimited supply of the piece since you never have to pay for it again. Plus there is no shipping since it is delivered digitally. You get the PDF and bonus mp3 in your email within minutes of your purchase.
Free Bonus Recording
I Saw Three Ships also comes with a free mp3 recording so that you can listen and learn the piece more easily. The studio license grants you permission to share this file with your students that are learning the piece.
Robin Steinweg –
This piece is exciting and fresh. I gave it to a mid-elementary student last week, and he couldn’t stop playing it. He came here asking for “another Wendy Stevens song, please.” Lots of students haven’t ever heard this carol. This arrangement gives the perfect opportunity to share some music (and Christmas) history! Like my student, I can’t get enough of this song.
Dianne –
This has been the seasonal hit in my studio over these past few weeks. It’s a great piece on many fronts – for developing free arm motion, for moving quickly around the keyboard and for playing in triple time – although I think it’s best felt in 6/8 time (and it helped my younger students to count to eight to avoid issues with the rest in bar 16!!). We all love the Irish-sounding variation from bar 33, and the ending as well. An absolute winner which I highly recommend.
Phyllis –
O come Emanuel and I saw three ships were a hit. They loved it!
They will be playing them for recital this Saturday!
Georgina –
A big hug in my teaching practise. Quick and easy to learn; fun to play. They loved the beginning and end sections. An easy one to do from memory.
Sandra –
The intro and ending are a delight and several pupils chose this as their Christmas piece based solely on that! It’s not such a well known carol with the younger generation here in the UK but we’ve loved getting to know it through such a beautiful arrangement. As usual, it fits neatly beneath the fingers while encouraging pupils to move around the piano.
Judith –
My student is really enjoying this piece! The patterns make it very easy to learn and the character is bold and fun. She’s looking forward to performing this at our Holiday recital!
Marilyn –
We are loving “I Saw 3 Ships”. It sounds so bold and more difficult than it is. One of my boys has found the transition to playing HT more difficult and requires lots of work! This makes it so easy for him and he is loving it. I know he’ll sound wonderful and be so proud of his accomplishment when he performs this. An adult student is enjoying it too, loving the way the music covers the keyboard repeating phrases, looking and sounding impressive.
Ceri –
“I saw three ships” is proving very popular again with elementary students. One asked why the picture was of camels and it was lovely to talk about camels being the ships of the desert. I particularly like this piece to teach about the three in the bar having a feel of one like a jig.