Music library › Folk songs and rounds
French melody “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman”, 1761 (words 1806). Complete melody, written out for reading practice.
The tune was published in France in 1761 as “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman”, and Mozart later wrote a famous set of twelve variations on it. The English words come from a poem called “The Star” by Jane Taylor, published in 1806. The same melody is used for the alphabet song and “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep”.
In C major, using only six notes, it is often the very first piece people learn to read. The first and last lines are identical, and the middle two lines are the same as each other.
The first verse is printed under the notes and lights up as the music plays. Words by Jane Taylor, in the public domain.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!
Read the piece through once without playing, naming the starting note and looking for patterns and repeats. Then press Play and follow the notes as they light up. When you are ready, choose Practice this piece: it opens in the practice tool, where you can slow it down, play along on the on-screen piano, a MIDI keyboard or your voice, and have every note checked.