Just like other pops songs I’ve arranged previously, Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” has a predictable repeating four bars. In other words, start by decomposing the music. Once they find the pattern, they will be able to reduce the complexity and their anxiety about learning the piece. All they have to do is analyze the score, looking for repeating patterns.
I tell my students that music is formulaic.
Here is where you can transpose it half a step down to G major, which has just one sharp. But four flats, eighth rests and ties are all intimidating for the adult beginner. Thankfully, like other popular songs, there are numerous sheet music arrangements proliferating the Internet. four flats, which may pose problematic to the beginner pianist. The original version is in the key of A flat major - i.e. If “La Vida Breve” means “The Short Life” then “Viva la Vida” means “Live the Life.” Not so fast, according to Lenny, there’s more to this. The string introduction to Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” is addictive.
