“Over the Rainbow” is a Level 2A piano arrangement of the famous song from The Wizard of Oz, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It is written in 4/4 time and marked “Moderately.” The student part uses a gentle vocal-style melody, simple left-hand held notes, long slurs, optional pedal, first and second endings, dynamic changes, and a soft final ending.

Measures 1–4 introduce the main “Somewhere over the rainbow” melody. The right hand carries the familiar tune, while the left hand supports with long held notes. The wide opening melodic leap gives the phrase its recognizable sound.

Measures 5–8 continue the first verse. The melody moves through “there’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby,” with the right hand playing the main line and the left hand adding simple support. The first ending repeats back to the beginning, while the second ending moves forward.

Measures 9–16 begin the middle section with “Someday I’ll wish upon a star.” The right hand uses more repeated eighth-note motion, and the left hand continues with held bass notes and simple chord tones. The music grows stronger through the phrase and reaches a forte moment near “that’s where you’ll find me.”

Measures 17–20 return to the opening theme. The “Somewhere over the rainbow” melody comes back, now with the words “bluebirds fly,” bringing the music back to the familiar main idea.

Measures 21 to the end close the arrangement. The final phrase asks, “Why then, oh why can’t I?” and the music settles into a soft final chord with fermatas.

The optional teacher duet adds a fuller accompaniment underneath the student part. The score notes that the student plays one octave higher and without pedal when using the duet.

Interesting fact: “Over the Rainbow” was written for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became one of Judy Garland’s most famous performances.