Harry Potter's Theme – John Williams

About this piece

Hedwig's Theme is the signature melody John Williams wrote for the Harry Potter films, first heard in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Its twinkling, slightly mysterious opening became the musical calling card of the whole series, and it remains one of the most recognisable film themes of its time.

This arrangement runs 2:06 at 87 bpm in 3/8, so the music moves in quick groups of three that give it a lilting, circling feel. The hands play separate parts across an unusually wide range, from E1 deep in the bass up to A7 near the very top of the keyboard, which means you will travel a lot and need to spot the big jumps early. On the web this page plays a 30-second preview; the full song, with lessons and fingering, is in the EzPiano app.

Begin in Wait mode with the right hand alone, so the music pauses until you find each note. Drop the speed to around 50 % while the shape of the melody settles under your fingers, and switch on note names if the high ledger-line notes are hard to place. Once the right hand feels steady, practise the left hand by itself, then put them together. Use the A–B loop on any phrase that leaps across the keyboard and raise the tempo a little at a time.