How to Play Mia & Sebastian's Theme on Piano
Justin Hurwitz
Mia & Sebastian's Theme is an intermediate piano piece by Justin Hurwitz that most students can learn in 6-8 weeks.
Practice tips
The left-hand stride pattern jumps between low bass notes and mid-range chords — practice these jumps slowly, aiming for the chord cluster as a shape rather than individual notes.
The A section melody has jazz-influenced chromatic passing tones — give these chromatic notes a lighter touch so they sound like graceful decorations, not clumsy wrong notes.
The climactic waltz section requires a tempo shift and a sudden increase in grandeur — practice the transition bar between the main theme and the waltz as a separate unit.
About this piece
The jazzy, bittersweet theme from La La Land that captures the magic and melancholy of Hollywood romance. The piece features stride-like left-hand jumps and a lyrical melody that requires careful rubato.
Common mistake
Playing the stride left hand too loudly, making it sound like a bass solo rather than an accompaniment — the bass notes should ground the harmony while staying well below the melody.
How long to learn
Not sure Mia & Sebastian's Theme matches your level? Take the free 2-minute piano level quiz — or settle it directly: upload the sheet music and play it back at half speed to see how it feels under your hands.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Mia & Sebastian's Theme to play on piano?
Mia & Sebastian's Theme is rated Intermediate. The jazzy, bittersweet theme from La La Land that captures the magic and melancholy of Hollywood romance.
How long does it take to learn Mia & Sebastian's Theme?
For a beginner, expect 6-8 weeks. An intermediate player can learn it in 2-3 weeks.
What is the BPM of Mia & Sebastian's Theme?
Mia & Sebastian's Theme is typically played at 120 BPM, in A major.
What key is Mia & Sebastian's Theme in?
Mia & Sebastian's Theme is in A major, typically performed at around 120 BPM.
What's the most common mistake when learning Mia & Sebastian's Theme?
Playing the stride left hand too loudly, making it sound like a bass solo rather than an accompaniment — the bass notes should ground the harmony while staying well below the melody.
Where to find the sheet music
- Free scores on IMSLP (Petrucci Music Library)
- Community sheet music on MuseScore
- Wikipedia: Justin Hurwitz
Free public-domain editions of works like Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy are on IMSLP. For contemporary works, MuseScore has community arrangements.
Got the PDF? Upload it to Piano Nova — a photo of a printed page works too — and play Mia & Sebastian's Theme straight from that edition, at your own tempo.
Ready to practice Mia & Sebastian's Theme?
Upload your sheet music and start learning — at your tempo, hands separately, looping the hard parts.
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