Autumn – or fall– is in full flow, and that means something is coming… No, not winter. Thanksgiving!

At this time of year, people all around the world gather for harvest festivals to give thanks for what we have, whether it's food, prosperity, or simply peace. Thanksgiving in the US, Erntedankfest in Germany, Mid-Autumn Festival in China, and so many more, are times of togetherness and family – perfect opportunities to enjoy music together.

So whether you celebrate any of these holidays, or just want to get some autumnal feeling into your repertoire, here are five songs to help you get into the Thanksgiving spirit.

5. Oh Happy Day

Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks for how lucky we are and for the things that make us happy. This gospel arrangement of a classic hymn brings the slightest touch of blues to a song about happiness in its purest form. And if you're a Beatles fan, it's not hard to hear how George Harrison used most of the chords and melody as a blueprint for his legendary "My Sweet Lord."

4. Antonin Dvorák - "The New World Symphony" (II. Largo – Symphony No. 9 in Em, Op. 95)

A few hundred years after the First Thanksgiving, Dvořák went to the "New World" of the United States to work as the director of the National Conservatory of Music. There, he wrote a symphony that encapsulates the open expanses and diverse cultures he encountered. Dvořák combined elements of Native American and African American spiritual music with his classical roots to produce something truly breathtaking.

3. Joseph Kosma - Autumn Leaves

This melancholy jazz standard has been recorded more than a thousand times by everyone from Bing Crosby to Bob Dylan. It perfectly captures the feeling of autumnal sorrow, with or without the lyrics. Just think of this final verse as you play: "Since you went away the days grow longer, and soon I'll hear old winter's song. But I miss you most of all my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall."

2. October: Autumn Song - The Seasons

This piece from Pyotr Tchaikovsky is contemplative, but there's a distinct tumbling feeling – reminiscent of how leaves fall – that requires careful attention to tempo. There are also a handful of dissonant notes, more akin to later experimentalists like Debussy, that make this an interesting choice for those who would like to expand their knowledge of Tchaikovsky's works. The sound captures the mood of summer leaves turning to yellow, eventually to fall on wet October ground. 

1. Vernon Duke - Autumn in New York

The end of autumn is a time of slowing down and reflecting. So here's another jazz standard with a forlorn, dreamy feel. But here, the playful jumps and more bluesy flourishes can give you a little more optimism… "It's autumn in New York that brings the promise of new love."

Learn piano with flowkey this Thanksgiving

Practice piano songs like these with flowkey's interactive tutorials. Choose from hundreds of pieces at a range of difficulty levels, from beginner to pro. As you practice, you'll get instant feedback on your playing through flowkey's note-recognition technology, making learning new songs fun and easy. Get flowkey today to start learning.