Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on May 8, 2026
Summary:
Did you love Pixarâs 2009 animated film Up, featuring the adventures of Carl, Russell, and Dug? Want to play the movieâs main theme, âMarried Life,â on your 17-key kalimba? By following the sheet music and tablature provided here, youâll be able to perform this beautiful melody.
Hop aboard Carlâs house and letâs take off to discover this sheet music.
Preparation before studying any kalimba sheet music
The most important thing for progressing in learning kalimba sheet music is making sure you understand the various musical signs and symbols youâre bound to encounter. In this Up arrangement, youâll see plenty of parentheses in the sheet music, as well as ties in the tablature. Thereâs no point going further if you donât have those elements down yet. The good news is that there is a comprehensive, free guide to help you learn how to interpret all kalimba sheet music and tablature. Once youâve mastered this, playing beautiful songs on the thumb piano will be well within your reach.
Next, have you recently checked that your instrument is still properly in tune? It only takes a few minutes, and it ensures that the effort you put into learning the score will really pay off. Find out how to tune your kalimba by reading this short article. Clean, in-tune notes make all the difference, guaranteed.
Improve your understanding of the score with an explanatory video
Each of the mbira scores on the Instruments du Monde website includes a video showing you exactly when to press each tine on the instrument. This helps you get a feel for the overall rhythm of the melody youâre learning. You can find the video for the music from Up just below:
And to set the scene, hereâs the original âMarried Lifeâ track from the Pixar film that inspired this kalimba sheet music.
Play the song from Up with a simplified thumb piano score
Easier to pick up than tablature or classical sheet music, the numbers-only version gives you just the essentials to play the music from Up.
Choose a sanza score with letters
Since sheet music with letters is sometimes preferred to sheet music with numbers, you will find this version a little further down.
Choose the tablature from the Pixar animated film
If youâve spent time trying to play simplified scores like the ones youâve seen above, youâve probably noticed that the tempo and duration of the notes are tricky to reproduce. Thatâs why itâs recommended to use tablature instead, since it provides exactly that kind of information.
Use this PDF file to download the sheet music for the adventures of Carl, Russell, and Dug
Want to learn the melody in the best possible conditions? Then save the PDF of the kalimba sheet music for Up. Feel free to share it with your friends.
What is the name of the music from Up?
While the soundtrack of the animated film Up features 26 tracks, the one that left the biggest impression on viewers is undoubtedly âMarried Life.â Itâs considered a cult classic among Disney/Pixar soundtracks, winning a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, along with about ten other prestigious awards. The track is driven by a gorgeous melody reminiscent of 1930s jazz.
The success of âMarried Lifeâ is partly due to the context in which viewers first hear it in the film. At the very beginning of Up, âMarried Lifeâ plays while key moments in the lives of Carl Fredricksen and Ellie unfold on screen. The scenes are mostly joyful until Ellie falls ill and dies, and the couple can no longer fulfil their dream of travelling to South America. The music then suddenly slows down, shifting from cheerful to heartbreaking. That emotional contrast is a big part of why this piece became so unforgettable. You can also hear it again at the very end of the film.
Who composed "Married Life," the music for the film Up?
The music "Married Life", and in fact the entire soundtrack for Up, was composed by American composer Michael Giacchino. He first made a name for himself in the late 1990s by composing music for video games such as Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, and Jurassic Park. He later expanded into TV series like Lost, Fringe, and Alias. He also composed music for several films, including Star Trek, Cloverfield, and Mission: Impossible III.
His collaborations with Disney/Pixar began in 2004 with the animated film The Incredibles and continued with Ratatouille, Cars 2, and Inside Out. But it was his work on Up that earned him the most recognition, with Michael Giacchino winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe in 2010 for the entire soundtrack he composed for this animated film. Since then, he has continued to collaborate on a wide range of projects, mainly films and animated features with Disney, including Coco in 2017 and The Incredibles 2 in 2018.
Hone your playing with an exceptional kalimba
Since the main theme from Up resonated with audiences and earned multiple awards, itâs no surprise that this piece is a favourite on the thumb piano. With the sheet music and tablature shared in this article, you can relive the filmâs most memorable moments through music.
While the kalimba isnât a particularly complicated instrument to make, some entry-level models wonât do this kind of arrangement justice. Youâll need a reliable, great-sounding instrument for a clean, expressive performance. For this reason, the Instruments du Monde store recommends the Lingting K17A kalimba, made entirely from solid padauk wood, which will satisfy even the most demanding musicians.
Discover this exceptional kalimba now by clicking on the image below:
Add a little diversity to your musical repertoire by learning the kalimba sheet music for the song Unravel, from the Japanese manga Tokyo Ghoul. A classic of Japanese animation, sung by the famous TĆru Kitajima. But thatâs not all, because this is just one of the many 17-tine kalimba sheet music pieces that you can discover and play on our website.
