You don't have to be an advanced pianist to play moving and beautiful music. Granted, certain songs are better for beginners. But, with the right teacher, you can start expressing yourself and composing on the piano from your first few lessons. In fact, some of the most famous piano pieces are perfect for beginner or intermediate pianists, like the ones on this list.
| 🎼Selection | 🎹Artist | 📝Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rondo alla turca | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Better for intermediate players |
| FĂĽr Elise | Ludwig van Beethoven | Better for intermediate players |
| Prelude No. 1 in C | Johann Sebastien Bach | Ideal for small-handed players. |
| Canon in D | Johann Pachelbel | A standard for piano lessons |
| La nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 | Fryderyk Chopin | Fingering can be a bit complex |
| Clair de lune | Claude Debussy | Great for beginners |
| La campanella | Franz Liszt | One of the most challenging pieces to play |
| Piano Concerto No. 2 I. Moderato | Sergei Rachmaninoff | A good intermediate selection |
| Piano Sonata in B-flat Minor | Richard Wagner | A good 'homework assignment' |
| Variations on a Theme by Schumann | Johannes Brahms | For intermediate to advanced players. |
| Swan Lake Op. 20: I. Scene | Pyotr Tchaikovsky | Best for intermediate players |
| Â In the Hall of the Mountain King | Edvard Grieg | A fun piece forr advanced players |
| Gymnopédie No. 1 | Erik Satie | A gentle, reflexive piece. |
| Waltz No. 2 | Dmitri Shostakovich | Great for developing hand independence |
| Divenire | Ludovico Einaudi | Even advanced beginners could play this! |
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Rondo alla turca
This famous piece comes from Piano Sonata No.11 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Also known as the 'Turkish March' in English, this is one of Mozart's most famous compositions.
Even if neither of those names rings a bell, take a moment to reacquaint yourself with it. You must have heard it - at least, in adverts, television shows, or in a film's soundtrack.
However, this piece isn't for total beginners - you'll need to have played for at least a year before trying your hand. Besides, this isn't the only selection of classical piano pieces from this composer. You can practise with these other Mozart piano selections:
I. Allegro – Sonata No. 16 in C, K. 545
- tender yet frivolous
- great practice for mastering broken chords
Minuet in F Major
- an elementary piece
- fingering is simple and repetitive
Eine kleine nachtmusik – Serenade No. 13
- upbeat and vibrant
- can be configured for beginner or advanced players
Ludwig van Beethoven - FĂĽr Elise
As with Rondo Alla Turca, you'll need a certain skill level to play this piece, but it's not nearly as complex as it sounds. You've certainly heard this piece before. After all, it's inspired thousands of people to take up the piano.
If you'd like something a little more challenging from Beethoven, check out the Moonlight Sonata, another of the most famous piano pieces ever written.
FĂĽr Elise is shrouded in mystery - scholars are still divided on who Elise was. The piece itself wasn't published until forty years after Beethoven's death. The version we play today is a transcription of the original notes, so we may never know exactly how Beethoven intended it to sound.
Johann Sebastien Bach –Prelude No. 1 in C
Let's overlook, for a moment, how lovely this simple piece is. Focus on the repeated notes, and the smooth transition to the sharps and flats and back again. And later, the addition of pedal work to change the tonal quality.
Let's overlook, for a moment, how lovely this simple piece is. Focus on the repeated notes, and the smooth transition to the sharps and flats and back again. And later, the addition of pedal work to change the tonal quality.
This is a great piece for small hands to play. As the video below shows, playing this Prelude doesn't involve fancy fingering or much arm travel. Across Australia, kids taking piano lessons tend to master this selection rather quickly.
Johann Pachelbel –Canon in D
A theme of weddings the world over, this deceptively simple piece is layered in complexity. Some of the most famous piano players have put their own signatures on it over the years, but the best version remains the original composition. On its own, it remains one of the most beautiful piano pieces.
An overlapping melody layered with counterpoint voices.
Historical footnote: This Canon was popular during Pachelbel's lifetime (1653 - 1706), but got lost as Baroque selections dominated. It was rediscovered in the 1960s and, since then, has been a favourite selection for everything from significant life events to advertisements.
Fryderyk Chopin La nocturne Op. 9 No. 2
At one time, this Prelude was a popular insert for music boxes. Those trinkets may be passé, but this music selection will never go out of style. It's tranquil with a bit of challenging fingering involved, but nothing too complex.
Chopin was a master of wringing emotion out of his instrument. Prelude in Em is despair in sound.
The piece's final dynamic mark is called smorzando - literally 'dying away'.
He requested it be played at his funeral.
Indeed, this piece is so charming and relaxing, you might not mind having to play those few flurries of notes.
Claude Debussy - Clair de lune
Tempting as it is to believe that someone named Clair inspired this emotional piece, that's not the case. A poem by Paul Verlaine with the same title (Moonlight, in English) was Debussy's muse. The piece's simple opening bars are also popular music box enhancements. It remains one of the best piano pieces for boosting novice piano player motivation. Mastering such a famous selection is incentive to continue playing!
Franz Liszt - La campanella
Liszt's La campanella ranks amongst the most technically challenging pieces in piano literature. Originally based on Paganini's violin caprice, this transcription transforms the delicate "little bell" melody into a showcase of virtuosic technique.
Its lightning-fast passages and intricate ornamentations demand exceptional finger agility from pianists. Whilst fiendishly difficult, those who master it possess one of the most thrilling and impressive pieces in the repertoire.
Should La campanella (the little bell) prove too much for you just yet, try the slower, more romantic Liebestraum #3 (Dream of love)
Sergei Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2 I. Moderato
Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto opens with one of classical music's most beloved and recognisable melodies. The first movement showcases the composer's signature rich harmonies, sweeping romantic themes, and deeply emotional expression. Its extensive passages in the lower registers demand sophisticated pedalling technique and precise fingering to achieve Rachmaninoff's characteristic lush, melancholic sound.
This Russian composer was a piano prodigy, writing several compositions before he turned 20. However, his first major work was a disaster. A 4-year depression nearly ended his career.
The lesson: don't give up!
Whilst technically challenging, this magnificent concerto offers pianists an opportunity to develop both expressive range and advanced technique. Online piano lessons can provide invaluable guidance for mastering Rachmaninoff's distinctive romantic style and the complex musical demands this iconic concerto presents to performers.
Richard Wagner - Piano Sonata in B-flat Minor
In his book on Wagner, British musicologist Ernest Newman informs us that Wagner's music teacher directed this composition. Under that heavy influence, Wagner did not invest emotionally in this sonata.
... curbing the exuberance of the boy's undisciplined mind.
Ernest Newman
He might have seen it as a homework assignment - a technical exercise, rather than anything to be passionate about. Anyone dreaming of becoming a famous pianist will likely have similar feelings about music they're forced to write.
Johannes Brahms - Variations on a Theme by Schumann
This work beautifully demonstrates the deep musical friendship between Brahms and Schumann, showcasing collaboration rather than competition. Brahms took one of Schumann's melodies and crafted a series of imaginative variations, each exploring different aspects of the original theme's potential.
This tune may be the world's most famous. It has put babies to sleep for generations.
The composition reveals Brahms' remarkable ability to transform simple material into complex, emotionally rich music whilst maintaining the essence of Schumann's original idea. Each variation presents unique technical challenges and expressive opportunities for pianists. This piece serves as both an excellent study in variation form and a testament to the creative partnership between two masters of Romantic piano literature.
Pyotr Tchaikovsky –Swan Lake Op. 20: I. Scene
Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake stands amongst the most beloved ballets ever composed, featuring music that perfectly captures the drama and emotion of the tragic story. The opening scene presents a hauntingly beautiful melody that encapsulates the work's melancholic romanticism.
This piano arrangement distils the orchestral grandeur into an intimate, introspective piece that showcases Tchaikovsky's gift for memorable melodies. The composition's flowing phrases and expressive dynamics make it both technically accessible and emotionally rewarding.
Students taking piano lessons in Sydney often find this piece an excellent introduction to Tchaikovsky's style, typically suitable after approximately one year of dedicated practice
Edvard Grieg –In the Hall of the Mountain King
This iconic piece from Grieg's Peer Gynt suite perfectly captures the tension of creeping stealth gradually escalating into frantic pursuit. Its deceptively simple repeating melody builds from pianissimo whispers to thunderous fortissimo, making it instantly recognisable in countless films and advertisements. Advanced pianists often enjoy performing this thrilling crowd-pleaser, as its dramatic crescendo never fails to captivate audiences with its relentless, driving energy.
Erik Satie –Gymnopédie No. 1
Satie's Gymnopédie No. 1 epitomises tranquil simplicity, evoking peaceful moments of quiet reflection. The piece unfolds with deliberate, unhurried grace through sustained notes and gentle harmonies that seem to float weightlessly.
Gymnopédie was a type of Ancient Greek dance that called for young men and women to dance nude.
Satie, who called himself a "phonometrician" rather than a composer, was fascinated by the precise measurement of sound and silence. This minimalist masterpiece, with its sparse texture and contemplative pace, captures the essence of calm introspection and remains one of classical music's most soothing compositions.
Dmitri Shostakovich –Waltz No. 2
This waltz is, hands-down, one of Soviet-era Russia's most famous pieces. Its themes are instantly recognisable, and its romantic frothiness is the perfect counterpoint. This romantic tune delivers a touch of the theatrical, as one imagines lush ball gowns swirling across plush ballroom floors. Its short, clipped notes give you one of the best exercises to develop hand independence.
Ludovico Einaudi - Divenire
Einaudi's music has a repetitive, meditative, nostalgic quality. So mesmerising is it that you may feel as if you've heard this piece somewhere before. It represents musically what it feels like to take a long drive through nature on a deserted road. It's thought-provoking and majestic, all at the same time.
Ludovico Einaudi is an undisputed star of the contemporary classical music world. You may recognise his style because you've likely heard his compositions before. They feature on popular film soundtracks and television series, such as Doctor Zhivago and The Untouchables.
Ludovico Einaudi played his piece 'Elegy for the Arctic' on an iceberg.
Mr Einaudi is a prolific composer; we could have chosen many of his works to feature here. Should his music appeal to you, you might wish to hear more from him. Or do you already know these selections?
Una Mattina
- from The Untouchables
- a light, reflective piece
- deeply emotional
Primavera
- a thought-provoking piece
- simple fingering, elegant phrasing
- great for intermediate players
Nuvole Bianchi
- a calm, simple piece
- slightly sad in tone
- great right-hand workout
Now, how about studying renowned British pianists? Examine their fingering and technique, and try to emulate their posture and playing style. After all, they're renowned for a reason, no?
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