[Beginner] Start Here: Classic Practice Pieces Recommended for Adult Piano Beginners
For beginner pianists, choosing practice pieces can be a real source of anxiety.
This is especially true if you’re starting to learn on your own as an adult—you may often wonder what pieces to choose to keep practice enjoyable and progressing smoothly.
When learning piano independently, there are two main approaches: focusing intensively on a limited selection of pieces, or practicing a balanced set of pieces that include a variety of technical elements while learning the basics of piano technique and music reading from the ground up.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended practice pieces for those who prefer the latter approach and also want to build a solid foundation.
We’ve selected a wide range of pieces, from classical to popular, so feel free to start with whichever ones spark your interest.
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[Beginner] Start with this for your first practice piece! Classic practice songs recommended for adult piano beginners (61–70)
Allegro in F major, K. 1c, from Nannerl’s Music BookWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Though composed at the age of five and only 24 measures long in F major, this miniature brims with charm that captures listeners’ hearts.
Structured in binary form, it has a bright, lively character and a cheerful atmosphere reminiscent of folk dances from southern Germany.
Its approachable length of 24 measures and familiar melodic line are distinguishing features, and the piece presents few technical hurdles, making it easy to tackle.
It’s an ideal choice for those just beginning piano study or becoming comfortable with reading music.
That said, playing with an awareness of Classical-era elegance and expressiveness will cultivate deeper musicality.
Recommended as an introductory work that can spark interest in Mozart’s music.
Minuet in G major, K. 1 (K6 1e), from the Nannerl NotebookWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
An elegant minuet that the young Mozart wrote for his sister, Maria Anna Mozart.
In G major and triple meter, this piece is characterized by its straightforward melody.
Structured in an ABA ternary form with 8-bar repeats, it’s an approachable work free of stiffness.
Composed in Salzburg between December 1761 and January 1762, it displays a level of musical construction and expressiveness that seems remarkable for a five-year-old.
With its simple yet beautiful melody and clear structure, it’s recommended for beginners at the piano or those looking to try Mozart’s music.
Its unpretentious atmosphere and rhythmic charm make it an ideal piece for taking a first step into classical music.
Minuet in C major, K. 1 (K⁶ 1f), from Nannerl’s Music BookWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Composed at the age of five, this miniature is a simple yet refined 3/4-time minuet.
With its friendly melody and concise design, it exudes an elegant atmosphere.
It opens with a descending perfect fifth, followed by four chords in a striking development.
Structured in binary form, the progression from the main theme to the trio and back to the reprise of the theme clearly reflects the characteristics of the minuet form of the time.
The repeated eight-bar phrases are pleasing to the ear.
Along with its simple harmonic progression, the bright sonority of C major envelops the entire piece.
It is a recommended choice for those who value traditional stylistic beauty while seeking to broaden their expressive range.
Aura LeeGeorge Rodway Poulton
Aura Lee is an American popular folk song that is included in Japanese elementary school music textbooks and is well loved in Japan.
It is also known as the original tune for legendary American rock star Elvis Presley’s famous song Love Me Tender.
Its simple, catchy melody stays within a single octave, and the rhythm uses only quarter notes and half notes, making it very straightforward.
Take your time practicing while learning to read the notes and remember their durations.
TraumereiRobert Schumann
Woven in F major with a gentle 4/4 pulse, this beautiful, dreamlike melody softly envelops the listener’s heart.
Born from the album Kinderszenen, the piece was published in Leipzig in February 1839 and is a memorable work used in both the opening and ending of the film “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” (Tenkōsei).
Its calm, transparent tone seeps into the soul, as if awakening the pure emotions of childhood and the nostalgia felt in adulthood.
Over eight repetitions of a four-bar melody, shifts in harmony and an expanding register brilliantly portray the changing scenes of a dream.
Though it occasionally shows a pensive expression, it concludes with a warm afterglow.
With a leisurely performance duration yet profound emotional impact, this highly artistic work is recommended for those who wish to immerse themselves quietly in music.
“Dance of the Natives” from Children’s Piano PiecesNakata Yoshinao
Though just one minute long, this powerful piece stands out among the 17 works included in the album “Children’s Piano Pieces.” Its strong rhythm, grounded in A minor, generates a distinctive sense of tension and vitality.
The work’s appeal lies in its striking melody: it employs a traditional Japanese pentatonic scale while exuding the vibrant energy of folk music.
It has been selected as a required piece for the PTNA Piano Step program and is well known at the Basic 5 level.
The hand-crossing technique leaves a strong impression on audiences, making it ideal for recitals and competitions.
This superb miniature captivates listeners with expressive flair while incorporating devices that draw out the performer’s technique.
French Suite No. 5, BWV 816: SarabandeJ.S.Bach
For those who want to take on classical music or try playing an elegant dance, how about a beautiful sarabande excerpted from a Baroque suite? The third movement of the French Suite No.
5 in G major, BWV 816, is one of the most approachable works among the six suites composed between 1722 and 1725.
Written in a gentle triple meter, it features an ornate right-hand melody interwoven beautifully with a left-hand accompaniment.
Although originally a dance of Spanish origin, it exemplifies the sarabande as a refined form that took shape in France and Germany during the Baroque era.
With its deep expressiveness and serene beauty, this movement is recommended for those looking to refine their musicality, as it calls for thoughtful interpretation of ornaments and careful phrasing.