[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 Here: Classic Practice Pieces Recommended for Adult Piano Beginners (111–120)
Dance and SongNakata Yoshinao
This is a captivating solo piano piece woven from two elements: “Dance” and “Song.” Rhythmic, Japanese-style melodies blend beautifully with a gentle singing quality, creating an evocative work that conjures scenes of a summer night.
The invigorating “Dance” section, brimming with mixed meter in 5/8 and syncopation, alternates with the “Song” section, sung over graceful harmonies, holding the listener’s heart throughout.
It’s recommended for those seeking a family-friendly recital piece or wishing to deepen rhythm study while valuing a Japanese aesthetic.
With thoughtful use of staccato and pedaling, performers can further broaden expressive range, making it a rewarding work to learn.
Czerny 100 Progressive Studies, Op. 139 No. 1Carl Czerny
Carl Czerny was an Austrian composer who left behind a vast number of études.
He’s often strongly associated with “the person who wrote practice pieces,” but in fact, he was a crucial figure in the classical music world—a pupil of Ludwig van Beethoven and the teacher of Franz Liszt.
Among his collections of études, Czerny’s 100 Progressive Studies, Op.
139, are easy to read yet suitably musical, making them perfect teaching material for beginner pianists.
Since it contains as many as 100 pieces, it’s also a good idea to pick out the ones you need and proceed selectively.
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 1 in C major, BWV 846, PreludeJ.S.Bach
Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier is renowned as a masterpiece for keyboard instruments.
The Prelude No.
1 from Book I is also famous as the accompaniment to Charles Gounod’s Ave Maria.
Compiled in 1722, Book I is said to have originated from a collection of short pieces that Bach began writing for his son’s education.
With its natural and beautiful harmonic progressions, this piece is relatively approachable within a collection that includes many complex works.
Playing at a relaxed tempo with an awareness of the horizontal flow brings out its charm even more.
It is a calming masterpiece—why not immerse yourself in the world of Baroque music?
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331, 3rd movement “Turkish March”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Turkish March” is a piece many piano learners want to try at least once.
Originally, it’s the third movement of Piano Sonata No.
11 in A major, K.
331, and not an independent work, but nowadays the third movement is more often performed on its own.
The familiar theme repeats in varied forms, but the difficulty gradually increases, making the latter half surprisingly challenging! It might be a good idea to start with an easy arrangement for practice and, once you’re comfortable, take on the original.
Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring is known as soothing music and a piece many people long to try on the piano.
It’s a melody from a church cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and is sometimes performed with choir.
Because the piece has been published in various arrangements, you can choose sheet music suited to your level—one reason it’s recommended for beginners.
Picture the sound resonating through the high ceilings of a church, and try to savor each note as you play.
Piano Sonata No. 16, K. 545Wolfgang Mozart
Among the 18 piano sonatas composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Sonata No.
16, K.
545 is the most famous and is known as a recital standard.
The first movement, in particular, is beloved by many piano students, and within a single piece you can acquire a variety of techniques needed for performance.
Because it adheres strictly to sonata form, the upcoming developments are easy to predict and memorize—another key point! When played at a faster tempo, it’s more difficult than it sounds, so be sure to divide it into small sections and practice each part carefully.
“The Four Seasons” No. 1 “Spring”Antonio Vivaldi
The masterpiece The Four Seasons by Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi.
Among them, the first piece, Spring, is a captivating work with a brilliant, warm atmosphere that evokes the arrival of spring, and it is used in a wide range of contexts, including television commercials.
Since the original is an orchestral work, piano sheet music can vary greatly in feel and difficulty depending on the arrangement.
With a simple arrangement, it’s easier for piano beginners to tackle, but it may sound a bit sparse.
Try challenging yourself with arrangements that stay closer to the original as well.