A must-see for piano beginners! Carefully selected classic pieces you should play at least once
Do you assume that as a piano beginner there’s absolutely no way you can play famous pieces?
In fact, among classical works, there are many masterpieces that are approachable even for those who’ve only just started practicing the piano.
In this article, we’ve picked out classical pieces recommended for piano beginners!
We’ll introduce a wide range of piano works, as well as piano arrangements of orchestral pieces, from the Baroque era to the modern and contemporary periods.
You can choose to play just a section, or slow down the tempo and play at your own pace—enjoy performing great music in the way that suits you best!
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A must-see for piano beginners! Carefully selected classic pieces you should play at least once (11–20)
Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven
A masterwork by Ludwig van Beethoven, Für Elise is beloved not only as a piano piece but also in its many arrangements—ranging from kayōkyoku to pop—by various artists.
Its appeal lies in a richly varied structure: the gentle opening phrase that smoothly connects the left and right hands, the bright and brilliant middle section, and the later passage that surges with fierce, almost angry intensity.
It’s ideal for practicing both technique and expression.
Pay close attention to the contrasting moods of each section, and play with ample nuance and dynamic shading!
Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach
Known as one of Bach’s masterpieces, this piece was actually composed as part of his Orchestral Suite No.
3.
Bach wrote this suite between 1717 and 1723.
Beloved by many for its beautiful melody and harmonies, its calm and graceful tune resonates deeply with listeners.
Even beginners at the piano can play it at a relaxed tempo, making it an ideal introduction to classical music.
The left-hand part is relatively simple, allowing you to focus your practice on the right-hand melody.
As you play, why not enjoy expressing yourself while appreciating the depth of the music?
A Doll’s Dream and AwakeningTheodor Oesten
A well-known piece by Théodore Oesten, familiar as a piano standard.
This very charming miniature consists of three parts: “Lullaby,” “Dream,” and “Awakening.” Published in 1862, it portrays a doll falling asleep, dreaming, and then waking.
Because each section has a subtitle, it’s easy to grasp the imagery, making it approachable to perform.
Children might enjoy playing it while imagining themselves drifting off and dreaming to their mother’s lullaby.
Why not try expressing the world of dolls on the piano?
25 Etudes Op. 100, No. 1 “Innocence”Johann Burgmüller
Johann Burgmüller’s 25 Études Op.
100 is a quintessential staple among piano study collections.
Surely no one who has picked up this book has finished without playing the very first piece, “La candeur” (“An Innocent Heart”).
While the piece exudes the feel of a true “étude,” with its regularly arranged notes, you can achieve a highly artistic performance by paying close attention to nuanced dynamics and playing with a strong sense of phrasing.
To avoid a monotonous rendition that merely strings together the written notes, examine every detail of the score and bring it to life in sound!
Turkish MarchLudwig van Beethoven
One of the pieces many aspire to play on the piano, this masterpiece by Ludwig van Beethoven features a bold melody that evokes a marching soldier, performed with strength while the left hand keeps a steady rhythm.
Composed in 1811, it is a work by a Western composer inspired by the military bands of the Ottoman Empire.
Although it proceeds at a calm tempo and doesn’t demand rapid fingerwork, mastering proper hand posture and finger shape is essential for playing the ornamental notes cleanly when they appear.
It’s an ideal piece as a practice work to help you level up smoothly from beginner to intermediate.