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 (41–50)
Piano Sonata No. 20, Op. 49 No. 2, Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven
This piece is notable for its graceful and approachable melody in triple meter.
Composed around 1795–1796, it features a warm character written for friends and pupils.
Adopting the minuet form, it exudes a delicate and tranquil atmosphere.
Its melody was later reused in the Septet, Op.
20, suggesting that the composer himself was fond of this musical idea.
Renowned pianists such as Daniel Barenboim and Boris Giltburg have performed it, drawing out new charms through varied interpretations.
With its calm mood and familiar melody, it is recommended for a wide range of players, from those just beginning piano practice to advanced performers.
MemoryWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
This is a piano miniature in G major, notable for its gentle atmosphere and flowing melody.
Employing an accompaniment pattern known as the Alberti bass, the beautiful melody conveys the refined aesthetic of the Classical era despite its simplicity, soothing the listener’s heart.
The fluid accompaniment based on broken chords is a hallmark found in many of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s piano works, and its charm is fully showcased here as well.
While the piece is structured to be approachable for performers, it also offers ample opportunities for expressive playing.
It is an ideal choice for those who have mastered basic piano techniques or for listeners wishing to become more familiar with classical music.
French Suite No. 1, BWV 812: SarabandeJ.S.Bach
For those who admire Baroque music but struggle with complex counterpoint, this piece is recommended.
Composed around 1722, it appears in Anna Magdalena Bach’s Notebook, indicating that it was intended for approachable, domestic performance.
It’s a slow dance in triple meter, characterized by simple harmonic progressions and beautiful ornamentation.
The tempo is leisurely, and there are no difficult phrases or virtuosic passages, so beginners to Baroque music can learn to play it quickly with practice.
Since tone color, expression, and dynamics are emphasized, play while exploring a beautiful sound.
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.
Musette in D majorJ.S.Bach
This piece, born from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, where one can fully savor the charm of Baroque-era domestic music, is notable for its left-hand accompaniment pattern that imitates bagpipes.
Structured in ternary form, its bright and approachable melody moves between D major and A major, featuring rhythmically dance-like motion.
Compiled as part of the 1725 notebook and written with home music education in mind, it is not overly virtuosic and is easy to play.
It is especially recommended for those interested in Baroque music or for pianists looking to tackle a classical work.
The piece is also used in the anime Curious George, which likely explains why its familiarity continues to be loved today.