Piano Masterpieces: Surprisingly Easy Despite Sounding Difficult!? A Curated Selection Perfect for Recitals

Many people probably think, “It would be so cool and fun if I could play the piano!” I usually teach piano at home, and I have many adult students who come to me asking, “Is it still possible for me to learn to play from now?” So this time, I’ll introduce piano pieces that may look difficult but are surprisingly approachable on the piano, focusing on classical music! Perfectly pursuing the essence of a piece does require considerable technique, but in some cases there are published scores with simple arrangements that even beginners can play shortly after starting.

If you’re thinking about starting the piano, or if you’re hoping to perform at a recital someday, I hope you’ll find this helpful!

Playlist

Piano Masterpieces: Surprisingly Easy Despite Sounding Difficult!? A Curated Selection Perfect for Recitals
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Etude in A-flat major, Op. 25 No. 1 “Aeolian Harp”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Etude. The timbre of an Aeolian harp is striking.
2	Five Pieces (The Trees Suite), Op. 75: No. 5, “The Spruce”Jean Sibelius		Sibelius’s Tree Suite, depicting the firs of a snowy mountain
3	Daylight saving timeGeorge Gershwin		A composition by Gershwin that fuses jazz and classical music
4	Maiden’s PrayerTekla Bądarzewska		A luscious piano piece by a Polish composer
5	Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven		Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata
6	Songs Without Words, Book IV, Op. 53, No. 3: “Presto agitato (Foreboding)”Felix Mendelssohn		A passionate piano piece composed by Mendelssohn
7	Three Concert Études, S.144/R.5, No. 3 “Un sospiro”Franz Liszt		Liszt's technically demanding and beautiful piano piece
8	Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. MorningEdvard Grieg		Grieg's masterpiece Peer Gynt: Morning Mood
9	Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s dog chasing its tail turned into a musical piece
10	Prelude No. 15 in D-flat major, Op. 28-15 “Raindrop”Frederic Chopin		Tips for performing Chopin’s “Raindrop”
11	Adeline by the SeasideRichard Clayderman		Richard Clayderman's smash hit Ballade pour Adeline
12	Two Arabesques No. 1 in E majorClaude Debussy		Program notes on Debussy’s beautiful melodies
13	Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		The beautiful melody of Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata
14	Pachelbel’s CanonJohann Pachelbel		The beauty of Pachelbel's Canon
15	Tufted puffinHakasé Tarō		Tips for Playing Taro Hakase’s “Etupirka” on the Piano
16	Fantaisie-ImpromptuFrederic Chopin		The contrast between rapid passages and silence in Chopin's works
17	Gymnopédie No. 1Erik Satie		Satie’s piano pieces, masterpieces with a healing effect
18	Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven		Für Elise for Beginners
19	Liebestraum (Dream of Love)Franz Liszt		Liszt's beautifully difficult piano piece
20	Amazing GraceSakkyokusha fumei		How to play Amazing Grace
21	Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach		Air on the G String for Beginners
22	Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545, No. 3Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		An elegant piano piece by Mozart
23	Carnaval, Op. 9 No. 12 – ChopinRobert Schumann		Schumann’s masterpiece filled with love for Chopin
24	Pavane for a Newborn PrincessCharles-Henry		A piano piece celebrating the birth of a princess
25	Children’s Corner No. 2: Lullaby of the ElephantClaude Debussy		A lullaby Debussy dedicated to his beloved daughter’s stuffed toy
26	Minuet in G major, BWV Anh. 114J.S.Bach		The Minuet attributed to Bach was actually composed by Petzold and is suitable for beginners.
27	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		Debussy 'Clair de Lune' performance expression techniques
28	Sicilienne, Op. 78Gabriel Fauré		Fauré’s Sicilienne is a beginner-friendly piece that sounds impressive.
29	Flower SongGustav Lange		Introducing practice methods for Lange’s lively piano piece “Blumenlied” (“Flower Song”)
30	Armand in A major, WoO 81Ludwig van Beethoven		4/4 time, the allure of a splendid dance
31	Masquerade Ball ‘Waltz’Aram Khachaturian		Waltz. Used in a movie and the Olympics.
32	Seven Character Pieces, No. 5 in A major, “Earnestly, with increasing liveliness (Ernst und mit steigender Lebhaftigkeit),” Fugue, MWV U 60Felix Mendelssohn		A calm, sunrise-like warmth and a sophisticated composition
33	Eight Pieces, Op. 84: No. 3, FugueGabriel Fauré		Elegant musical expression of French music
34	Passion ContinentHakasé Tarō		The theme song of Jonetsu Tairiku composed by Taro Hakase
35	Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat major, Op. 29Frederic Chopin		Characteristics and performance techniques of Chopin’s Impromptu No. 1
36	Boys’ Merry-Go-RoundNiels Wilhelm Gade		A lively and beautiful piano piece for children
37	Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” 3rd movementLudwig van Beethoven		The allure of powerful, passionate music
38	Turkish MarchLudwig van Beethoven		An explanation of Beethoven’s famous piece “Turkish March.”
39	Sonatina, 3rd MovementWilliam Gillock		An appealing sonata piece infused with a modern sensibility
40	Piano Sonata No. 16, K. 545Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Performance Techniques and Expression in Mozart’s Piano Sonata K. 545
41	Gypsy Dance (Dance of the Gypsies)Heinrich Lichner		Romani music-influenced, passionate short piece
42	Album for the Young, Op. 39-20: “Baba-Yaga (The Witch)”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		A song themed on Baba Yaga, the witch from Russian folklore
43	Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 No. 7 “Träumerei”Robert Schumann		The appeal and performance of Schumann’s representative piece, Träumerei
44	Waltz No. 4 in F major, Op. 34-3 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin		Play the Minute Waltz brightly and lightly
45	Six Variations on ‘A Vacant Heart’, WoO 70Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s variations. Portraying thoughts of a beloved through nature.
46	Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: No. 3 “Anitra’s Dance”Edvard Grieg		A piece from Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite
47	The Confectionery World, No. 14: “Demon Arare”Yuyama Akira		Fuse Japanese and Western music in a short piece
48	Songs Without Words, Book VII, Op. 85 No. 4 “Elegy”Felix Mendelssohn		Composed by Mendelssohn, play the ornaments quietly
49	Children’s Corner No. 6: “Golliwogg’s Cakewalk”Claude Debussy		A piece where a lively melody overlays a cakewalk rhythm
50	Detective Conan Main ThemeŌno Katsuo		Play the Conan theme on piano
51	Waltz No. 15, Op. 39-15 “Waltz of Love”Johannes Brahms		Waltz No. 15 has difficult chords
52	Alliance de David, Dance Collection No. 18, Non presto, C major — not fastRobert Schumann		A serene, small piece by Schumann brimming with poetic sentiment
53	Wiener MarchCarl Czerny		Charming piano pieces of Austria
54	castanetWilliam Gillock		An Exotic Performance of Gillock’s “Castanets”
55	A Doll’s Dream and AwakeningTheodor Oesten		Composition and features of The Doll’s Dream and Awakening
56	Songs Without Words, Book 8, Op. 102, No. 4, Zephyr (Breeze)Felix Mendelssohn		Intermediate piano pieces from Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words
57	Bergamasque Suite No. 4: PassepiedClaude Debussy		An elegant piano piece based on a passepied
58	Piano Sonata No. 25, Op. 79, Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		An elegant movement with a Russian-style melody
59	Children’s Corner No. 1: “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum”Claude Debussy		A piece depicting Debussy’s beloved daughter practicing
60	golden wedding anniversaryGabriel Marie		Mari composed elegant and brilliant short pieces for cello and piano
61	ParadeMaurice Ravel		Toshio Horiuchi’s grand, dramatic wind ensemble work
62	Waltz No. 9 in A-flat major, Op. 69 No. 1 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Waltz No. 9 is a peaceful piece suitable for beginners.
63	Barcarolle No. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 36Gabriel Fauré		Fauré’s elegant and delicate, beautiful works
64	Burgmüller 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100 No. 15 “Ballade”Johann Burgmüller		Burgmüller’s narrative and elegant piano pieces
65	Dance and SongNakata Yoshinao		An enchanting piano solo piece with a Japanese-style rhythm
66	Etude Allegro: A Duet Collection for ChildrenNakata Yoshinao		Nurturing children's musicality with a C major duet piece
67	Nocturne No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1Frederic Chopin		Explanation of Chopin’s Nocturne No. 1
68	Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 2: “Soldiers’ March”Robert Schumann		Soldiers’ march, characterized by chords and dotted rhythms
69	Barcarolle from The Tales of HoffmannJacques Offenbach		An aria from Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann
70	Nocturne No. 2, Op. 9-2Frederic Chopin		Chopin pieces are doable for beginners with practice.
71	Etude Op. 10 No. 3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Farewell Waltz, highly popular for its beautiful melody
72	Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 10 “The Merry Farmer”Robert Schumann		Schumann’s Analysis of The Merry Peasant
73	Stilienne – Burgmüller 25 Études, Op. 100 No. 14Johann Burgmüller		A triple-meter piece inspired by traditional Alpine dance music
74	Fantasia in D minor, K. 397Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Expressiveness is important in Mozart's Fantasia.
75	Bergamasque Suite No. 1: PreludeClaude Debussy		Debussy’s works with approachable melodies
76	Passacaglia Harpsichord Suite No. 7 (HWV 432)Georg Friedrich Händel		A masterpiece that distills the charm of Baroque music
77	Children’s Album, Volume 1: “Album of My Boyhood,” No. 5: EtudeAram Khachaturian		A lively piano piece of Armenian traditional music
78	Turkish RondoJohann Burgmüller		A brilliant modulation piece from A minor to A major
79	Sonatina No. 7, First MovementMuzio Clementi		An elegant and technically skillful piano piece, brilliant and bright.
80	French Suite No. 2, BWV 813 – CouranteJ.S.Bach		Elegant dance works of Baroque music
81	Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15-1: ‘Of Foreign Lands and Peoples’Robert Schumann		Schumann’s Exotic Piano Piece
82	Prelude in E major, Op. 28 No. 9Frederic Chopin		Introducing Preludes by a Polish composer
83	Tarantella, Op. 77 No. 6Moritz Moszkowski		Moszkowski’s cheerful and flamboyant piano piece
84	Six Ecossaises, WoO 83Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Écossaises, known for their light, lively rhythm
85	Dance of the SwineherdBartók Béla		An enchanting piece of Hungarian folk dance music
86	French Suite No. 2, BWV 813: GigueJ.S.Bach		A light 3/8-time dance by Bach
87	“Butterflies,” Op. 2, No. 12: “Final Scene and the Returning Brothers”Robert Schumann		Schumann’s Butterfly finale depicts the end of a ball
88	Babayaga Op. 39-20Pyotr Tchaikovsky		A famous piece for children that depicts a witch's tale through music
89	Sonatina Op. 13-1, First MovementDimitri Kabalevsky		You can hone your performance technique with a bright three-movement musical piece
90	Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100 No. 2 “The Hunt”Johann Burgmüller		A brilliant march inspired by Islamic art
91	Overture from The Magic FluteWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Play the overture to The Magic Flute on the piano
92	Sonatina in A minor, Op. 27 No. 18Dmitri Kabalevsky		A short piece by Kabalevsky that requires deeply moving expressiveness
93	Children’s Album, Volume 1, “Picture Book of Boyhood”: No. 7, Hobbyhorse (Cavalry)Aram Khachaturian		A piano miniature depicting children's play
94	Invention No. 8, BWV 779J.S.Bach		A lively, upbeat piece perfect for improving your technique.
95	To That SummerHisaishi Joe		Let's play 'One Summer's Day' on the piano
96	Variations on ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star becomes progressively more difficult from beginner to advanced levels.
97	Amazing Gracesanbika		The charm of the beautiful melody of Amazing Grace
98	French Suite No. 1, BWV 812: Minuet IIJ.S.Bach		Bach’s elegant dances, performed at home
99	small black personClaude Debussy		A piano piece based on cakewalk
100	Burgmüller 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100 No. 20 “Tarantella”Johann Burgmüller		A passionate piece inspired by Southern Italian dances.
101	Sonatine No. 8, Movement IMuzio Clementi		The charm of piano pieces: brilliant and powerful
102	energy flowSakamoto Ryuichi		Ryuichi Sakamoto’s masterpiece “Energy Flow”
103	Waltz No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. posth. “Sostenuto”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s posthumous waltz: simplicity puts expressiveness to the test
104	SummerHisaishi Joe		The allure of Joe Hisaishi’s masterpiece “Summer” and how to perform it
105	Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		Hone your expressiveness with Beethoven’s sonatas
106	Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, Op. 311, Third Movement “Turkish March”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s Turkish March is a difficult piece, but it’s rewarding to master.
107	Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332 (K6 300k), No. 1Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Elegant melodies and beautiful music of the Classical era
108	Minuet in F major, K. 5, from Nannerl’s Music BookWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		A work by six-year-old Mozart for his sister
109	Waltz EtudeWilliam Gillock		The enchanting melody of a glamorous waltz
110	Carrying YouHisaishi Joe		Let's play the Laputa theme song on the piano
111	Lacrimosa — from “Requiem”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Play Mozart’s masterpiece “Lacrimosa.”
112	French Suite No. 6, BWV 817 – GavotteJ.S.Bach		An educational masterpiece of Baroque suites for beginners
113	Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100 No. 2, ArabesqueJohann Burgmüller		Burgmüller “Arabesque” Left-Hand Melody Practice
114	Burgmüller 25 Etudes, Op. 100 No. 25 “La chevaleresque” (The Lady’s Ride)Johann Burgmüller		A dazzling étude that expresses knightliness
115	Ave MariaCharles Gounod		How to perform Gounod’s Ave Maria
116	Merry Christmas Mr.LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi		Introduce Ryuichi Sakamoto’s signature song “Merry Christmas.”
117	25 Etudes, Op. 100 No. 20 “Tarantella”Johann Burgmüller		Performance techniques for No. 20 “Tarantella” from Burgmüller’s 25 (Études)