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