[Intermediate Level] Cool Piano Pieces You Can Play [Great for Recitals Too]

You’ve moved beyond the beginner stage, but you still need a bit more experience to tackle advanced pieces… This time, we’ve gathered a cool selection of pieces that are perfect for anyone looking for intermediate-level piano music.

From delicate tones to powerful resonance, from lyrical moods to lively vibes—the expressive range of the piano is limitless!

We’re excited to introduce wonderful pieces that let you fully savor the instrument’s charm.

Alongside classic staples, we’ve included a wide variety of selections such as film music and pop tunes.

These pieces are all great choices for recitals, so if you’re unsure what to work on next, be sure to check them out!

Playlist

[Intermediate Level] Cool Piano Pieces You Can Play [Great for Recitals Too]
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Gypsy dance (Gypsies’ dance)Heinrich Lichner		An exotic, virtuosic piano piece of Gypsy music
2	Etude Op. 25 No. 1 ‘Aeolian Harp’Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s masterpiece—a piece that pushes the piano’s expressive power to its limits
3	Fantasia “Sakura Sakura”Hirai Kōsaburō		A Japanese-Western fusion piano fantasia themed around cherry blossoms
4	Hungarian Dance No. 5Johannes Brahms		A passionate piece of Hungarian folk music
5	I am (Theme Song of “Hodo Station”)Morita Manami		Manami Morita’s jazz-and-classical fusion piece
6	“Baba Yaga” from the suite Pictures at an ExhibitionModest Mussorgsky		Introduction to Mussorgsky’s witch-themed piece
7	The Final Fantasy X Piano Collections: ‘The Decisive Battle’Uematsu Nobuo		Piano arrangement of an FFX battle theme
8	FlamencoWilliam Gillock		Spanish traditional music expressed on the piano
9	Waltz, No. 1 from the Suite “Masquerade”Aram Khachaturian		The appeal and characteristics of Khachaturian’s famous waltz
10	Prints, No. 3: ‘Gardens in the Rain’Claude Debussy		Honing expressiveness with Debussy’s 'Reflets dans l’eau' (The Garden in the Rain)
11	From the Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride Official Score Book — “Engaging in Battle”sugiyama kouichi		Performing a piano arrangement of the Dragon Quest V battle theme
12	Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331, Movement III “Turkish March”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		The Turkish March requires advanced technique
13	Take FivePaul Desmond		Take Five is a famous masterpiece in 5/4 time
14	EtudeAram Khachaturian		A piano piece fusing Armenian folk music and Western forms
15	Promenade (from the suite Pictures at an Exhibition)Modest Mussorgsky		Part of Pictures at an Exhibition, characterized by a distinctive rhythm and folk music
16	Etude AllegroNakata Yoshinao		A piece composed by Yoshinao Nakata at the request of his piano teacher
17	“The Great Gate of Kiev” from the suite Pictures at an ExhibitionModest Mussorgsky		A grand Russian folk music that begins with the sound of bells
18	Vamo alla Flamenco (Final Fantasy IX Piano Collections)Uematsu Nobuo		Piano arrangement of FF9 flamenco piece
19	The EntertainerScott Joplin		A ragtime piece, composed by Scott Joplin
20	Romanian Folk Dances: ‘Romanian Polka’ and ‘Fast Dance’Bartók Béla		Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances
21	Midnight Fire Festival from ‘Rhythm of the Rainbow’Hirayoshi Takeshu		A passionate, Spanish-style piano miniature
22	Sonatina Op. 40, Movement II: MinuetMaurice Ravel		Ravel's Sonatine.
23	Suite Ma mère l’Oye, No. 1: Pavane of the Sleeping BeautyMaurice Ravel		An explanation of Ravel’s Ma mère l’Oye
24	Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3Franz Schubert		Explanation of Performance Techniques for Schubert’s Impromptus
25	Sea Journal No. 24: ‘The Broken Murmur of the Tides’Miyoshi Akira		The diary of the sea is detailed and fast-paced
26	Waltz No. 14 in E minor, Op. posth.Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Waltz: rich expressiveness and a sense of accomplishment
27	Five Pieces (Tree Suite), Op. 75: No. 5 “The Spruce”Jean Sibelius		Sibelius’s The Spruce. Expressing the nature of the Nordic region.
28	Spanish Dances, Op. 37 – No. 5 “Andaluza”Enrique Granados		A passionate masterpiece from the Spanish Dances collection
29	Bergamasque Suite No. 4 “Passepied”Claude Debussy		A graceful and lively piano piece composed by Debussy
30	Etude Op. 2 No. 1Alexander Scriabin		A short piece that showcases Scriabin’s youthful talent
31	Fountain of Stars from ‘Constellations of Sound’Yuyama Akira		Expressing children's sensibilities with a star fountain
32	Sicilienne, Op. 78Gabriel Fauré		Commentary on Fauré’s Sicilienne and tips for piano performance
33	Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118 No. 3 “Ballade”Johannes Brahms		Introducing Brahms's ballads
34	Waltz No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 18 “Grande valse brillante”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Grande valse brillante No. 1
35	Impromptu, Op. 90 No. 2Franz Schubert		Developing expressive skills for Schubert’s Impromptus
36	Tarantella from ‘Album for the Young’William Gillock		Beginner piano pieces composed by Gillock
37	Impromptu FP 176 No. 15 in C minor “In Praise of Édith Piaf”Francis Poulenc		Poulenc’s piano piece, in the style of a chanson
38	Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79 No. 2Johannes Brahms		A piece by Brahms that is effective in performance and suitable for intermediate players
39	Waltz No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 83Durand		Durand’s brilliant waltz, highly effective in performance
40	10 Pieces, Op. 12: No. 7, Prelude “The Harp”Sergei Prokofiev		Prokofiev’s delicate yet powerful early works
41	Liebesträume No. 3Franz Liszt		Intermediate piano pieces by Liszt themed around love
42	Final Fantasy VII Piano Collections “One-Winged Angel”Uematsu Nobuo		Piano masterpiece of the Sephiroth battle theme
43	Arabesque No. 1Claude Debussy		Debussy’s elegant piano piece “Arabesque”
44	ToccataAram Khachaturian		Commentary on Khachaturian's Toccata
45	Tufted puffinHakasé Tarō		Tips for Playing Taro Hakase’s “Etupirka” on the Piano
46	Nocturne No. 2, Op. 9-2Frederic Chopin		Practice methods for Chopin's Nocturne No. 2
47	Pirates of the Caribbean: “He’s a Pirate”Klaus Badelt＆Hans Zimmer		Arrangements of film music are also popular at recitals.
48	Holberg Suite No. 1: PreludeEdvard Grieg		The Appeal of Grieg’s Holberg Suite and Practice Methods
49	18 Characteristic Etudes, Op. 109 No. 13 “The Great Thunderstorm”Johann Burgmüller		Hone your expressive power with Burgmüller’s “The Thunderstorm”
50	Lyric Pieces, Book VIII, Op. 65: No. 6, Wedding Day at TroldhaugenEdvard Grieg		A wedding piece dedicated to Grieg’s wife
51	Tarantella, Op. 77 No. 6Moritz Moszkowski		Moszkowski’s cheerful and flamboyant piano piece
52	ToccatinaDimitri Kabalevsky		A lively piano piece from a collection in A minor
53	Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 – II. Andante (Second Movement)Sergei Rachmaninov		Play the second movement of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2
54	Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: No. 2 “Flying”Robert Schumann		A passionate and beautiful piano piece composed by Schumann
55	Eight Pieces, Op. 84 No. 5: ImpromptuGabriel Fauré		Fauré’s romantic masterpiece for piano
56	Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79 No. 1Johannes Brahms		Requires the technique and expressive power of Brahms’s works
57	Etude Op.10 No.3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Farewell Song is a beautifully soothing masterpiece.
58	Carnival Jest from Vienna, Op. 26 No. 1 “Allegro”Robert Schumann		A virtuosic piano piece composed by Schumann
59	Le Tombeau de Couperin No. 4: RigaudonMaurice Ravel		A piece in which Ravel mourned his fallen comrades
60	Moments Musicaux, Op. 16 No. 3 in B minorSergei Rachmaninov		Tips for performing Rachmaninoff’s Moments Musicaux No. 3
61	Waltz No. 4 in F majorFrederic Chopin		How to play and characteristics of the Minute Waltz
62	Fountain on a rainy dayWilliam Gillock		Children's pieces composed by Gillock
63	Waltz No. 6, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Minute Waltz is a cute piece suitable for intermediate players.
64	Bergamasque Suite No. 1: PreludeClaude Debussy		Debussy’s works with approachable melodies
65	Arabesque in C major, Op. 18Robert Schumann		Develop expressive skills through Schumann’s elegant pieces
66	Lyric Pieces, Book VIII, Op. 65, No. 6: “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen”Edvard Hagerup Grieg		Grieg’s Silver Wedding Anniversary Piece
67	Préludes, Book I, No. 8: “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair”Claude Debussy		Debussy’s lyrical masterpiece
68	Play of WaterFranz Liszt		Ravel’s Jeux d’eau is a masterpiece that depicts the flow of water.
69	Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331, Third Movement “Turkish March”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		About Mozart’s Turkish March
70	From the New World, Fourth MovementAntonín Dvořák		Piano arrangement of Dvořák’s From the New World
71	Symphonia No. 1 in C majorJ.S.Bach		A children’s piano piece from 1720 characterized by counterpoint
72	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, Variation 18Sergei Rachmaninov		Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
73	Waltz ÉtudeWilliam Gillock		You can develop expressiveness with a bright waltz composed by Gillock.
74	Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		The beauty of the second movement of Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata
75	The Confectionery World, No. 14: “Demon Arare”Yuyama Akira		Fuse Japanese and Western music in a short piece
76	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		Debussy’s Clair de Lune is a difficult piece suited for advanced players.
77	Amazing GraceSakkyokusha fumei		How to play Amazing Grace
78	Piano Sonata K. 545 in C majorWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s graceful three-movement piece
79	Children’s Corner No. 5: The Little ShepherdClaude Debussy		Composed by Debussy, “Children’s Corner” No. 5, where timing/ma (spacing) is important
80	Adeline by the SeasideRichard Clayderman		How to Play and the Appeal of Ballade pour Adeline
81	Sonatina Op. 40, 1st movementMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s Sonatine is a work that fuses Ravel’s distinctive style with classical forms.
82	Pavane for a Dead PrincessMaurice Ravel		A piano piece by Ravel, admired for its elegance
83	Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14Sergei Rachmaninov		Expressively performing Rachmaninoff’s beautiful songs
84	5 Pieces (Suite of Trees), Op. 75: No. 1, When the Rowans BloomJean Sibelius		A light and delicate piece composed by Sibelius
85	Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven		Attempting a full performance of Beethoven’s Für Elise
86	Suite “Dolly,” Op. 56 No. 2 “Mi-a-ou”Gabriel Fauré		A piano duet composed to celebrate a young girl's birthday
87	Impromptu of the WindNakata Yoshinao		A melody like a refreshing, free wind
88	Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56Bartók Béla		Bartók's Suite of Folk Dances
89	Arabesque No. 2Claude Debussy		Characteristics of Debussy’s Arabesque No. 2 and tips for performance
90	Music for Children, Op. 65: No. 4 “Tarantella”Sergei Prokofiev		Prokofiev’s vibrant, dynamic dance
91	Prelude (I) from Le Tombeau de CouperinMaurice Ravel		The six-piece suite In Memory of the Fallen, Le Tombeau de Couperin
92	Slower than LentoClaude Debussy		Debussy's bright waltz piece
93	Piano Sonata No. 11, K. 331, Movement III “Turkish March”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart's Turkish March is a difficult piece.
94	Nocturne No. 20, KK IVa/16 “Posthumous”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s posthumous Nocturne — a sad and beautiful masterpiece
95	Sonatina No. 10, First MovementMuzio Clementi		A masterpiece that conveys the expressiveness and allure of piano music
96	12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		The Variations on “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is highly difficult.
97	13 Preludes, Op. 32 No. 5 in G majorSergei Rachmaninov		How to Perform Rachmaninoff’s Prelude Op. 32 No. 5
98	Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Minute Waltz (Little Dog Waltz) is lively and suited for intermediate players
99	Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 1 “Prelude”Nikolai Kapustin		Kapustin’s jazz-classical fusion piece
100	Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: FlyingRobert Schumann		Popular pieces from Schumann's Fantasiestücke
101	Lupin the Third Theme ’78Ōno Yūji		Let's practice the Lupin the Third theme with a focus on the bass.
102	Turkish RondoJohann Burgmüller		A hallmark of Burgmüller’s pieces is left-hand chords with a right-hand melody.
103	Arabesque of WavesMiyoshi Akira		Arabesque of Waves, a delicate piano piece
104	Romanian Folk Dances: Fast DanceBartók Béla		Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances
105	Those Who FightUematsu Nobuo		Powerful game battle track with an emotional melody
106	Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62, No. 6, Spring SongFelix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s “Spring Song” is elegant but difficult to play.
107	Salon Pieces Op. 10 No. 4: MelodySergei Rachmaninov		A collection of elegant miniatures with a melancholy melody
108	Waltz Op. 83-1Auguste Durand		Duran’s Waltz, perfect for a recital
109	Fantasy Pieces, Op. 3 No. 2: Prelude “The Bell”Sergei Rachmaninov		Performance tips for Rachmaninoff’s masterpiece “The Bells”
110	Études “30 Pieces for Children, Op. 27” No. 3Dmitri Kabalevsky		A charming masterpiece in the style of a Russian folk song, a short piano piece for children
111	Sonatina Op. 13-1, First MovementDimitri Kabalevsky		You can hone your performance technique with a bright three-movement musical piece
112	4 Etudes No. 4, Op. 7-4 in F-sharp majorIgor Stravinsky		A lively and innovative short musical piece that captivates listeners
113	Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, Movement ISergei Rachmaninov		Arrange Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 for beginners
114	Humoresques, Op. 101 No. 7Antonin Dvořák		Sight-reading and key changes in Dvořák’s pieces are difficult.
115	Children’s Piano Piece: Etude AllegroNakata Yoshinao		Etude in C major, a famous piece suitable for recitals