Pieces to Play – Great Classical Piano Hits!

This instalment in our Pieces to Play series features some of the most popular pieces from the classical piano repertoire, including Beethoven’s ubiquitous Für Elise (with a twist!), Debussy’s Clair de lune, the mesmerising Gymnopédie No. 1 by Eric Satie and Chopin’s melancholic Nocturne in C# Minor (Op. Posth.).

Beethoven – Für Elise (Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor, WoO 59)

Für Elise is arguably one of the most popular classical piano pieces of all time. All pianists likely have either played it or want to play it at some point! Although the exact origins of the piece remain somewhat mysterious, it is believed to have been composed around 1810.

The A section can be played by elementary pianists, however the overall level is intermediate, with musical and technical applications that are sophisticated. Repeated notes, balancing the melody over the accompanying arpeggios, a fast chromatic scale and bringing the B section up to speed are all some of the challenges posed.

In his video lesson on this iconic piece, Fred Karpoff gives insights on how to integrate three-dimensional choreography with inspired music-making, giving fingering choices and advice on how to play repeated notes and the fast chromatic scale. The 48-minute lesson also explores the key differences with Beethoven’s fascinating second edition of 1822. Click here to view on the Online Academy.

Satie – Gymnopédie No. 1

This atmospheric piece is imbued with the peculiar French ennui and provides pianists with the challenge of sustaining long cantabile lines in a slow tempo. In this preview from his video lesson on this piece, Fred Karpoff plays the opening and discusses how to approach the accompanying chords:

In his full video lesson on the Online Academy, Fred Karpoff offers specific solutions to clarify your musical intentions, voicing, rhythmic inflection and how to heighten legato and avoid unwanted accents. 

Debussy – Clair de Lune (No. 3 from Suite bergamasque, L. 75)

Debussy’s Clair de lune is a hallmark of Impressionist music, renowned for its evocative portrayal of moonlight and the dreamlike atmosphere it conveys. The piece is characterised by several distinctive musical features, including rich and colourful harmonies, layers of texture, naunced dynamics, use of rubato and development of recurring motifs throughout:

In a detailed (45-minute!) video lesson, Fred Karpoff explores this famous atmospheric landscape with wide-ranging advice on how to play this piece with ease. This includes novel fingering solutions in an accompanying marked score, including creative ways to retake notes with either hand to produce a smoother, more horizontal projection of the material, worthy of the composer who envisaged the sound of a “piano without hammers”. Click here to view on the Online Academy.

Chopin – Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor (Op. Posth.)

Chopin wrote the Nocturne in C-sharp minor, op. posth. in 1830, but it was only published in 1870. He dedicated the work to his sister, Ludwika “as an exercise before beginning the study of my second Concerto”. The piece has since featured in the movie The Pianist and in the famous story of pianist Natalia Karp’s survival of the holocaust.

In this video from his annotated study edition, Graham Fitch demonstrates how to approach the opening chords to set the scene for the dark, melancholic feelings it evokes:

Click here to view the full walkthrough and practice worksheets for this beautiful work on the Online Academy.

More Pieces to Play

Are you looking ideas and inspiration for new pieces to learn? Or are you a teacher searching for interesting repertoire for a student? Click here to view more instalments in our Pieces to Play series or click here to view a listing of our resources for the piano repertoire!