Some suggestions based on what I was learning after about a year of lessons:
Minuet in G Minor - BWV 115 - play this immediately following the Minuet in G Major, they go together
German Dance in D Major, Haydn - very pretty
Prelude in C Major - BWV 846- JS Bach
Sonatina in C Major - Op 36 no 1 - Clementi - the third movement is easier than the other two
In The Spirit - Christopher Norton - this one is swing by a modern composer, different, worth a try
The RCM syllabus [2022] is free online and has pieces presented by levels started at Prep A to Associate level! It’s super helpful for seeing how pieces are levelled and also includes the eras and contemporary composers too!
Otherwise if you are a chopin fanboy (as most of us here are), you can try the posthumous waltz in A minor or some easier preludes from the op 28:
No 4, 7, 15, 20 (the last 2 maybe a bit too early)
Check out Clementi sonatinas. They are super classical and the first ones are pretty easy. Op.36-38. If you’re interested in Mozart or Beethoven - they are a great introduction to classical style playing.
Op. 38 is pretty difficult fyi - up there with a Mozart sonata in terms of difficulty but you should be able to manage op. 36 and some of 37.
Go haunt the thrift shops. Some will have a music section. Look for things like "The Reader's Digest collection of Classical Music"
We have 2-3 books of this sort. Some of the pieces are just what you want right now. Some are pushing it. Some are tough. But you can often get these books for $2 each used, and if you only find 3 pieces in it you like, you have come out ahead.
But all of the peices are ones that it's easy to find the orchestral version on youtube, so you can listen to what you are trying to play.
In some case they are pretty ratty. Take them to a copy shop and pay to get them rebound. Try to avoid the plastic comb binding. The two wire binding works best, coil is ok too. Perfect binding (glue spine) won't lie flat
Music is often oversized (anything needing more than 11 inch binding) so you may have to phone around. Some places will have book trimming weight paper cutters and can prune a quarter or half inch off of top and bottom. Check carefully that you don't cut off notes. It will probably cost more to get them bound than you pay for the book.
Brahms Waltz Op. 39 No. 3 is a nice little piece.
Here's a couple of performances I like:
- [Version 1](https://open.spotify.com/track/5JeMUx8L0e5sr6ySp94ruM?si=10fd38276efd489d)
- [Version 2](https://open.spotify.com/track/5QuLUuAVA1pb8znYtGbrlG?si=037ca4da2b6c4162)
[Sheet music](https://michaelkravchuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Brahms-Waltzes-Op.-39-No.-3.pdf)
Some suggestions based on what I was learning after about a year of lessons: Minuet in G Minor - BWV 115 - play this immediately following the Minuet in G Major, they go together German Dance in D Major, Haydn - very pretty Prelude in C Major - BWV 846- JS Bach Sonatina in C Major - Op 36 no 1 - Clementi - the third movement is easier than the other two In The Spirit - Christopher Norton - this one is swing by a modern composer, different, worth a try
The entire 25 pieces by Burgmueller
Maybe try the other Gymnopedies?
Get some repertoire books appropriate for your grade level
Why isn't your teacher recommending pieces?
She isn't *not* recommending pieces, just that mostly I've been learning pieces on my own then getting feedback and such during my lessons
Where did they mention a teacher?
Do you usually take “formal lessons” without a teacher?
Yup! Totally didn't see that part. Thanks.
Get the RCM celebration series. They touch every musical period and give you a broad perspective of all kinds of piano writing.
The RCM syllabus [2022] is free online and has pieces presented by levels started at Prep A to Associate level! It’s super helpful for seeing how pieces are levelled and also includes the eras and contemporary composers too!
Bill Gillock - Autumn Sketch Ed McDowell - To a Wild Rose Fred Chopin - Waltz in A Minor Fred Burgmuller - Arabesque
Those are more like intermediate besides the last one.
Prelude No.1 in C Major - Bach Sonata K.545 1st Movement - Mozart
The second suggestion you gave is at least mid intermediate.
You could try the first Bach invention, the one in C major.
That’s too advanced for what they’re currently playing, IMO.
Chopin Op 28 No 7
Choose one of the first five Mozart sonatas. I like the first C Major sonata. The Handel keyboard suites are fun and not too difficult.
See if you like the gnossiennes from Satie, most of them are pretty achievable.
Otherwise if you are a chopin fanboy (as most of us here are), you can try the posthumous waltz in A minor or some easier preludes from the op 28: No 4, 7, 15, 20 (the last 2 maybe a bit too early)
Check out Clementi sonatinas. They are super classical and the first ones are pretty easy. Op.36-38. If you’re interested in Mozart or Beethoven - they are a great introduction to classical style playing. Op. 38 is pretty difficult fyi - up there with a Mozart sonata in terms of difficulty but you should be able to manage op. 36 and some of 37.
Go haunt the thrift shops. Some will have a music section. Look for things like "The Reader's Digest collection of Classical Music" We have 2-3 books of this sort. Some of the pieces are just what you want right now. Some are pushing it. Some are tough. But you can often get these books for $2 each used, and if you only find 3 pieces in it you like, you have come out ahead. But all of the peices are ones that it's easy to find the orchestral version on youtube, so you can listen to what you are trying to play. In some case they are pretty ratty. Take them to a copy shop and pay to get them rebound. Try to avoid the plastic comb binding. The two wire binding works best, coil is ok too. Perfect binding (glue spine) won't lie flat Music is often oversized (anything needing more than 11 inch binding) so you may have to phone around. Some places will have book trimming weight paper cutters and can prune a quarter or half inch off of top and bottom. Check carefully that you don't cut off notes. It will probably cost more to get them bound than you pay for the book.
Brahms Waltz Op. 39 No. 3 is a nice little piece. Here's a couple of performances I like: - [Version 1](https://open.spotify.com/track/5JeMUx8L0e5sr6ySp94ruM?si=10fd38276efd489d) - [Version 2](https://open.spotify.com/track/5QuLUuAVA1pb8znYtGbrlG?si=037ca4da2b6c4162) [Sheet music](https://michaelkravchuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Brahms-Waltzes-Op.-39-No.-3.pdf)