Introduction

There are hundreds and thousands of classical piano pieces, but have you ever wondered "what kinds are there? Which ones will be more effective for my practice" ?

Well, you are visiting the right place.

Here, we will introduce to you our most recommended pieces for intermediate & advanced piano learners to practice.

For more simple pieces for learners between beginner and intermediate levels, please refer to Recommended Pieces for Beginners, Elementary and Intermediate Piano Learners.

If you have to play in front of an audience, 18 Ways to Master Memorizing Sheet Music where you can find our recommendations for infant to senior learners may be helpful.

What Pieces are most recommended for intermediate piano learners? How about for the advanced?

"Intermediate" and "Advanced" are rather broad definitions.

Here, we have categorized them further into three and four levels respectively, introducing to you the most recommended 30 to 100 pieces for each level.

You can also watch videos for reference.

Practice with a specific goal, and enjoy your piano life.

※ I, who is writing this, have studied piano performance in a Japanese university.
※ Selection of pieces and the levels of difficulty are based on my personal opinions.
※  show the levels of difficulty.
※ The sheet music introduced here were carefully selected, most of which are the original version.

Recommended pieces for intermediate piano learners

Intermediate Level 1
Approximately 50 recommended pieces which are relatively easy among the pieces of intermediary level. They include pieces such as “Turkish March” by Mozart and “Nocturne Op. 9-2” by Chopin, which are quite popular for presentations and are recommended for intermediate learners of piano. Please watch the videos too, for your reference.List of Recommendations
Intermediate Level 2
Approximately 50 pieces which are recommended for learners who can play Beethoven’s early style Sonatas. They include pieces such as “Impromptu op.90” by Schubert and “Fantasie-Impromptu” by Chopin, which are quite popular for presentations and are recommended for intermediate learners of piano. Please watch the movies too, for your reference.List of Recommendations
Intermediate Level 3
Approximately 60 pieces which are recommended for learners who are able to play Beethoven’s early to middle period Sonatas. These are actually what people aiming for Japanese college of music should be practicing before the entrance exam. Popular for presentations as well as piano concerts of professional pianists. Highly recommended for intermediate learners. Please watch the videos too, for your reference.List of Recommendations

Recommended Pieces for Advanced Piano Learners

Advanced Level 1
Approximately 80 pieces which are of the same level as the pieces you will be asked to play when taking the entrance exam to a piano department in a Japanese college of music. Also included are many recommended Sonatas and piano solos played by pianists with advanced techniques and ability to express. Piano solos are sometimes combined with the “core” pieces in joint recitals and solo recitals, where a person performs for 45 min. to 90 min. all by him/herself. Please watch the videos too, for your reference.List of Recommendations
Advanced Level 2
Approximately 70 recommended pieces which are studied by students in Japanese colleges and graduate schools of music, also popular for concerts. Many of them are played at piano competitions and auditions, as well as at graduation and course completion exams. Although piano solos are sometimes combined with the “core” pieces, they are recommended advanced pieces which can also be played at concerts as solo piano pieces. Please watch the videos too, for your reference.List of Recommendations
Advanced Level 3
Approximately 60 pieces which are of the same level as those played by students of Japanese college or graduate schools of music at the graduation or course completion recitals. These are Piano solos that are either “core” or of a similar kind, played by pianists with advanced techniques and ability to express for 45min. to 90 min. at joint recitals and solo recitals. These excerpts from piano pieces (such as one single part from a Sonata) are often chosen for piano competitions and auditions. They are highly recommended for graduation or course completion exam as well. Etudes are not included. Please watch the videos too, for your reference.List of Recommendations
Advanced Level 4
Approximately 30 most difficult pieces played by professional pianists at concerts. These are the recommended, advanced level pieces which will be the core of the concerts. They require a lot of concentration as well as physical strength for they are long masterpieces. Please watch the videos too, for your reference.List of Recommendations