Bach - Short Preludes for Beginner

[thomasofcanterbury]

Hi,

I have been playing for over a year now, having gone through about 16 pieces from Anna Magdalena's Notebook.  For my next challenge, I picked up a book from Alfred publishing called "18 Short Preludes", by Bach (a grouping of 12 and 6 preludes).  I presume this is what is also called "little preludes".  Would these pieces be considered recommended follow-ups to the AMB Notebook?  Some pieces seem a little tricky with all the ornamentation.  I do want to learn more Bach, that is what I enjoy most, at this time.

Also, is there some place that has some sort of a database as to the grade level of most pieces?  I looked on that ABRSM.org website, but I could only find the grade levels for the pieces on their syllabi.

Thanks

Thomas

[stephane]

Also, is there some place that has some sort of a database as to the grade level of most pieces? I looked on that ABRSM.org website, but I could only find the grade levels for the pieces on their syllabi.

Two links you might find interesting:

https://pianoforum.net/Graded_Pieces_All.xls

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,9159.0.html

Best regards,

Stephane

[thomasofcanterbury]

Thanks for the links.  I just had a followup question about trills.  I didn't really have a problem with them in the AMB notebook.  Yet.... this first prelude...well it seems to want me to cram 12 notes grouped as triplets onto one beat, and call it an ascending (or descending) trill - and play it with my left hand!  The problem is that my brain doesn't work that fast, nor do my fingers.  Do most teachers recommend learning the piece without the ornaments first, practicing the trills seperatley, and then combining later?