10 most recognized piano pieces

[bluepianist]

Help!!!   I have an intermediate student who wants to learn and memorize 10 pieces in the next 2 years.  The problem is that they have to recognizable by the average person, this includes teens.  Anyone have any recommendations other than Fur Elise?

[bernhard]

Two years? Two months should do fine.

I assume you mean classical pieces originally written for piano

In no particular order:

1. Beethoven - Fur Elise
2. Bach - Prelude 1 of WTC book 1
3. Chopin - Fantasy Impromptu
4. Beethoven - First movement of Moonlight Sonata
5. Schumann - Traumerei
6. Mozart - First movement of Sonata K545
7. C. Petzold - Minuet in G (often attributed to Bach - from the Anna Magadalen notebook)
8. An. - Heart and Soul
9. Chopsticks
10. Rachmaninoff - Rach 2 or variation 18 on a theme from Paganini.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[arensky]

8. An. - Heart and Soul

Lyrics/Frank Loesser,  Music/Hoagy Carmicheal

[ada]

9. Chopsticks

I once heard a very cute and tricksy arrangement of chopsticks, aka, the Chop Waltz. Can't remember who played it.

[thorn]

*agrees with most in bernhard's list*

although i would probably add Clair de Lune in there somewhere?

[will]

Satie's gymnopédie no. 1.

[bernhard]

Lyrics/Frank Loesser,  Music/Hoagy Carmicheal

Thanks.

[pianistimo]

just remembered that i have AMSCO's 'library of easy piano classics' (100 best loved songs).  all are quite popular.  although, once the pieces are decided - you can buy the individual urtext scores and get the 'whole' piece.  some of these have middle sections chopped or are in an easier version.  may as well try to learn each entire piece as written.

[aaron_ginn]

The Entertainer by Scot Joplin

[jpianoflorida]

Rondo Alla Turca,     William Tell Overture(simplified arrangement in Aflred Adult Favories Book)

[kelly_kelly]

Chopin Funeral March 

[kony]

i have to not agree with the following:

Bach - Prelude 1 of WTC book 1
Chopin - Fantasy Impromptu
Beethoven - First movement of Moonlight Sonata
Schumann - Traumerei
Mozart - First movement of Sonata K545
C. Petzold - Minuet in G (often attributed to Bach - from the Anna Magadalen notebook)
Rachmaninoff - Rach 2 or variation 18 on a theme from Paganini.

i am sure that 90% of teenagers would not know how these go. A few may recognize that they've heard a piece or two before, however.

on the other hand, i have some suggestions:

Wedding March
A midsummer night's dream - piano transcription of course
the G major Haydn Rondo
Maple Leaf Rag
from Peer Gynt, Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King (due to use in movies/tv) - transcription again
Ode to Joy - transcription
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Hungarian Dance no.5 (brahms)
Canon in D transcription

[ganymed]

Outkast and the Intro of their song  "roses" XD that will recognize EVERY teenager

watch the song till like first minute then you can hear the intro its realllllly coool

[keyofc]

Bernhard,
If I believed you can teach me 10 songs like that in 2 months, I'd be willing to take lessons from you
I really do not think that the average person can do that.
How long did it take you to learn the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata?
Do you remember?  If you can't remeber, how about a piece you're working on now?

[qoppa]

Bernhard,
If I believed you can teach me 10 songs like that in 2 months, I'd be willing to take lessons from you
I really do not think that the average person can do that.
How long did it take you to learn the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata?
Do you remember?  If you can't remeber, how about a piece you're working on now?

The original poster said s/he had 2 years.

[kony]

Two years? Two months should do fine.

keyofc was referring to this.

[qoppa]

keyofc was referring to this.

Oops, missed that.  Scratch my last post.

[cfortunato]

Let's see.

Fur Elise, of course.
1st movement of Moonlight Sonata
Bach's Minuet in G.
Hall of the Mountain King
Toreador March from Carmen
Sabre Dance
Dance of the Hours
Children's March from the Nutcracker
Theme from Peter and the Wolf
Stars and Stripes Forever

There are other themes from Tchaikovsky Ballets that are ultra-familiar to everyone, like Waltz of the Flowers.

Remember:  most of us received our Classical Music education from Carl Stallings.

[dnephi]

The Rachmaninoff Second would take about a year, depending on your pace, if you already an accomplished pianist.  A random teenager would have a rather difficult time.

Daniel

[samkamer]

i have to not agree with the following:

Bach - Prelude 1 of WTC book 1
Chopin - Fantasy Impromptu
Beethoven - First movement of Moonlight Sonata
Schumann - Traumerei
Mozart - First movement of Sonata K545
C. Petzold - Minuet in G (often attributed to Bach - from the Anna Magadalen notebook)
Rachmaninoff - Rach 2 or variation 18 on a theme from Paganini.

i am sure that 90% of teenagers would not know how these go. A few may recognize that they've heard a piece or two before, however.

on the other hand, i have some suggestions:

Wedding March
A midsummer night's dream - piano transcription of course
the G major Haydn Rondo
Maple Leaf Rag
from Peer Gynt, Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King (due to use in movies/tv) - transcription again
Ode to Joy - transcription
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Hungarian Dance no.5 (brahms)
Canon in D transcription

I have to disagree with you on the difficulty of the first movement of moonlight sonata. The first movement is by far the easiest and I was able to teach it to one of my students in 2 weeks. You may think this is because of superior piano ability, but in fact he is 10 years old and started piano two years ago. So it does not take a great amount of effort OR ability.

[samkamer]

Sorry that reply was aimed at keyofc