Best beginner classical music books for the keyboard/piano player. We have listed several “first books” of Classical Music for practicing the piano, these are great for learning some cool/popular classical piano pieces (you will need to know the basics of piano though. Skip to the best classical music for the beginner piano student.
Introduction
Have started learning the basics of piano playing? Why not put it to use by learning to play classical music.
While you can always find sheet music for popular songs online, I recommend using these books that have a collection of several good songs that you will love to play. These books are great for sight-reading, helps dexterity of the left hand, and includes several popular classics.
These books have a mix of mostly easy as well as somewhat difficult arrangements, some books also include arrangements for the virtuoso player.
Comparison Chart
- The Library of Piano Classics: Popular songs ranging from easy to virtuoso.
- The Joy Of First Classics: Popular classics in easy arrangement.
- Favorite Classics, Bk 1: Solo: Nice collection of classical songs for beginner and intermediate level
- Big Book of Beginner’s Piano Classics: As the name suggest, a big book, with several classical pieces
- 59 Piano Solos You Like to Play: Great collection of songs, can be used by intermediate as well as advanced players.
- A First Book of Classical Music: for the Beginning Pianist with Downloadable MP3s: Every piece starts with a short note about the piece and/or composer.
Top Beginner Books of Classical Music
The Joy Of First Classics (by Denes Agay)
Have been taking piano lessons for a year or two? Already gone through a beginners book on how to play classics? Increase the level of difficult a bit using this book.
Its a great book to play classics. Even though it begins with short, easy classical pieces, the pieces increase in difficulty to an intermediate level. This book could keep you occupied for another couple of years or so after your first year of lessons.
Nothing can quite compare to the satisfaction, pleasure and joy of learning and playing the finest pieces of classical music and this terrific volume gives you the opportunity to do exactly that!
- The book has over 60 easy pieces and keyboard miniatures by master composers.
- All the pieces are printed in their original form
- There is a wonderful mix of pieces with works by the likes of Bach, Haydn, Mozart and also lesser-known composers, set for piano solo.
There are two books in this series, you may buy one at a time or both together.
A First Book of Classical Music: 29 Themes by Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Other Great Composers in Easy Piano Arrangements
A First Book of Classical Music includes 29 themes by music greats such as Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and other great composers, laid down in easy to play Piano Arrangements.
This book has easy arrangements of popular songs, which i’m sure most adult learners will like (at least they will find it better than playing some kiddie songs).
Fun-to-play, pedagogically sound piano arrangements include themes from Beethoven’s “Pathetique” Sonata and Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony, along with such favorites as Schumann’s Traumerei, Brahms’s Lullaby, Chopin’s Prelude, Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave, Moussorgsky’s Promenade (from Pictures at an Exhibition), and many more.
Every piece starts with a short paragraph that gives a little bit of history of the piece and/or composer.
Not Exactly for Beginners
And although it says for beginners, you should know how to read the notes (at least the basics so you could figure out what is mentioned).
Only three of the 29 songs use exclusively whole, half and quarter notes. The remaining songs use more advanced rhythms including triplets, dotted eighths, & sixteenths. So you see there, you should have a good understanding of the basics.
Most of the songs are based on the key signatures (F, G, D, D), which means you won’t be playing only the white keys.
Many songs use bass and treble clefs. Songs are in various time signatures such as 3/2, 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 3/8, 6/8.
Excellent Book for Learning the Piano
Its an excellent book for those learning to play the piano. The book is easy enough so that you don’t get frustrated, yet challenging enough to give you a sense of accomplishment. Importantly, your repertoire will now include some popular classical songs.
A First Book of Classical Music: Buying Links
This is a great introductory book for teaching and learning classical music. Adult students will love this book because it covers several familiar classical tunes. Its recommended for all those in their first year as a pianist.
Big Book of Beginner’s Piano Classics
This book has pieces of similar difficulty as in the above book, but this one has many more pieces. This bumper book has many more easy to play, well known classical piano pieces.
It has a great mix of very easy to play pieces, all are beautifully arranged and not very challenging for the beginner piano student.
83 Favorite Pieces in Easy Piano Arrangements: Superb selection of standards, each simplified to help students develop their skills. Includes Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” Chopin’s “Funeral March,” Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” Mozart’s “Rondo alla Turca” and Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto, plus compositions by Schubert, Debussy, Handel, Mendelssohn, and others.
Wrap Up
If you are in your first year of piano lessons, do checkout these books to get started with your first classical pieces on the piano. These are all great books for the beginning pianist but can be enjoyed by intermediate players as well. These books are also great introduction to classical music and to great composers like Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner and more. Most of the songs are familiar tunes that have been made short to fit in one or two-pages.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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