I get asked all the time what are the best piano songs or pieces to learn for intermediate players. So, I have put together a list of the top 5 most popular pieces my students and I love to play. These pieces are very popular with my Junior Cert and Leaving Cert Music practical exam students. I have included a link to download the free open source SHEET MUSIC for each of these pieces too! Why not give them a go.
Just in case you are only a beginner, there are beginner versions of all these pieces too available online if you are only starting out, so you don't have to wait until you are at intermediate level to enjoy playing these beautiful songs.
So, here are my top 5 piano songs. . . starting at number 5.
5. Bluebird by Alexis Ffrench.
Coming in at number five is Bluebird. This is a beautiful piece by an English composer Alexis Ffrench. It's 3/4 time signature and the left hand gives it a waltz style and feel.
Key Signature: B flat major
Time signature: 3/4
4. Je te laisserai des mots - a piano version of Patrick Watson's song.
This melodic piano cover is VERY popular at the moment. It has a very dramatic mid section that requires an octave reach so keep that in mind if attempting to play this beautiful piece in it's original form.
Key Signature: D major
Time Signature: 3/4
3. River Flows in You by Yiruma
This piece first became popular from the Twilight film series. Yiruma is an amazing composer from South Korea. It is a firm favourite with my students and myself. A lot of my students would play this for a school music practical exam and I also get requested to play this piece at weddings. When learning this piece, it's interesting to know that the bass clef is based on only four chords!
Key Signature: F# minor
Time Signature: 4/4
2. I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi
In at number 2, I Giorni by the one and only Einaudi. Einaudi is a hugely successful contemporary pianist. He has an immense repertoire of amazingly emotional and dramatic pieces, but I Giorni is the most requested when it comes to my students. The left hand is based on four chords also and makes this song, even though it is five pages long, very enjoyable to learn.
Key Signature: D major
Time Signature: 3/4
1.Comptine d'un autre été, l'apres midi by Yann Tiersen from the movie Amelie
My number one requested song! This gorgeous minor piece has a sad but melodic feel to it. With the left hand repeating just four bars basically for the whole piece it makes this piece very enjoyable to play and master. It is by the French composer Yann Tiersen and is from the movie soundtrack to Amelie. If learning for yourself, be careful not to play it too fast or it will lose it's dramatic melancholy feel.
Key Signature: E minor
Time Signature: 4/4
So there you go, the top 5 most requested piano pieces in my music school and five pieces I would highly recommend learning for any piano player.
Which Song is Your Favourite?
- Bluebird
- Je te laisserai des mots
- River Flows In You
- I Giorni
For more piano song inspiration why not follow my Spotify 'Piano Inspiration' playlist.
Would you love to play piano? Get started on your journey today with my
3 Day 10 Minute Piano Song Challenge.
Until next week,
Liz