Elizabeth R.'s list of 15 inspiring and motivating songs to learn on the piano/keyboard.
My name is Elizabeth Rentas and I am a piano/keyboard teacher with Lessonface.com. Thank you to Lessonface for inviting me to share some inspiring and motivating piano or keyboard pieces. There is so much beautifully composed music to play that it's so difficult to choose. In my lessons, I like to teach many different genres since piano lessons should introduce students to many styles of music. Some of the picks may be too difficult for beginners but there are easier versions and sometimes I arrange the songs so that beginner students can enjoy playing them as well. These are in no particular order. Hope you enjoy them!
1. Moonlight Sonata 1st Movement - Ludwig van Beethoven
https://youtu.be/4Tr0otuiQuU (first 6 minutes)
Beautiful and timeless, Beethoven's Sonata in C# minor is one of the most well known piano pieces ever written. Beethoven is one of my favorite composers. The 1st movement is the first 6 minutes of the clip and is the most popular of the 3 movements. The rhythmic triplet pattern combined with the chord structure is riveting. It is a piece that I never tire of and it is so moving to play. This mesmerizing, haunting composition can help a student to work on adding more expression to their playing.
2. Piano Man - Billy Joel
I love Billy Joel and he has been a huge inspiration to me for many years! Though this is definitely not one of my favorite songs that he has written, it has a great, basic repeated chord progression that makes it easy for beginning students to learn and sing along with. And as far as multitasking goes, Billy plays the harmonica while playing the piano. (Just not while he's singing, that would be beyond even multitasking.)
3. Prelude in E Minor Op. 28 No. 4 - Frederic Chopin
Chopin is definitely one of my favorite composers and I love this piece. The fourth of the 24 Preludes Op. 28 is not technically very difficult to play, but it is filled with emotion. Listen for the beautiful chord progression. Though seemingly simple and short, it has endured as one of Chopin's most famous works and has been featured in many movies.
4. The Entertainer - Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin was known as the "King of Ragtime" and he wrote many unique jazz compositions. The Entertainer (written in 1902) was one of his most popular pieces. Many decades later it was used in the movie "The Sting" and it still holds up to time just like all great classics. It is a peppy, happy medium tempo piece that isn't super difficult and gives students a chance to explore a classic rag song with a recurring syncopation.
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Paul Simon
Elvis Presley: https://youtu.be/xdSOJZPdaWg
Another song filled with so much emotion, it can sweep you away. The piano has a strong gospel-influenced style and takes the lead in this beautiful song that became Simon and Garfunkel's biggest hit single. I love Elvis Presley's moving version so I included a link for it too.
6. Heart and Soul - Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael also wrote Stardust and Georgia On My Mind. And almost everyone recognizes Heart and Soul when they hear it. It is great for students to learn this chord progression and use different rhythm variations with it. The chord progression used is often referred to as the "50s progression". It's also fun for students to play the duet version with someone else.
7. Fur Elise - Ludwig van Beethoven
I love Beethoven and he gets a second pick on my list with one of the most famous motifs in classical music. The first 6 notes are instantly recognized by most. The famous melody is accompanied by broken chords in the left hand making this an excellent piece for students to learn early on. The next parts of the song are actually more difficult, but students can work on the famous beginning which mainly uses one hand at a time.
8. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Starting with one of the most famous piano rock riffs, the 8 chord progression continues through the song and is one that almost everyone would love to learn.
9. Clocks - Coldplay
This song is built around a riff and is a great song for any level of student to learn. The 3 chord arpeggio with inversions and repetitive pattern make this a cool song to learn.
10. All I Ask Of You - Andrew Lloyd Webber
From the Phantom of the Opera musical, this beautiful "operatic pop" song is written in the key of Db major. Also, check out other beautiful pieces from the same musical called "Music of the Night" and the main theme "Phantom of the Opera".
11. Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
This 1st part of this Mozart piece can be tried by students early on in lessons. The broken chord Alberti bass and scale passages show just how amazing all that chord and scale practice can sound when it's all put together by a genius like Mozart. Plus, it's fun to play.
12. Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel
A great Baroque piece for students to learn, Pachelbel's intricate canon starts with a basic melody that slowly grows and builds becoming more elaborate as it goes. There are simplified versions for beginners.
13. She's Always A Woman - Billy Joel
You can hear Billy's years of classical piano training in his composition of this song. Bringing out the melody notes in the treble clef is great practice for the intermediate student.
14. Air on the G String - Johann Sebastian Bach
Though it was composed for string instruments, it is beautiful on the piano as well.
15. Amazing Grace
This beautiful gospel hymn that beginners can learn, uses the major pentatonic scale for the melody.
There are so many more, that the list could go on forever. Thank God there is so much beautiful music to be played.
You can share what songs inspire you by responding to this post. Hope you enjoyed it!
Hi. Having been going through a massive spate of composer biographies, I have been inspired by the music of Clara and Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. I didn't realise how much I loved the romantic idiom until I starting playing their pieces. I would absolutely recommend them! particularly Robert Schumann's Phantasiestucke.
Great list! Those pieces are mostly for advanced pupils, but they will be really glad to have played them!
Thanks!
Thank you for your comment!
Hi Vasil, Thank you! You can find big note and easy piano versions for these songs. The Entertainer has a great big note version that many of my students love playing.
Thank you again.