40(ish) Pieces in 2025

Nightowl · 16 Jan

pianoloverus I assume this idea is mostly geared towards beginners or low intermediates because beyond that I don't think any pianist ever learns anywhere near 40 pieces a year or even 25 pieces a year.

Agreed. I said as much in my opening post.

ShiroKuro I note your point that the original concept was that the 40 pieces should be in addition to other pieces. My approach is pretty relaxed as I'm not working towards exams, but I recognise that in order to grow my piano skills I need to play some stretch pieces. It's a matter of choice whether to count stretch pieces as part of the 40 pieces and in my case I plan to count them, but aim for a total near to 50 pieces, rather than 40.

I don't mind people discussing the pros and cons of the concept here, although it might make the thread quite unwieldy as time goes on, so perhaps it might be better to have those discussions on the other thread (see link in my OP).

I enjoy watching the videos of fellow players, but there's no obligation for anyone to post videos and I wonder if perhaps this thread might become a bit glitchy/overloaded if it turns into a year round recital thread? I'm not tech minded so perhaps someone who knows about this stuff could offer guidance around this point. Anyway, we could always start another thread, perhaps at the 6 month point, if this one becomes unusable.

Llilypad · 16 Jan

Third piece. A quick study this time (3 days).

Michael Head - The Quiet Wood - The Best of Grade 1 Piano
2, Joanne Bender - Ripple Effect - RCM 3 Piano Etudes
Henry Mancini (arr.) - The Pink Panther - Piano Adventures Popular Repertoire - Level 3A

Ideally, I like to work on 4 kinds of pieces at a time, so that's what makes up my list:
a) Piano Adventures lesson pieces
b) Classical pieces of my choosing at whatever I think my grade level might be
c) Non-classical pieces of my choosing that isn't too much of a stretch
d) Quick study of an easier piece that I've sight read and liked enough to flag for quick study

Nightowl · 16 Jan

lilypad It seems like we have a similar approach, in that we will be playing a ratio of roughly 3 easy pieces to 1 current level piece (which might also be a stretch piece). I intend to play one stretch piece and 3 easy pieces each month, which would take my yearly total to 48 pieces. When I finish book 2 this will be my way of keeping the momentum going, as I don't currently have a teacher, nor any plan to buy book 3.

Llilypad · 17 Jan

Nightowl lilypad It seems like we have a similar approach, in that we will be playing a ratio of roughly 3 easy pieces to 1 current level piece (which might also be a stretch piece). I intend to play one stretch piece and 3 easy pieces each month, which would take my yearly total to 48 pieces. When I finish book 2 this will be my way of keeping the momentum going, as I don't currently have a teacher, nor any plan to buy book 3.

By the end of the year on paper 3 easy pieces to 1 piece at current level is what it looks like. As far as everyday practicing for me, it's 3 pieces at my level plus 1 quick study piece.

The turnover rate on the quick study pieces tends to accumulate, although it takes a while. I don't really have a numerical goal, but I like to keep a list out of curiosity and a 'memory lane' of what I've played. Sometimes around midsummer before the accumulation effect has really kicked in, I'll wonder if I'll even make it to 40. But surprisingly without extra effort, by the end of the last couple of years I've had over 70.

Here is my list from the end of last year: [

Kaydia · 17 Jan

I decided to give Edna Mae Burnam's pieces a break for a bit. This latest one, "Love me Tender" is from a supplement book to Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course. But it also includes suggestions on when to play each piece (ie: after page 54) for those doing Alfred's Adult All-In-One course instead, which is nice.

A Canyon Deep by Edna Mae Burnam (From Pieces to Play with Step by Step Book Two)
Stained Glass Window In A Church by Edna Mae Burnam (From Pieces to Play with Step by Step Book Two)
The Shoemaker by Edna Mae Burnam (From Pieces to Play with Step by Step Book Two)
Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley & Vera Matson, Arr by Christine H. Barden (From Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course Greatest Hits Level 1)

Llilypad · 18 Jan

lilypad Third piece. A quick study this time (3 days).

Michael Head - The Quiet Wood - The Best of Grade 1 Piano
2, Joanne Bender - Ripple Effect - RCM 3 Piano Etudes
Henry Mancini (arr.) - The Pink Panther - Piano Adventures Popular Repertoire - Level 3A

Oops! I guess I can't count! Pink Panther was number 3. I finished my lesson piece yesterday after being on it for around 3 weeks.

Shenandoah from Piano Adventures level 5 lesson book.

BBartK · 19 Jan

This week I'm playing some Scott Joplin. This is Maple Leaf Rag without the trio section, which would have taken much longer to learn. Again, it's not perfect but that is not the point.

Quick Study List for 2025

ShiroKuro · 19 Jan

That was awesome @BartK !!

Animisha · 19 Jan

J.S. Bach - Arioso from cantata 156 (lesson piece)
John Thompson - Hide and seek (quick study)
Erik Satie - Petite prélude à la journée (quick study)
J.C. Bach - Prelude in A minor (quick study)

Satie's Petite prelude was actually the most boring piece that I have ever played. I added some dynamics - but maybe I should not have done that, in case Satie actually intended this piece to be as boring as it is.

Kaydia · 19 Jan

Animisha Satie's Petite prelude was actually the most boring piece that I have ever played. I added some dynamics - but maybe I should not have done that, in case Satie actually intended this piece to be as boring as it is.

Your description cracked me up. Seriously, though, I liked it. I listened to it a few times. Personally, I didn't find it at all boring.

ShiroKuro · 19 Jan

@Animisha as always, very, very well-played!! Esp. since you thought it was boring. In my sightreading/40P pursuits, when I sightread a piece I don't like, I use as SRing practice and don't move it onto the 40P list. I think you have more perseverance than I do!

I don't know that I thought the Satie piece was boring, but I can see why you might. Actually, I hadn't heard it before, so I found it very interesting to listen to it while thinking about contemporary minimalist composers -- some of whom are more minimalist than others. I actually don't think of myself as a fan of minimalist piano... I prefer music that has a clear and accessible melody line, and I think of minimalist piano as lacking that. For example, people call Einaudi minimalist, but I don't think that's accurate... Anyway, I'm starting to cause thread drift, sorry!

ShiroKuro · 19 Jan

@Animisha I found this score online, is it basically the same as what you played? (sorry it's a little blurry bc this is a screen grab)

ShiroKuro · 19 Jan

Kaydia Personally, I didn't find it at all boring.

Same, I want to play it!

Animisha · 20 Jan

ShiroKuro @Animisha as always, very, very well-played!!
Thank you so much. Truly heart-warming.

ShiroKuro Yes, that is the same piece that I played. First I thought that I would make tons of mistakes, but I found it is much more regular than I thought. Many phrases are repeated, and LH is BA BA BG BG and then again BA BA BG BG - same when it turns around: AB AB GB GB and repeated AB AB GB GB. Once I saw this pattern, the piece was much, much easier to play correctly.

ShiroKuro · 20 Jan

@Animisha Thanks! I played through it once yesterday, what an interesting piece! I think I’ll work on it for a few more times and take it with me to my lesson on Wednesday.

Nightowl · 20 Jan

Animisha I would not describe that piece as boring, it's just very gentle and extremely relaxing to listen to. You played it beautifully (and managed not to nod off at the end, bonus points for that ).

Animisha · 20 Jan

Thank you so much, such a surprise!

Llilypad · 22 Jan

Just finished No. 5

1 Michael Head, The Quiet Wood, The Best of Grade 1 Piano (quick study)
2 Joanne Bender, Ripple Effect, RCM 3 Piano Etudes (regular piece at my level)
3 Henry Mancini (arr.), The Pink Panther, Piano Adventures Popular Repertoire - level 3A (quick study)
4 American folk song, Shenandoah, Piano Adventures Level 5 Lesson book, (regular piece at my level)
5 Mozart, Allegro in F, K. 1c, The Best of Grade 1 Piano, (quick study)

BBartK · 22 Jan

It's great that people are sharing. Please don't be shy about your performances! We know they are just quick studies and not perfect. I hope I'm not scaring anyone away with my performances. Please consider that I have been playing for many years and my easy is not going to be the same as someone else's easy but it doesn't matter. It's still fun to share and watch the other performances.

I should heed my own advice for the recitals. Shame on me, I know. But my big pieces are never ready and I need more discipline to record them properly.

Sophia · 23 Jan

BartK I hope I'm not scaring anyone away with my performances.

OMG, I am out of the loop for a few days and you post Scott Joplin! As a QUICK STUDY! I think it's high time that you are going to be the one to be teased about being annoyingly talented
That was lovely. I always liked that piece!

Animisha the most boring piece that I have ever played

Ok, I was prepared to give you my honest opinion. Like "wow, that was great! I love it! What a gorgeous piece! It's exciting and beautiful!" But... I'd be lying. Yes. you are right, that is one BORING piece. But you played it well and also it counts for the 40 pieces challenge. And you braved yourself in front of a camera, so despite all that, let me say... WELL DONE!

I know posting videos is not required for this challenge, but it sure is nice to see them