40 Pieces Challenge 2026

WieWaldi · 2026-01-02T17:54:33+00:00

The 40 Piece Challenge has been around for a few years, as a way to improve sight reading skills - here is a link to an article which outlines how the concep...

Nightowl

pianoloverus Maybe professionals could polish 40 hard pieces a year, but the 40 pieces challenge is not aimed at professionals or diploma level players - it was created to help beginners/intermediate players to improve their sight reading skills.

pianoloverus

Nightowl Maybe professionals could polish 40 hard pieces a year, but the 40 pieces challenge is not aimed at professionals or diploma level players - it was created to help beginners/intermediate players to improve their sight reading skills.

"Hard" is a relative term. My point was that for advanced pianists a piece on the level the Mendelssohn SWW mentioned in this thread would not be a hard piece. They would not have to "polish it" but could sight read it at a very high level. I was just disagreeing with your statement that no one could learn 40 pieces like the SWW in a year. For what an advanced player would consider a hard piece (like a Beethoven Sonata), they would not be able to learn 40 pieces a year.

In terms of improving sight reading(meaning the first time one reads through a piece) I understand the idea of the forty pieces per year is to avoid the terrible pedagogical situation where some students, due to poor teaching and/or overemphasis/pressure on passing exams, only spend time learning a very small number of pieces for an exam and so their reading(meaning anytime one uses a score when playing a piece) and sight reading skill does not develop. The 40 pieces should help but it would be better to sight read a lot more than that if one wants to significantly improve their sight reading. Even if each piece took 5 minutes to sight read that would only be around 4 hours of sight reading practice per year. But since sight reading and reading skills are closely related, even reading through a piece the 2nd, 3rd, or 10th time will help with sight reading skills. IOW the 40 pieces per year is not quite as negligible as I stated.

rsl12

pianoloverus I'm pretty sure Nightowl was clarifying something you misunderstood. When WieWaldi said "I doubt, anyone can do 40 pieces this hard, at this perfection", he meant everyone participating in this challenge. I could be wrong, but to me his intent was clear. You're adamantly arguing a point no one will disagree with.

As to your second point, this is very reminiscent of the Molly Gerbrian thread where you started arguing about the efficacy of Molly's methods, thereby hijacking the discussion created for people who were actually trying her methods. You had not been trying her methods, but decided to use the opportunity to tell everyone there her methods were questionable. Similarly, without even participating in this 40 a year challenge, you have entered a discussion for people attempting the challenge and are telling them they are wrong. If you want to discuss the efficacy of the 40 a year challenge, I suggest you start a new discussion, and anyone who would like to argue with or against you can follow you there.

EDIT: Apologies--you weren't in the original bunch who started arguing about Molly Gerbrian. But the point still stands--if you want to argue about the usefulness of 40/year, it's best to start a new discussion for it.

Nightowl

rsl12 Actually, that was me on the MG thread, but I steered clear of that discussion when I realised how upset people were getting.

Yes, I took that comment from WieWaldi to mean that most people participating in this challenge would find it hard to play and polish 40 pieces of that difficulty in one year. I agree, but if an advanced player bucks the trend and chooses to demonstrate their skills by posting links to 40 difficult pieces they've polished, that's their choice.

Sophia

Greta99 If I can't, I don't count it.

Ooooh wow 🙂 If I did that, I would have exactly... zero pieces a year 😃 Not that I'm doing this challenge (I can't count that high), but... respect!

WieWaldi

Sophia If I did that, I would have exactly... zero pieces a year

Nope, you would have 4 (recital) pieces. Plus the PIYW recordings.

Monviso

Nightowl
It's out of place for me to comment, as I haven't joined the challenge. But I was saddened by your decision to quit the thread.
I realised as I was replying that it was ridiculous for me to urge you to stay on if I don't do what I preach. So here I am. I'm joining.

I did the 40 pieces challenge for a couple of years on the other forum. I found that learning so many pieces really helped me improve. Like you, I didn't post recordings. I found the simple act of posting a list was rewarding: a tangible sign of "progress". Also, learning the piano can be a solitary experience, and threads like this create useful companionship.

I'm aiming at 30-40 pieces. These will include a few at my level (intermediate), but the bulk will be 2 page pieces that are a couple of levels "down" as I chug through an ABRSM compilation: pieces I spend a week / 10 days on, trying to assimilate patterns etc, and that I aim to play honourably but no more. I might include a few pieces I've "learned" in the past but am returning to in order to polish.

Nightowl

Monviso Thanks, I've had a rethink and maybe I'll stick with the challenge, although I won't always update my list every month and I'm certainly not about to start recording every piece either - that would feel like a real chore.

I've edited my post to remove my rather negative words regarding feelings I was having when I made that post.

lilypad

Monviso Welcome to the challenge! I think it's interesting to see what people play.

Here's what I have so far through the end of February:

1 N. Faber - Mazurka in G Minor, Piano Adventures Level 5 Performance book (regular piece at my level)
2 Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher - The Rainbow Connection - Cinema Classics arranged by Phillip Keveren
3 N. Faber - Rhythm Flight, Piano Adventures Level 5 Lesson book (regular piece at my level)
4 Alexander Goedicke - Op. 6, No. 1, 20 Little Pieces for Beginners (quick study)
5 Burgmuller - Ballade, Piano Adventures Level 5 Lesson book (regular piece at my level)
6 Stephen Heller - Curious Story, Op. 138 No. 9, Album for the Young (regular piece at my level)

I started working on "The Rainbow Connection" back in late September of last year, but didn't finish it until late January, so I'm counting it for this year. I figure if I don't count it for both years, the '40 Pieces' police won't come after me.

Monviso

Nightowl
I'm genuinely delighted to hear that!
I'm not planning to record my pieces either. I'm just focussing on learning and enjoying myself.

Nightowl

WieWaldi Ha ha, trust you to come along with your flawless logic! 😄 Nobody gets away with anything when you're around! 🙃

"lilypad"#p42355 I started working on "The Rainbow Connection" back in late September of last year, but didn't finish it until late January, so I'm counting it for this year. I figure if I don't count it for both years, the '40 Pieces' police won't come after me.

@lilypad Luckily there are no '40 Pieces' police around here, but @WieWaldi is quite good at correcting any misinformation that he detects (which he does, because he has plenty of ~~German~~ Bavarian logic). 🙂

Monviso

OK, so just signing up ain't good enough: I should actually log my progress!
--- And it's been a really encouraging exercise. It's good to see that I have actually done something this year! These are pieces that I believe to be a couple of levels easier than my current level (hence the number of them). I sometimes worry that I'm not stretching myself enough, but they're helping my reading generally, and I'm finding that they all offer a challenge which I don't nail on a first reading, so I hope they are contributing to me developing into a finer pianist...

Mendelssohn Song Without Words op102/2
Bach French Suite 5 Courante 2
Bertini Study in G minor op29/3
Burgmueller Refrain du Gondolier op109/14
Scarlatti Sonata in E Major K380
Rossini Bagatelle (from Péchés de vieillesse)
Scarlatti Sonata in G Major K259
Bach French Suite 5 Courante 1

Nightowl

These are the pieces I've played since my update at the end of January:

Lean on Me - Bill Withers
Climb Every Mountain - Rogers & Hammerstein
I Want To Hold Your Hand - Lennon & McCartney
Oh What A Beautiful Morning - Rogers & Hammerstein
This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
Nocturne in Eb (Op. 9, No.2) - Chopin

My running total for the year so far is 9 pieces, so I'm a bit behind target. I got a bit bogged down with trying to polish Lean On Me for the PIYW recital, so that dominated my playing time for about 4 weeks, but I'm enjoying some much needed variation in my practice sessions now.

Monviso I have a similar mindset - I think the main thing is to have plenty of variety in your playing material, as each piece offers different challenges and helps to grow skills.

Nightowl

Nightowl These are the pieces I've played since my update in March:

Chim Chim Cher-ee - R M & R B Sherman
My Heart Will Go On - J Horner
Rocky Top - B & F Bryant
The Winner Takes It All - B Andersson & B Ulvaeus
Unchained Melody - A North

My current total is 14 pieces.

lilypad

Here's my March update. I'd like to be at 10 pieces by now, but I'm one shy with just 9 for the year so far.

7 George Gershwin - Three-Quarter Blues
8 Ivanovici - The Danube Waves, Piano Adventures Level 5 Performance book (regular piece at my level)
9 George and Ira Gershwin - I Got Rhythm (arr.), Piano Adventures Popular Repertoire level 3B (quick study)

Nightowl

lilypad Ah, we're in sync! 🙂 I've also been playing some arrangements by Faber - I recently bought Adult Piano Adventures - Popular, book 1. It's got a nice mix of songs and I like the fact that it includes a few tips on how to play the pieces. I might buy book 2 at some point.

Monviso

lilypad
Those pieces sound like fun! And 3 new pieces in a month is great!

Monviso

March's additions:

Bach - French Suite no 5 - Sarabande
Bach - French Suite no 5 - Gavotte
Bach - French Suite no 5 - Bourrée
Heller - Etude in D op 46 no 8
Gade - Elégie op 19 no 1
Jensen - Romanze op33 no 6
Bruch - Klavierstück op 12 no 4
Tchaikovsky - The Seasons: March op 39 no 3

It's a high number (very satisfying to see, especially as I felt I was bogged down by a number of WIPs!) but I had resolved to log all movements of the Bach separately - mainly as a prize for facing my nemesis!

I'm working through an ABRSM book of Romantic pieces. Generally 2 pages long, I aim to only spend a week or 10 days on each, treating them as quick studies, but there is either articulation or speed I can work on. It's vol 2 of a book I went through last year, and should be the same level (Grade 6). But I'm finding them easier. And I'm perfecting them faster. It could be that they are genuinely so. Or maybe, just maybe, I've actually made some progress...

Also, I've decided to learn the Seasons, one a month (with exceptions when I'm away). I was lucky to start with one of the easier ones!

lilypad

Monviso Congratulations on your high number. It's a nice sanity saver to get through lengthy WIP's.

ShiroKuro

It in at the beginning of my jury, I’m supposed to tell the examiners the names of all the pieces I worked on with my teacher this semester…. It comes out to 10 repertoire pieces, 17 reading pieces so far.

Piano Pieces Played
In alphabetical order (January through April, 2026)

Repertoire:
Due Tramonti (Einaudi)
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring Canon (Nevue)
Midwinter Memories (McLaughlin)
Miracles (Ffrench)
Over the Rainbow
Song for Gavin (Einaudi)
Through the Dark (Long)

In-Progress:
Dawn (Marianelli)
Cavatina (Myers)
The Moon, My Heart (Chinese song)

Revived Repertoire:
I Giorni (Einaudi)
Nuvole Bianche (Einaudi)
While the Trees Sleep (Nevue)

Performed and/or Shared Online:
Midwinter Memories
Miracles
Nuvole Bianche
Over the Rainbow
Song for Gavin
Through the Dark

Reading Practice:
Aria BWV 515 (AM Notebook)
Hymn #16 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #17 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #18 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #19 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #20 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #21 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #22 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #23 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #24 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #25 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #26 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #27 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #28 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #29 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Hymn #30 (Alfred’s Piano Student’s Hymnal)
Minuet BWV 119 (AM Notebook)

mel_lem

Hello! I have been doing the challenge since 2017 over at the other forum. In 2023, I had to stop playing due to health issue. I have recovered now and thought that I wanted to start the challenge again but then I couldn't find the 40 pieces challenge thread in ABF anymore.... and that forum has gotten so quiet.....

Anyways, after a few search, I found you and I am seeing sooooo many familiar usernames. ahh haa....

I hope it is not too late to join, since it is already mid April now?

WieWaldi

mel_lem It's never too late, you are welcome!
You've got just a hard time to catch up. 40 pieces in 8 months? If you haven't started yet, 25 in 8 month is great as well. And if you already started, and you are just missing a platform to share? Here it is.

ShiroKuro

mel_lem welcome to Piano Tell!! We have a lot going on here! In addition to this thread, there's the PACT group, where people are doing the "practice accountability challenge." We also have The Recital Hall, where you can see links to the Quarterly Recital (recital #8 opens for submissions on May 1st). We also have Member Recordings, where the newest thing is the "post your first shot recording" thread....
And of course there's the Learners Lounge and the Pianist Zone, and a lot of us post in both of those subforums.

The membership is not huge here, but we're active and quite nice to each other 🙂

I hope you'll stick around and check out some of the different threads and subforums.

lilypad

mel_lem Welcome! I remember you from the "40 pieces" thread on the other forum. I'm glad you get to enjoy piano again!

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