Good piano music? Any suggestions

[BrigitBigKnickers]

Looking for something new to learn on the piano.

In the last few weeks I have learned and can play well, a few Ludovico Einaudi pieces (Le Onde and I Giorni) and a few simple pieces by Helen Jane Long and Yirumu.

I passed my grade 6 thirty years ago but would problably rate my playing at around grade 3/4 (don't want to have to struggle to learn something new so grade 6 standard pieces a bit too much effort!) Nothing too fancy in the left hand as it has a mind of its own and is rather weak.

Do not really want to do any standard classical. Something Lyrical and modern is what I am after.

Any suggestions?

Bump

Bump?

How about Eric Satie? The is lovely.

Just looking through a book I picked up at Oxfam ...

There's a Khatchaturian Melody "Ivan Sings" which is quite nice too.

Some of Grieg's Lyric pieces are very nice and look quite possible too.

Thanks !
I can already play quite a few of Grieg lyric pieces- will have a look at the Satie although I have to say I am not a great lover of french impresiionist music.

The Ivan sings is nice- will look out the music for that one!

Any more ideas? Doesn't have to be classical.

Have you tried Grieg's ? That says Grade 6 on musicroom.com but sounds a lot more scary. I've bought the score but haven't learned yet.

Know what you mean about French impressionist music. I play Satie only very infrequently...
Sometimes Debussy. But you have to be in a certain mood.

How about Rachmaninoff? is very nice.

Don't know much about non-classical. I'm in my classical phase atm. But the pieces you mentioned sound good. May get them myself!

Gershwin? I've got Gershwin for piano. The pieces look manageable.

Thanks- will give these a look- I like the Rachmaniniff but it looks a little scary-not sure my unreliable left hand would be up for that!

library of piano classics This is a great book with lots of different stuff in it. Also very good value!

Jazz? we've just got Pam Wedgewood After Hours Jazz which seems really nice

I've just had a look at the after hours book (grade 3-5) and heard a few pieces from it on Youtube and it's exactly what I am looking for thankyou!

You are very welcome. DS1 piano teacher suggested it for DS, and DH uses it. he is in a similar position to you, I think. We have Book 1 at present, but there are a few in the series. I have ordered the Christmas book, but am not sure who to give it to!

Are you feeling in a Christmas mood? I can highly recommend Jerry Lanning 'Carol Variations' - jazz versions and nice arrangements of classic carols.

sounds interesting thanks Cubscout I will have a look at those.

RaspberryLemonPavlova My after hours books (books 1 and 3) arrived today (good old music room!) What lovely pieces thanks for the suggestion.

Brigit - I forgot to mention Grieg's wedding day at Troldhaugen. It's the happiest piece I've ever tried to play. Makes me happy just to play a few bars, even though I really hate weddings.

Like it UptoapointLordCopper (strange name- what is the origin)
Thanks

Brigit - Evelyn Waugh's Scoop. How to disagree with Lord Copper, owner of the Daily Beast newspaper.

recommend the reading of Scoop - made me chuckle out loud on a crowded Dart , fortunately the other commuters were too spaced out really to notice :)

Also was going to say Christopher Norton's micro jazz. I got the Christmas one on a whim because it was cheap in the music shop. It's not hard and very atmospheric. various books

Thanks sticky- they look interesting too. I remember teaching some of his pieces to my clarinet pupils a while back but never seen any piano pieces.

What about stuff like Bridge Over Troubled Water? I bought that for DS1 but it's clearly at least Grade 3. Very pretty.

What about some of the pieces in the film The Piano, or the score from American Beauty?

Agree that Gershwin is gorgeous. Scott Joplin?

Uptoapoint - Scoop is one of my favourite books. So funny. Have you read Decline and Fall? You'll howl in public at Lady Circumference.

A musical friend told me that Lidl has a £7 piano sheet music book on sale this week that covers approx grade 2 - grade 8, very playable.

racingheart - I've read decline and fall. I really like it too. I also like the "sword of honour" trilogy, so funny with what's-it-called - the Thunderbox or something. And all the military flaps. (Though also quite sad ...) And the one with MI13 - can't remember the title. Always want to claim I work for MI13. Glad to meet some Evelyn Waugh novels fans. (I have been told off before for liking those books. They are not politically correct ...)

I'm marking this page for when I get over my craving to play Rachmaninoff and anything that requires serious thumping of the piano. All I can say is, my poor neighbours ...

Another fan of Pam Wedgewood here, but I see you've bought some of hers already!

I also like song books - we just bought the piano version for Adele 21 which is great to play and the music for pride and prejudice: but you have to be careful to get a version that carries the tune on the piano and doesnt just show the paino accompaniement and the tune (not enough hands!)

Thanks all for yet more really great suggestions.

getting alifenow I have already downloaded some Adele but you are right it is just the accompaniament which would involve me singing along (cue earplugs for the family. )

racingheart I'll have a look at the score for The Piano and American Beauty- good suggestions- I remember liking the music from both of those when I saw the films. I love Scott Joplin and have been playing loads of his pieces for years.