Question

Looking for suggestions about Piano Pieces.

What would you consider "vital" to a pianist repertoire? (What should every pianist know?)

Answer 1

Depends on how proficient you are at the piano. I don't know your level of playing because I've never seen you play.

But if I had to suggest something for you to play it'd probably be something really well-known like Fur Elise, The Entertainer, Maple Leaf, or if you like contemporary music: River Flows in You, Wedding Dress, pop songs, etc.

Oh and don't forget about Canon in D. BUT don't just learn the original, variate upon it. I'm sure everyone can agree that playing the exact same 8 chords over and over again. This is by far one of THEE most well-known pieces there are in existence. Honestly, if someone doesn't recognize Canon within the first 30-60 seconds of hearing it, idk what to say.

This is a really nice arrangement of Canon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kllZlF6mB2s

Also, look at Clementi's Sonata in C Major. A simple but fairly recognizable piece of music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Ksi2qmW0A

***However, if you're extremely good at the piano, you should learn pieces such as Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu, a couple of his etudes, most of his waltzes, and of course his nocturnes and preludes etc etc. Obviously, you're not going to like all of his music and that's okay but imo, I'm biased towards Chopin so I think you should look into him if you're really good at the piano and think you have a shot of being some sort of concert pianist.

Liszt's transcendental etudes are very challenging too and should only be attempted with a solid grounding of piano and music knowledge foundation. La Campanella for example pretty much utilizes advanced 'two-octave leaps' and is something even professional pianists have trouble with. Basically, avoid all of the info I said after the three *** if you are not proficient in easier studies by Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Czerny, and Hanon.

So yeah. It really depends on your skill level :)

Answer 2

Gangnam Style.

Answer 3

no gangnam style for me. But thanks for the suggestions @piano_endeavorer

Answer 4

I am okay, but my friends think I am a genius... ??? I play out of intermediate and easier advanced books if that makes any sense at all... :P

Answer 5

Based on what you said about being able to play out of intermediate and easier advanced books, I'd recommend you try out Rondo Alla Turca. It's right around that early advanced level and it's perfect for pianists wanting to try something more technically-demanding than previous level pieces.

Handel's Variations in G Major is also on par with your level of playing.

Answer 6

not saying this is vital but Rolling Girl by Hatsune Miku could be a fun little challenge

Answer 7

Well, I think that Franz Liszt's pieces should be known not by all the pianists but all the persons of the Planet Earth :D I think the best masterpiece of this genious composer is Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C# minor, with a well-known passage because the cat Tom (from Tom & Jerry program) played on a sketch of the program.
The best perfomance I think that it was interpreted by the Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica, and you can enjoy it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZXQtW-ioKM

This prolific composer had also write a very beautiful album called Liszt's Consolations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4UV-2zHAaQ

On the baroque period, the best composer I think that it was J. S. Bach, who had improvised a 6-voice fugue... Listen to the very best of Bach here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JQm5aSjX6g

Beethoven had also composed amazing symphonies ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRgXUFnfKIY).

For modern piano pieces you can listen at Jarrod Radnich and The Piano Guys' Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePianoGuys