As mentioned in an earlier post i have started learning the piano and notes from the very beginning. However i have played a bit some years ago, and do manage to learn music in my level from the sheets (takes me a while though

I find it easy to find classical pieces around my level to try, but does anyone have any suggestions for fairly easy piano pieces from popular music, jazz, rock or whatever? Stuff that sunds really cool gives a boost to the confidence and helps making me practice more!

I´m not too sure where exactly my technical level lies, but I do manage Für Elise without to much difficulties...

Well, check out the various David Nevue threads (Nev-Heads, David Nevue sheet music, etc.) Or go to his web site (www.davidnevue.com) and listen to some of his song samples, and if you like them, download the sheet music. That should give you an idea if you like to play new age music, and if you do, I've got a million other artist/song suggestions.

Many of the "new age" music pieces that are discussed in this forum are fairly easy to play, however, they still require practice to be played smoothly and with proper dynamics. Played well, they are hauntingly beautiful and would impress family and friends. Few require demanding octave runs and/or rapid chromatic scales, for example. I've seen the piece, "To Zanarkand," in two different versions - one quite simple and the other, arranged by Michael Huang (reborn version), which would test the skills of an expert pianist.

Good luck

I find that a lot of the popular music I have played is very simple, although maybe sometimes it sounds like it's complicated. The left hand part tends to repeat itself a lot, and centers around basic chord progressions.

Try some show tunes, or maybe pick up a book of pop music arranged for piano.

I'm very new to piano and I was wondering if any of you know of any beginner classical songs that sound simple, yet good.

Fatlock and Rince - there are tons of "easy" books with arrangements out there....do a search at amazon for "fake Books" or "lead sheets" and find one or two that fits your style and includes songs you want to play. Suggest whatever you buy be spiral bound or plastic comb that open flat. Another suggestion - fake books only have the treble clef and chords - look for easy arranged books that have both clefs - anything arranged by Dan Coates would fit the bill. Nothing wrong with fake books but it is easier to have the left hand written out for you when starting. Also, one last suggestion, do not do like me and buy every book out there. One of two collections will keep you busy for many many months, and a collection of books will just stare back at you....Fatlock - I own a book called "Easy Piano Classics" but I warn you, you will find yourself wanting the original works a lot sooner then you think - look at Alfred Publishing for their series of classical works "Essential Keyboard Repertoire" - many different volumes aimed at beginners through advanced.....

If you want some very, very easy books, but with both clefs, look for these on Amazon:

- My First Book of Classical Music: 29 Themes by Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Other Great Composers in Easy Piano Arrangements, Bergerac $4.95
- My First Book of Christmas Songs: 20 Favorite Songs in Easy Piano Arrangements, Bergerac $4.95


A step up from these is:

Library of Easy Piano Classics (Library of Series)
Music Sales Corporation $21.95

Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

I think Dan Coates does some of the best easy arrangements that sound pretty good.

Another thing I used to do was go to www.musicnotes.com where you can preview and listen to the first page. You can even print out the first page and try them out!

Wow, thanks so much Rocky. I look at musicnotes all the time and have bought some music from it. I just never knew you could print the first page. Thanks for that hint

My favorite book of beginner pieces is "Easy Classics to Modern" by Denes Agay. It has a red cover and can sometimes can be picked up on eBay for cheap. Don't confuse it with "More Easy Classics to Modern", with a blue cover, or any of the others in the series (intermediate, early advanced, etc.). I have some of those, but the first one seems to be Agay's 'materpiece', loaded with great pieces for a beginner. Agay also edits the 'Joy of' series. (Joy of Baroque, Joy of Chopin, etc.)