Any pianists?

[glasgowcyclist]

It’s my brother’s birthday and I’d like to get him something related to his great passion for classical piano. He started learning to play about three or four years ago but I don’t know what level he is at. Is there a recommended book of sheet music I could get him or would I need to know more about his skill level? He is a studious and committed pupil so I expect he’d like something that would challenge him without being daunting.

 

[Julia9054]

It’s my brother’s birthday and I’d like to get him something related to his great passion for classical piano. He started learning to play about three or four years ago but I don’t know what level he is at. Is there a recommended book of sheet music I could get him or would I need to know more about his skill level? He is a studious and committed pupil so I expect he’d like something that would challenge him without being daunting.

I think you would need to know his level. Does he have a teacher? Perhaps you could discretely ask them?

 

[Julia9054]

I think it's a great gift idea btw

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

If your brother's tastes go beyond the classical era, Satie's Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes (https://www.free-scores.com/Download-PDF-Sheet-Music-erik-satie.htm) are relatively easy - the gymnopédies of course will be pretty well known. And if he started learning music after he was little, his sight reading will probably be poor, and Béla Bartók's For Children (https://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=3320) will give him practice - they get more difficult as the book goes on.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I think you would need to know his level. Does he have a teacher? Perhaps you could discretely ask them?

I don’t have contact details for his teacher, unfortunately.
I’ll try to find out his grade somehow. I know he’s travelled abroad to see a couple of prestigious concert pianists with his teacher and she had encouraged him to go for a higher grade exam than the one he was due. If only I could remember the level!

If your brother's tastes go beyond the classical era, Satie's Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes (https://www.free-scores.com/Download-PDF-Sheet-Music-erik-satie.htm) are relatively easy - the gymnopédies of course will be pretty well known. And if he started learning music after he was little, his sight reading will probably be poor, and Béla Bartók's For Children (https://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=3320) will give him practice - they get more difficult as the book goes on.

I think his sight reading must be pretty good, he was doing that kind of thing as a youngster and never stopped so must have 60+ years of experience. He also plays recorders and the cello.
Thanks for those links, I’ll bookmark those.

 

[Twilkes]

Bela Bartok's Mikrokosmos is a rite of passage for many pianists, but it can be very... serious. It's very rewarding if someone has the time to study and work through it though. It's available in a 6-volume compendium, or each volume is available separately. https://www.prestomusic.com/sheet-music/products/8115066--bela-bartok-mikrokosmos-complete

 

[Julia9054]

Bela Bartok's Mikrokosmos is a rite of passage for many pianists, but it can be very... serious. It's very rewarding if someone has the time to study and work through it though. It's available in a 6-volume compendium, or each volume is available separately. https://www.prestomusic.com/sheet-music/products/8115066--bela-bartok-mikrokosmos-complete

Oh god - I’d blotted that out! Thank you for reminding me.
I currently have Bach’s 48 preludes and fugues on my stand to make me feel inadequate for the rest of my life!

 

[srw]

The 48 (the well-tempered clavier) is a decent suggestion for someone at any level above absolute beginner. The first prelude in book 1 is simple, and the rest are various levels of challenging. But some people (poor lost souls) loathe Bach. A recorder playing cellist is unlikely to be a lost soul...

If you can find out a single piece he loves, buy a complete volume of that kind of work. If he is learning a single Chopin Waltz from a graded anthology, buy the complete Chopin waltzes.

Depending on the music you might need to do your research on editions. They vary in quality an awful lot.