Early Intermediate
Short and focused, the first stop after method-book exercises.
| Name | Description | 🎼 Score | 📺 YouTube | 🎹 Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Czerny — 100 Progressive StudiesOp. 139 | Short, focused studies for finger independence and reading, more musical than Czerny's reputation suggests. | IMSLP | Playlist | Not playable |
| Cornelius Gurlitt — First Lessons / AlbumleavesOp. 117 and Op. 101 | Beautiful Romantic miniatures that teach phrasing, melody, and balance. | First Lessons | Op. 117 | Not playable |
| Friedrich Burgmuller — 25 Progressive StudiesOp. 100 | The sweet spot here: genuinely musical studies with highlights like Arabesque, Innocence, Ballade, The Limpid Stream, and Farewell. | Mutopia | Complete set | |
| Tchaikovsky — Children's AlbumOp. 39 | Only three miniatures are available for playback here, including Morning Prayer, March of the Wooden Soldiers, and Old French Song. | IMSLP | Playlist | |
| Schumann — Album for the YoungOp. 68 | Twenty playable pieces from Schumann's collection, including The Happy Farmer, Soldier's March, and Knecht Ruprecht. | IMSLP | Complete set | |
| Czerny — 160 Eight-Measure ExercisesOp. 821 | Short technical drills covering scales, arpeggios, and articulation; this sampled set is complete here. | IMSLP | Selection |
Intermediate
More lyrical writing, with more voicing, legato, and expressive left-hand work.
| Name | Description | 🎼 Score | 📺 YouTube | 🎹 Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Heller — EtudesOp. 45 and Op. 46 | Melodic and progressive studies that are excellent for voicing, legato, and expressive playing. | Op. 45 | Op. 45 | Not playable |
| Friedrich Burgmuller — the next stepOp. 105 and Op. 109 | Richer and more harmonically varied than Op. 100, while keeping the same direct charm. | Op. 105 | Op. 105 | Not playable |
| Jean-Baptiste Duvernoy — Ecole primaireOp. 176 | A hidden gem for scales, broken chords, articulation, and hand coordination. | IMSLP | Complete | Not playable |
| Czerny — 50 Melodious ExercisesOp. 840 | A more melodic step up from Op. 821, moving through major and minor keys. | IMSLP | Search |
Late Intermediate
More speed, endurance, scales, and arpeggios on the way toward Romantic repertoire.
| Name | Description | 🎼 Score | 📺 YouTube | 🎹 Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Czerny — School of VelocityOp. 299 | Excellent for finger speed, endurance, scales, and arpeggios without being completely dry. | IMSLP | Complete | Not playable |
| Johann Baptist Cramer — 84 EtudesOpp. 30 and 40 | Old-fashioned on paper, still deeply musical in practice, and still recommended by pianists for a reason. | IMSLP | Playlist | Not playable |