Find Your Piano Level - From Beginner to Advanced

Ever wondered where you stand on the piano proficiency scale? Are you a late beginner? Or intermediate pianist? How are you supposed to know what level of piano music to play?
No more guesswork-let's find out what level you are today! I'm breaking down each level to shed light on where you stand: Beginner, Late Beginner, Early Intermediate, Intermediate, Late Intermediate, and Advanced.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:06 Beginner
2:23 Late Beginner
4:12 Early Intermediate
6:14 Intermediate
8:23 Late Intermediate
10:27 Advanced

[@embrown23]

Early intermediate pianist (now I know!), but advanced video producer. Compliments to your beautiful lighting!

[@svn1904]

I love watching piano vids on KZbin, but few people actually know something about music. And you are damn sure one of them!! First off: you know that Etude/Prelude in G wasn’t written by JS Bach but by Petzold, and you knew that Für Elise and Moonlight Sonate (movement I) aren’t pieces for beginners. You earned a sub, keep up the good work!!!

[@katttttt]

10:38 yea let's try Mazeppa ;)🎉

[@jeffwhite11]

get well soon Susan, I always look forward to your post, it's very true that it's difficult to find what level your at, for me i went to the abrsm books and then used that to find the right composer, so far it has worked fairly well. At the moment i use the grade 4 pieces which to take me around a couple of days to learn and then a couple more days to nail, practicing around 2 hours a day. I am shortly going to step it up to grade 5 pieces 🤞🤞

[@MoiAujourdhui]

Self-taught here, and I’m working through your Major/Minor scale challenges right now. I really appreciate this breakdown, even if it sets me back around late-beginner, early-intermediate. 😂 Hope your health improves quickly! Thanks so much for your teaching, I really appreciate this channel. ❤

[@linyoung7616]

Thank you for this "know thyself" video😢. I studied (struggled with reading the music) piano when I was 9 and havnt played at all for 50 years. Been re learning for about 6 month now and today aftee watching your "late beginer" 'tests" I know my level ..😢😢😢😢 😅. Your video is very helpful. Thank you!❤

[@marjoriesell8079]

I restarted playing the piano after years without one. I took lessons as a child and a few years as a teenager. I never learned chords. Mostly learned from Thompson graded books. I started working on Poet and the Peasant as a teen, but never could play the last several pages. 55 years later I finally can play the whole thing! So I figure without knowing chords I'm still a beginner? But Poet and Peasant Overture is no cakewalk! I'd like to know where you think I stand. I can play 13 of 15 Scenes from Childhood by Schumann. Woo!

[@Hollycb12]

I 10000% agree with you about Gymnopédie! I tried to learn this as one of my first pieces a few hundred hours ago, and I gave up primarily because of the leaps not sounding musical at all (hahaha). I will probably revisit this piece again soon! (I have about 450 hours total practice time right now, self taught/youtube).

[@catcadenza2493]

Not sure I agree that the Mozart Sonata k 545 is late intermediate. Seems more like early advanced. Interesting video! One Beethoven sonata is late intermediate for sure and that is op 49 no 2. I would add another two categories, late advanced and virtuosic. I’m sure you are very well aware of all this but thought I’d add my thoughts

[@katttttt]

Yup lol, you can't pull Mazeppa/Feux follets out just because you're an advanced player. I mean you could learn it, but.. yea there are still gaps between advanced (virtuosic) players

[@user-od7nb8ey1c]

Very nice . Thank you … I do feel better about my progress… enjoying the journey… I do play a number of the pieces you mentioned…. Always learning and practicing but enjoying and loving the process … Chopin my favorite 🎹thank you for the explanation…. I feel better about where I am and level ..

[@orchestrain88keys]

Definitions of levels are clear and make complete sense. Thank you. Wanted to know which levels the following pieces correspond to: 1. Chopin waltz in C# minor (op 64 no 2) 2. Sibelius Etude (op 76 no 2)

[@bytemixsound]

To answer, Chopin's C# minor Waltz op. 64 no.2 is grade 6 in Henle's scale (Henle Verlag publications) So, on par with Chopin's Polonaise Dramatique (op. 26 no. 1 C# minor) or the Eb Major Nocturne op.9 no. 2. Also the F minor Nocturne op. 55 no. 1 which I'm starting to work on now in hopes of playing for the Fall recital. Henle 6 is solidly late intermediate, possibly blurring a just a little bit into early advanced repertoire depending on the piece. Mozart's D minor Fantasie K.397 (which I'm performing at our recital in June) is also Henle grade 6. Oh, and looking at the Sibelius Etude, seeing the intended tempo, movement and quick interval jumps in the left hand, and how constant they are, I'd say likely Henle grade 7 which would put it in the early advanced category. Even though Sibelius isn't published by Henle. It might be a grade 6, but I'd think that would be a very "late" grade 6 piece with the speed and the motions in the right hand, so more likely a grade 7. So I'd say either very late intermediate or earlier advanced repertoire. It's not unlike Chopin's Etude f minor op. 25,2 "The Bees" which is Henle grade 7.

[@tonimariegarcia5772]

Susan, thank you so much for making the levels clear. I’m working through your Piano Roadmap, and it’s so helpful to me, since I’m doing this on my own. I’m at the beginning level. 🥰

[@PianoRoadmap]

❤️

[@ashtonhunter4727]

First video of yours I've seen and it was fabulous! Will definitely check out more

[@Zagginair]

As a fellow teacher, I find it fascinating to hear what other teachers use to measure “levels.” In my opinion, I feel like there’s a big jump from the skills described from Late Beginner to Early Intermediate. I might split the Beginner levels into 3 parts as well, Early, Mid, and Late. And then I might use your description for Late Beginner as a Mid-Beginner and bridge the gap a little better to Early Intermediate. All that being said, I do agree with quite a few things mentioned here! I just wish there was more technique addressed than just balancing hands or voicing to mark levels.

[@katttttt]

What for techniques? :)

[@sonic2000gr]

Just found more than a couple of interesting pieces for my level right here. Thank you so much!

[@dgiamp]

Thank you for always posting very informative videos. I hope you feel better soon :)

[@leeciap]

Hi Susan, I'm wondering if you could comment on, or perhaps even make a short video on, the challenges of learning on a digital piano. I do, and I am somewhat aware of its shortcomings but they are about to come into sharper focus as I am going to start in person lessons in 3 or 4 weeks and like most instructors she has an acoustic piano. This will be a new challenge to add to my late beg/early int practice. And to my budget as well as I know it will make me desperately want an acoustic (i already do). Incidently I have a fair quality digital, good for its price range of about $600, a yamaha P225. I am 61, but if my R thumb joint will hold up (and all else) I plan to play for many more years. Thank you for your generous content.

[@giasghanbari7128]

Thank you so much! This was very informative. I hope you feel better soon

[@lalitgidwani6179]

Thoughtfully done and very informative.

[@cristiancanales9894]

Your voice was as lovely as always is. Great video ! 👏🏻

[@erwandiping6167]

I learn piano for 20 weeks, practice 10 hours / week. Now i am working with Beyer opus 101, on exercise 24, Hanon exercise 3, Faber piano adventure for adult 1, page 80, also faber clasic song and popular song And my teacher said i am at prepatory level, and i need another 20 weeks to be ready to join lv 1 So can you make another illustration for pre beginner, earlier beginner, beginner, and late beginner? I believe many people are beginner Also may be there is a playlist video for each level, so i can find which video i should watch

[@MusicDive-ex7mi]

Wait, what you are doing? Go to bed -- YT can wait -- with good book and big mug with hot tea 🙂 Thank you for the video though, the pieces examples are very useful. And seriously, take care!

[@anonymike8280]

I've used the terms rank beginner, intermediate beginner and advanced beginner. I'm intermediate beginner, A rank beginner is someone who comes in knowing nothing about music. Does that mean that a person with some background in music, be it vocal or instrumental, automatically comes in as an intermediate beginner? Well, I would say so. An advanced beginner is someone who can play some simple compositions, play scales and arpeggios well and play more advanced exercises. Three levels of intermediate also, low intermediate, just plain intermediate, and advanced intermediate. Then you get advanced. How advanced depends on what you can play and how well you can play it. That's my scheme of things. It's how I will grade myself as I move along in the keyboard world.

[@trevorweir1278]

Hope you feel better. Thank you for the guidance. I know now where I should be in the process. Thanks again

[@dunnkruger8825]

FINALLY- I’m self-teaching wandering-around aimlessly- your experience gives guidance goals. THANKS ❤

[@jakeblack212]

Ditto

[@darcierich888]

❤Thank you so much Susan this video is really Great! and help to clear my mind so much. Wishing you get well very soon.

[@mozartrn1]

Very much enjoy your videos and your soothing voice (:. I do have a teacher and also a couple beginner students and am learning from you as well. Thank you specifically for this video - I appreciate the recommendation to play pieces at several levels and am attempting to prevent burnout. Thank you again!

[@amanbhardwaj8172]

thankyou 🌱

[@Reuben-]

Thank you for your informative videos. They are so well presented. Thank you!!

[@PianoRoadmap]

Thanks so much for your support, and glad they're helpful!

[@harrok38]

😮😢 oh my, not very encouraging, this being my third week, but I am enjoying just my simple exercises, enjoying the journey rather than an end goal at my age:86

[@zekiyezeynepsahin9449]

Keep going…I am 78 and at intermediate level…Have fun…❤

[@leeciap]

I'm older too, just make challenging yourself fun! Hang in there. Progress is always slow at all levels. Once you can sight read even simple pieces your fun will increase I promise!

[@andybarker8787]

You don’t need to take this long. Learn chords not notes and you’ll be able to play songs much more quickly. The classical approach outlined in this video is designed to take years and even decades to progress through. It doesn’t have to take anywhere near this long to learn. If you focus on chords you can learn to play thousands of songs in just a few months.

[@leeciap]

@@andybarker8787 It's an entirely different mindset to want to play an instrument reading only lead sheets and not music. I used the Pianote platform so I've been introduced to both and strongly dislike the lead sheet/chord route. It works for many, not me, I enjoy the challenge of sight reading, classical music, and prefer to take the slower classical route.

[@Hollycb12]

​@@leeciap I agree, although figuring out and playing chords along with songs I love by ear is still fun. But I would never want to just stop there!

[@josephineford9886]

Very informative

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

Much needed. Much appreciated. I particularly appreciate the notion that one's skills may span two or more levels. So true. Love the suggested repertoire. My problems include punch-outs, such as pedalling and ornaments. Sigh.

[@Magerramus]

started my journey 4 month ago. so im between late beginner and early intermediate.would be good if you would make a video with MORE pieces for each level. Because we beginners really struggle to find good stuff to play

[@brendamengeling4653]

I hope you are feeling better! Thank you. I have been playing my scales with a metronome for the past two months. I had some metronome trauma as a young violinist, but with a digital metronome I can keep the volume low, and that helps. And so does doing scales with a metronome!! What I would like a video on, is a way to get competent at playing the melody hand louder than the accompaniment. Most of the exercises I’ve seen keep one in a five-finger position, playing a single note at a time. That hasn’t translated for me to actual music.

[@mfurman]

Very helpful. Thank you. It actually is very much comparable with my teacher’s curriculum, as far as the levels of playing is concerned. On the other hand, The Wild Horseman is RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) Level 4 (Intermediate)

[@shivaramakrishna4948]

Playing piano was always my dream mam 😊. Thank for fulfilling it mam❤.

[@gordonogle1288]

Very good - puts it in perspective, I'm way ahead in technique and knowledge and way way behind in playing capability - difficult to be honest with oneself in the self teach world.

[@lonelycrescendo]

I looove the Venetian boat song 😊

[@comepletely]

I came from the roadmap from 2 years ago and Susan looks more beautiful than ever

[@shelleywhite4829]

Feel better 🩷

[@ninarogers1426]

Thank you! I always feel a little pretentious if I say I play at an advanced level. Would love to know whether I’m “early advanced” or later, though it probably doesn’t matter in the end. 😊

[@shermiesdad]

Hope you’re feeling better Susan! This was very informative. Thanks! BTW, I really like the “fuzzy slippers” pedaling! Does that make the sustain softer? 🙄

[@PianoRoadmap]

Hehe, not really, but I highly recommend always practicing with fuzzy slippers. The "poofier", the better!

[@Aerospace_Education]

I would be interested in a video that breaks down the advanced phases more. There is obviously very great differences in the pieces beyond the later intermediate levels. I'm doing Bach Inventions right now now but still consider myself at that middle intermediate level.

[@christophs.3869]

This is great for classical pianists. Not so great if you started out only focusing on playing blues and jazz piano. Sight reading and practicing scales up and down is not really emphasized at all. Would be really interesting to see a video like this but specifically for genre other than classical.

[@Domstraight]

I agree with you

[@Domstraight]

I play piano i can improvise in all 12 keys and i dont plays classical piece

[@perevicco]

Thanks for this description.. very helpful delineation of skills. One question, is reading music correlated to abilities on these levels? It does seem there are non-traditional learning journies, where people learn techniques far ahead of their ability to read. Many of the techniques seem correlated from a development standpoint in the different level, but I am curious as to whether reading level should be distinguished from playing level?

[@darivox]

Thanks a lot! Don't care about your voice... I'm from Brazil and I could understand everything nicely!

[@bh5606]

Feel better.

[@andybarker8787]

Where do you put ear training and improvisation to be able to break the over reliance on scores? A large number of students want to learn to play popular pieces not just classical scores. Where do they get taught to transpose, arrange and express themselves through music they love? People learn a classical style then get stuck with terrible publications of scores for none classical repertoire which makes it hard for them to be creative.

[@unotoli]

Get well Susan, thank you for very interesting and helpful video for the beginners. P.S. I hope you are well and strong at the time of posting this video.

[@PianoRoadmap]

Thank you! Yes, this weekend I've begun to feel human again!

[@user-iz2sc9dz1f]

My sister, the Lord bless you for being a blessing to many. I wish you a very speedy recovery. Please, drink a lot of water, fruits, have enough sleep and rest from time to time.

[@LuizFilhoba]

I know this is nearly impossible, but given someone studying 1 hour a day, there would a way to estimate how long in your experience it would take to reach those levels? at least to intermediate?

[@WaynePower-fw4qz]

Do you teach piano on line ?

[@jeffreygreen7860]

Nice channel and the scratchy throat always seems to make a woman's voice seem lower and sexier, sort of like the Prentiss(sp?) sisters. Not sure if you will consider that a plus. Anyway, it's sad that there is so little time to soak up all the good piano channels on YT. Each seems to have something unique to offer. As it is, most of my time goes towards my in town teacher and once-a-year ~6 month on line class that draws my available energy down to about zero towards the end. I'm sort of at the early intermediate to intermediate stage and will definitely look at your piece suggestions from time to time. Thanks for being here to help.

[@Paul-lm5gv]

Very informative. Thank you! Chord patterns, key signatures, understanding inversions etc. - all that technical stuff - can be discouraging and is not always necessary for one to be able to actually PLAY and enjoy music! I have learned a bunch of classical, hymns and popular songs over the years - music that I like - not by enduring the drudgery of learning traditional piano fundamentals like Hanon exercises but actually PLAYING the notes on the sheet of music. Practice, practice, practice and as with all endeavors good things - progress - happens! It helps that I played an instrument in school. For a common sense approach to this topic: (KZbin) How Can You Determine What Level Pianist You Are? LivingPianosVideos

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Bonne rétablissement.

[@PianoRoadmap]

Thank you ❤️ Feeling much better now.

[@marcs6928]

Hello Susan, new subscriber as of today. Thank you for this informative video! I've been an adult on and off pianist for many years and I've been recently feeling that familiar void of not having music in my life after a hiatus of about 7 years now. I've always struggled with understanding my "level" and, as you alluded to, I've often crossed the boundaries beyond my true level just to try, often fail , only to end up scurrying back to simpler pastures! Your explanations made sense and helped validate my personal assessment of my level which I'd place as intermediate. Although not explicitly discussed in your video, I believe you made a vague reference to our "technical" skill level as something that would naturally progress as our level of proficiency progresses. However, I'm curious to better understand how you'd assess hand independence, speed of execution in scales, arpeggios and other exercises as well as being able to reach the metronome indications in a given piece of music. I do struggle with this and find it difficult, especially when focusing on "technique" exercises, to see any significant progress. Looking forward to any feedback you can share. Thanks again for the content and I'm looking forward to viewing past and future content. Marc

[@LeRoskal]

You can be a late beginner and know things from intermediate etc Categories are not so limited

[@ameer6168]

How can i be the combination of late beginner , early intermediate and intermediate.

[@shamrackle3712]

This was somewhat discouraging. I am only partially an late beginner, but I think I have some of the content/skills/understandings of higher levels. Fortunately, I am not learning piano to survive or pay bills, but for the joy of it. That said, I also don’t want to waste what little time I have on the planet. The truth is the truth, though, so I just need to go into my closet now and cry myself to sleep. 😭

[@Joshsclips]

If I could read sheet music as well as I can play in terms of physical/technical skill, muscle memory, and touch; and if I could read music as well as I understand theory concepts, I’d already be considered “advanced.” Unfortunately, I wasn’t classically trained as a child so I don’t read music like a second language the way a lot of pianists do (benefits of those who were privileged enough to get lessons as a kid, I guess). So frustrating to know so much but not be able to apply it. I can play by ear significantly better than attempting to read sheet music. Hell, give me a KZbin synthesia video and let me watch it a few times, guarantee I’ll have better success than reading sheet music. It’s such a shame and really aggravating! Anyone with suggestions, let me know

[@beautyintheskies]

Playing for almost 5 years and i’m a late beginner oh great

[@keys6]

Four years and early beginner!!! However...I did tick some boxes in the late beginner section...ie I can do most scales hands together x 4 oct...

[@jakeblack212]

I'm beginner

[@lonelycrescendo]

Lol my playing is late intermediate but my theory is late beginner *sigh*

[@nathanarcher6764]

Find your ego boost in 1,2,3

[@christianflierl8570]

I can play Great Balls of Fire. What does that make me?

[@gunorijssel7987]

"My voice isn't always like this." Last time a female on the internet had the same problem, she was pregnant. So.....in all honesty: are you pregnant??????

[@benkasminbullock]

I think that question is rather intrusive.

[@gunorijssel7987]

Didn't know that pregnancy is akin to some 'illness'. Honestly thought that we've long since passed that stage!

[@embrown23]

People lose pregnancies very frequently and many struggle to get and stay pregnant. So women choose to share whether they are pregnant or not only when they are comfortable to do so. It isn’t polite to ask someone to share that, particularly on KZbin. Now you know!

[@embrown23]

Also, asking anyone to share their health status publicly is intrusive.