Recommended Recordings

Last Updated on 2022-11-26 | Originally Posted on 2022-03-22

This page is intended to give my piano students opportunities to listen to others perform their own pieces, as well as do some general listening of other works. It’s in the process of being filled with lots of good stuff!

Many of the repertoire books I recommend, like the Alfred Masterworks and FJH Festival, have recordings available on the included CD or via a download code. Please check those resources first, since this list is focused on repertoire where no recordings are included.

In many cases, the tempos might be a lot faster than you will eventually play them. Click on the gear icon at the bottom of the YouTube window to adjust the playback speed.

I have not included a comprehensive listing below of Piano Safari recordings, since that’s available on the dedicated Piano Safari YouTube Channel. Choose a Piano Safari book from the list, and then you’ll see an entire list of pieces from that book on the right side of the window.

IDComposerTitleCommentsArtistURL
20Adams, John C.Nixon in China: Excerpts from Act 1Great example of contemporary compositional style called minimalismMetropolitan Operahttps://youtu.be/rFnQrbVV3_U
28Andre (André), JohannSonatina in C Major, Op. 34, No. 1, Mvt. 1UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/iibhBsU5Hf8
29Andre (André), JohannSonatina in C Major, Op. 34, No. 1, Mvt. 2UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/r9m91ynRuTo
17Attwood, ThomasSonatina in G Major, Mvt 1UI Piano Ped ProjectJason Siffordhttps://youtu.be/DLYMKBR0Adw
18Attwood, ThomasSonatina in G Major, Mvt 2UI Piano Ped ProjectJason Siffordhttps://youtu.be/KEBFU_Ja2S0
19Attwood, ThomasSonatina in G Major, Mvt 3UI Piano Ped ProjectJason Siffordhttps://youtu.be/RFMTNiaEF54
4Bach, CPESolfeggiettoRIAM Exams (Royal Irish)Réamonn Kearyhttps://youtu.be/QbsRmGBTBc8
30Bastien, JaneMini Sonatina in C MajorVery few choices, but this one on a Yamaha Clavinova will do just fine.Stephanie's Studiohttps://youtu.be/KZVxXJCrkiM
21Beethoven, Ludwig vonSonatina in F Major, Anh. 5, No. 2Very few adult choices; this one is good!Clark Bryanhttps://youtu.be/SbbXLi5dQ4U
12Beethoven, Ludwig vonTurkish March from The Ruins of Athens, Op. 113An arrangement of this is found at the end of the Faber 2B Lesson Book.Berlin Philharmonic / Claudio Abbadohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j61TVbCj_w&t=1038s
8Bernstein, SeymourElegant Torreador, TheIt's a bit quick, but as always a solid performance from the UI Pedagory Project.Alan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/ZItt6kSqTJw
22Biehl, AlbertSonatina in C Major, Op. 57, No. 1, Mvt. 1UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/plmFNfwbhoU
23Biehl, AlbertSonatina in C Major, Op. 57, No. 1, Mvt. 2UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/zczA3pRvk90
33Burgmuller (Burgmüller), Friederich25 Progressive Etudes, Op. 100UI Piano Ped Project - Links are available on this page for each of the 25 études.Alan Huckleberryhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1EF6ADC4BB93D8E4
15Carmichael, HoagyHeart and Soul (4 Hands, 1 Piano)Nice informal performance with some nice planned improvisation.Side Tracked Musicianshttps://youtu.be/vPdVgxfNr3Q
1Clementi, MuzioSonatina Op. 36, No. 1 in C MajorThis is a solid recording on a Steinway Model L.Cory Hallhttps://youtu.be/0_Ksi2qmW0A
2Diabelli, AntonSonatina Op. 151, No. 1 in G MajorIt's rare to find a celebrated concert pianist recording a piece that's mostly played by piano students. Enjoy!Cyprien Katsarishttps://youtu.be/9N324zJWwXg
3Diabelli, AntonSonatina Op. 151, No. 1 in G MajorThis recording is processed with MIDI to sound like it's played on a fortepiano, even though it was recorded on a modern piano.Salvatore Nicolosihttps://youtu.be/jrNTAcY8BfU
6Dvorak (Dvořák), AntoninSymphony No. 9, Mvt 2The first theme, with English Horn solo, is often arranged in beginner piano books.Münchner Philharmoniker, Sergiu Celibidachehttps://youtu.be/pHyN3izk38c
10English Folk SongBah Bah Black SheepFun video for younger kids playing the piece in Piano Safari Book One.Cocomelonhttps://youtu.be/MR5XSOdjKMA
34Fuchs, RobertTimid Little Heart, Op. 47, No. 5UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/_keCLQf9hA8
11Garner, ErrollMistyIt's hard to pick just one, so I picked the version that sounded most like the one I could hope to achieve. It's simple with lots of technical licks that are properly stylized.Jeff Williamshttps://youtu.be/s-UjwvJ0eeA
13Granados, EnriqueCuentos de la Juventud, Op. 1 (Stories from Childhood)Decent recording, albeit with that squeaky bench. Larrocha's recordings are split into 10 separate files, so I posted this instead.Jeremy Weissmannhttps://youtu.be/gmJDz_nPa8k
14Gurlitt, CorneliusMurmuring Brook, Op. 140, No. 5Love the sound of this recording and simplicity of interpretation.Norma Meishttps://youtu.be/mZ15fhF46Xc
42Gurlitt, CorneliusAllegretto in C Major, Op. 117, No. 9 aka Kitten PlayUI Piano Ped ProjectJason Siffordhttps://youtu.be/ETD4DC40tcU
43Gurlitt, CorneliusNight Journey, Op. 82, No. 65Decent recording a young piano studentAnonymoushttps://youtu.be/X-SU8l6LmqE
7Hague, JulieFred the FishGreat recording with very creative improvisation.Lukehttps://vimeo.com/manage/videos/644949249
35Hummel, Johann N.Allegro, Op. 52, No. 2House pianist for PianistMagazine.comChenyin Lihttps://youtu.be/QxMHdzE-tEM
36Kabalevsky, D.Scherzo, Op. 27, No. 14I enjoyed this energetic performance.Stephen Funghttps://youtu.be/7bdJi5p9iFE
44Kabalevsky, D.Clowns, Op. 39, No. 20UI Piano Ped ProjectJason Siffordhttps://youtu.be/2XrYlCWpRuo
45Kabalevsky, D.Galop, Op. 39, No. 18UI Piano Ped ProjectJason Siffordhttps://youtu.be/TkiGTCSCDBA
40Mozart, LeopoldBourlesqUI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/5ny3Tt4p_Sc
16Mozart, W.A.Sonata in C Major, K. 545Late career performance but still amazing control. Notice slow and even pacing of 1st mvt!Sviatoslav Richterhttps://youtu.be/qknbWY_i_1A?t=952
31Mozart, W.A.Sonata in A minor, K. 310Historic 1964 recording at Radio Canada in TorontoClaudio Arrauhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaVQ3wZK3cE&t=112s
32Mozart, W.A.Sonata in A minor, K. 310Young American pianist; 3rd place in Chopin International Competition 2016Kate Liuhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNPpmyCDOVE&t=467s
24Olson, L.F.Sonatina No. 5 in D Major, Mvt. 1UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/X4XspYXgUIw
25Olson, L.F.Sonatina No. 5 in D Major, Mvt. 2UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/AKPyFErJJTw
26Olson, L.F.Sonatina No. 5 in D Major, Mvt. 3UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/OXNVBXOfUCQ
27Olson, L.F.Sonatina No. 2 in F Major, CompleteDecent child recording. Listen to the UI Piano Ped Project for comparison.Noah Yinghttps://youtu.be/bATud9-CHco
37Olson, L.F.Sonatina No. 3 in A minor, Mvt. 1UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/z47_shRcqeo
38Olson, L.F.Sonatina No. 3 in A minor, Mvt. 2UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/DZHKqAxZUws
39Olson, L.F.Sonatina No. 3 in A minor, Mvt. 3UI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/VPZ8OrENlzY
5Reinagle, AlexanderAllegro in D Major, Op. 1, No. 18Good student performanceCaroline Wanghttps://youtu.be/_gwX-HU4Zgc
41Reinagle, AlexanderAllegretto, Op. 1, No. 5 aka Scherzino or DanceUI Piano Ped ProjectAlan Huckleberryhttps://youtu.be/MeAjvh_YFx8
9Stegman, JohnGreg and Alice and Their DogHighly repetitive, but it's cute an memorable to learn three of the white notes instantly.Juliet Lyons and Friendshttps://youtu.be/N46FFgxE6ns