Difficulty Guide
Our mission is to make classical music accessible, but we also respect the inherent complexity of the great masterpieces.
In general, every piece on this website is simplified.
However, music is a language of nuance. In many cases, very difficult pieces retain a degree of challenge even when transposed to an easier key or stripped of complex polyrhythms. To help you choose the right arrangement for your current skill level, we have categorized our catalogue into the following tiers.
Pre-Grade
This is a separate category designed specifically for those taking their first steps at the piano. The difficulty of these arrangements is not dependent on the complexity of the original work. They are significantly simplified, stripping away accompaniment to ensure that the core melody - the key recognition factor - remains the primary focus. Expect single-note melodies, very sparse bass lines, and no hand-stretching intervals.
Grade 1: The Foundation
At this level, the music begins to resemble standard piano texture but remains strictly ergonomic. The hands largely stay in fixed positions with minimal leaping. You will encounter simple hands-together playing, but the rhythms are straightforward (mostly quarter and half notes). These arrangements capture the "idea" of the piece without demanding finger independence or speed.
Grade 2: Developing Movement
Grade 2 introduces more movement across the keyboard. The student is expected to handle simple hand-position shifts and thumb-unders (scale-like passages). Harmony becomes fuller, often utilizing two-note intervals or broken chords in the left hand. While still simplified, the piece begins to sound more like a performance work and less like an exercise.
Grade 3: Intermediate Fluency
The bridge between beginner and intermediate. Grade 3 arrangements require the use of the pedal and a greater dynamic range. You will encounter three-note chords (triads), independent voices between the hands, and faster melodic runs. These pieces sound "complete" to an audience, retaining the emotional arc of the original composition while avoiding large interval stretches.
Grade 4: Expressive Control
For the confident player. These arrangements reintroduce some of the rhythmic complexities of the original works, such as triplets against eighth notes or syncopation. Expect octaves, arpeggios spanning more than an octave, and a requirement for expressive phrasing. While still easier than the original, Grade 4 pieces demand musical maturity and technical agility.
Grade 5: Advanced Arrangement
The highest level of our "simplified" catalogue. These are concert-ready arrangements that closely mirror the original textures but remove the most prohibitive barriers (such as 10th-interval stretches or extreme velocity). These pieces are challenging and rewarding, intended for pianists who want to produce a grand, professional sound without spending months mastering a single passage.