MusicCoach difficulty
55/100
Intermediate
Level of the complete work
We have no level specific to this movement. The figure above is that of the complete work: within a cycle, movements often differ widely in demand.
Estimated skills
Theory
Knowledge of forms
1
Technique
Hand independence
1
Technique
Legato
1
Technique
Fast passages
1
Interpretation
Phrasing
1
Style
Classical style
1
What to play next?
Each suggestion combines difficulty gap, risk, confidence and skill overlap. The first two cards in each column are the most useful pedagogically.
Gentle step
The safest next step.
Gentle
Piano Sonata in A major, D. 664
Franz Schubert
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Style classique and Passages rapides — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Gentle
Württembergische Sonata b minor Wq 49,6
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Indépendance des mains — practise it slowly and hands separately before any attempt at tempo: that is where tension builds up.
Balanced step
A genuine step up, without a jolt.
Balanced
Piano Sonata A flat major D 557
Franz Schubert
partial transfer
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Analyse harmonique and Style classique — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Balanced
Piano Sonata C major Hob. XVI:48
Franz Joseph Haydn
close skills
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Analyse harmonique and Style classique — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Ambitious challenge
A useful leap with guided practice.
Challenge
Piano Sonata in E flat major, D.568, op. posth.122
Franz Schubert
partial transfer
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Advanced (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Analyse harmonique and Polyphonie à trois voix ou plus — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Challenge
Piano Sonata no. 13 in A major, D.664, op. 120
Franz Schubert
partial transfer
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Advanced (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Analyse harmonique and Indépendance des mains — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Same level
Same level
Moment Musical Op.94 No.6 in A-flat major
Franz Schubert
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Intermediate (around grade 6 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. The demand here is musical rather than mechanical: Nuances — the notes will be secure long before the musical line: work in whole phrases, singing the main voice.
Same level
3-Part Inventions, BWV.787-801
Johann Sebastian Bach
new reflexes
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Intermediate (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. What changes is the skill in play: Style baroque and Ornements baroque — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Same level
Variation on a Waltz by A. Diabelli D 718
Franz Schubert
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Intermediate (around grade 5 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. What changes is the skill in play: Analyse harmonique and Passages rapides — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
The Allegro moderato presents a clear, singing atmosphere where the piano line breathes like an intimate voice rather than a virtuosic engine, with melodic exchanges that call for lightness and natural flow. Technically, focus on Phrasing (2.5/5): you will need to shape long singing lines with subtle shifts of weight and dynamics so each phrase breathes, and on Knowledge of Forms (2.5/5): understanding the sonata structure helps anticipate exposition, development and recapitulation to balance energy and articulate repeats and transitions correctly. The piece occupies a place in Schubert's piano output as a lyrical, formally clear sonata movement rather than a showpiece. I do not cite a reference interpretation here out of caution.