How to Play Fur Elise on Piano

The name of Beethoven's famous solo composition is actually "Bagatelle in A Minor" and was written around 1810 when Beethoven was 40 years old. It's believed that the composer scrawled "fur Therese" (in German) on the original sheet music, dedicating the work to Therese Malfatti, a woman he was wooing at the time. Historians assume that Beethoven's terrible handwriting lead researchers to interpret the inscription as "fur Elise."

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Study the sheet music for "Fur Elise." Note that it's written in 3/8 time with harmonies of E major and A minor. Learn the first part with the theme played by the right hand and arpeggios on the left hand.

2. Master the first section. Move to the next section, which include C major and G major to broaden the harmonies. Note that the following section is faster and is written in F major. Mark this section on the sheet music for special attention.

3. Begin by practicing the piece with the right hand only. Achieve a substantial level of comfort with the right hand then practice the part for the left hand.

4. Start slowly and tackle the piece playing with both hands. Expect much practice to follow to master the piece.

5. Get comfortable with the mechanics of the composition and then work on the technical aspects. Make the piece personal by adding passion and dynamics to the performance.

6. Remember that practice does indeed make perfect. Practice daily. Be patient. Allow plenty of time to learn this complex piece.