Piano Method “Burgmüller”: Features and Tips for Improvement

As you continue studying piano, you’ll almost certainly hear the name “Burgmüller.”

The appeal lies in its gentle, beautiful melodies and the ability to develop a wide range of expressive skills, though some may worry, “It’s classical music, so isn’t it hard?” “Will I really be able to play it?”

This article clearly explains an overview of “Burgmüller,” its pros and cons, and effective practice methods.

You can now practice Hanon and Burgmüller with the “Textbook Excerpts” in the VR Piano Game!

Practice pieces excerpted from representative piano textbooks can now be played in the VR Piano Game. This allows even beginners who cannot read sheet music to enjoy learning basic techniques such as Hanon and Burgmüller through a fun piano game. もくじTextbook Excerpt Content<Hanon><Burgmüller><Czerny 30 Études Op.849><Inventions> (J.S. Bach)<Sonatina Album 1>ConclusionTextbook Excerpt Content <Hanon> No.1, No.5, […]

Burgmüller’s Studies

Piano Sheet Music for “La chevaleresque” (Burgmüller)

You can download the piano sheet music for Burgmüller’s “La chevaleresque” for free from the link below.

Piano Sheet Music for “Arabesque” (Burgmüller)

You can download the piano sheet music for Burgmüller’s “Arabesque” for free using the button below.

What Is the “Burgmüller” Piano Method?

History and Overview of Burgmüller

“Burgmüller” refers to piano studies by the German composer Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller, who was active in the 19th century.

The most famous is the “25 Easy and Progressive Studies,” which have the following characteristics:

Because of comments like “the melodies are beautiful” and “it fosters expressive playing,” the pieces are frequently assigned at the elementary–intermediate classical level.

Why Is Burgmüller So Well Known?

Many pieces enhance expressive ability
Each piece is evocative and has a beautiful melodic line. By imagining a story as you play, you naturally acquire expression.

A good balance of technique and musicality
Compared with Beyer or Czerny, it feels less “exercise-like,” and many pieces are musically satisfying.

A staple in education
It’s widely used in music schools and general education, making it a trusted method among teachers.

VR Piano Game

Even if you can’t read sheet music, you can play the piano.

Key Characteristics of Burgmüller

Pros

◯ Attractive for its beautiful melodies and titles
With memorable titles like “Arabesque,” “Angel’s Voices,” and “Grace,” it’s easy to capture the sound image.

◯ Develop expression and technique simultaneously
The structure makes it easy to learn not only basic skills—right-hand melody, left-hand accompaniment patterns, pedaling—but also phrasing and expressive shaping.

◯ Ideal for stepping up from beginner to intermediate
Often taken up after finishing Beyer, its lyricism motivates learners who “want to play more beautifully.”

Cons

◻︎ For an “exercise,” some pieces can feel musically demanding
Because beautiful melody and expression are required, merely playing the notes can feel insufficient.

◻︎ Fingerings can be intricate in some pieces
Beginners may find wide stretches or scale runs a bit challenging.

◻︎ As studies, they can be tough without solid rhythm/harmony basics
With a focus on “expression,” pieces may not flow smoothly if you haven’t grasped fundamental rhythm and harmonic structures.

Piano Method Book Features and Recommended Practice Order

When you decide to start learning piano, it’s easy to feel unsure about which method book to choose and in what order you should practice. In this article, we’ve picked seven classic piano method books that are widely used as you step up from beginner to intermediate and advanced: “Burnam,” “Beyer,” “Burgmüller,” “Czerny,” “Hanon,” “Inventions,” […]

Effective Ways to Study with Burgmüller

Here are practice tips for Burgmüller and ways to stay motivated.

Practice Tips

◯ Clarify the image of the piece
Expand on the title and decide what scenes or emotions you want to express to achieve more contrasted, meaningful performance.

◯ Practice by phrases
Since pieces are moderately short, divide them into sections (like verse A / verse B) for efficient practice.
• Practice right-hand melody and left-hand accompaniment separately
• Work phrase by phrase: start slowly, then raise the tempo gradually

◯ Be mindful of dynamics
Burgmüller’s pieces include detailed dynamics and expression markings. Don’t just follow the notated instructions—also listen closely to the resonance to create a three-dimensional performance.

How to Stay Motivated

◯ Start with your favorites
Within the 25 studies, begin with pieces you like—such as “Arabesque,” “Grace,” or “Ballade”—to keep practice enjoyable.

◯ Record finished pieces regularly
Beyond checking completeness, comparing recordings later helps you notice growth, boosting motivation.

◯ Set repertoire-building goals
For example, “Finish three pieces this month” or “Master ten pieces within six months.” Goals based on piece count make it easier to sustain practice.

Comparing Burgmüller with Other Piano Methods

Burnam

Difficulty / Stage: Introductory to beginner

Key features
Short mini-pieces with stick-figure illustrations let you learn melody and rhythm fundamentals enjoyably.

Who is it for?
Use as a warm-up before starting Beyer or Burgmüller to more smoothly acquire finger independence and movement.

Stick Figures Make Learning Fun! Features of the “Burnam” Piano Method and Tips for Improvement

“Burnam” is a piano method book that allows beginners through intermediate players to build core technique while having fun. It’s especially known for its distinctive illustrations featuring stick-figure characters, thoughtfully designed to boost motivation—particularly for children, but also for a wide range of learners. This article clearly explains the features of “Burnam,” how to study […]

Beyer

Difficulty / Stage: Beginner

Key features
• Systematically builds foundational piano skills
• Many simple pieces—ideal for solidifying note reading and fingering

Who is it for?
• Total beginners and self-taught starters
• Those wanting to firmly establish the foundations of classical music

Piano Method “Beyer”: Key Features and Tips for Improvement

When you’re thinking of starting piano, one of the most frequently recommended books is the piano method “Beyer.” It’s said to help you build fundamentals that apply widely from classical to popular music, but many people may worry, “Isn’t it an old method and therefore hard?” “Does it really work?” This article clearly explains an […]

Hanon

Difficulty / Stage: Useful from beginners learning fundamentals through advanced players

Key features
• Intensively strengthens finger agility with repeated patterns like scales and arpeggios
• With little melody content, it’s ideal for warm-ups and reinforcing weak techniques

Who is it for?
• Those who want to increase finger independence and agility
• Those who want to stabilize core technique for later studies (Czerny, Inventions, etc.)

The Hanon Piano Method: Features and Tips for Improvement (Finger Training)

Hanon is a collection of exercises highly regarded as the go-to method for building technique when learning the piano. Because it intensively trains finger agility through scales, arpeggios, repeated notes, and more, it’s widely used from beginners to advanced players. This article clearly explains the overview and characteristics of the piano method “Hanon,” along with […]

Czerny

Difficulty / Stage: Broad range from beginner to advanced (e.g., Op. 849, 40, 50 depending on set)

Key features
• Effectively builds finger independence and advanced techniques
• More about practice elements than musical interest

Who is it for?
• Players who want to train technique thoroughly
• Those who want to conquer fast passages, scales, and repeated notes

Piano Method “Czerny”: Features and Tips for Improvement

The set of studies known as “Czerny” is practically synonymous with technical exercises, and most piano learners have heard the name at least once. However, because of its image as a book that “focuses purely on building technique,” many people worry that it might be “too difficult” or “monotonous and hard to keep up.” This […]

Inventions (Bach)

Difficulty / Stage: After Burgmüller or Czerny Op. 849 and beyond to intermediate+

Key features
• Studies in characteristic Baroque polyphony (two and three voices)
• Develops advanced technique by moving both hands independently

Who is it for?
• Those who want to become comfortable with polyphony and pursue more dimensional playing
• Players seeking deeper expressive power in classical music

Piano Method “Inventions (Bach)”: Features and Tips for Improvement

Bach’s “Inventions” are one of the essential method books you can’t skip if you want to study classical music in depth. They’re said to be ideal for honing advanced performance technique and musical expression—such as “moving the hands independently” and “distinguishing multiple voices”—but many players may feel they look intimidating. This article clearly explains the […]

Sonatina Album

Difficulty / Stage: Alongside Czerny Op. 849 and Inventions to intermediate

Key features
• Includes Classical-era sonatinas by Haydn, Mozart, etc.
• Learning sonata-form basics deepens structural understanding

Who is it for?
• Learners who want to absorb Classical style and move on to advanced classics
• Those who want deeper study of musical form and theory

Piano Method “Sonatina Album”: Features and Tips for Improvement

The “Sonatina Album” is a piano method book that focuses on small-scale Classical sonatas (sonatinas). It is known as an important volume for stepping up to the “intermediate level” for learners who have finished Beyer, Burgmüller, Czerny, Inventions, and the like. This article clearly explains the Sonatina Album’s overview, characteristics, and tips for improving. もくじWhat […]

An Example Study Flow

Of course, the order will vary depending on the learner’s goals and instructional approach.

Many people study popular music in parallel, so plan flexibly.

Next Steps After Burgmüller: Study Plans for Intermediate and Beyond

Recommended Books & Repertoire After Finishing Burgmüller

◯ Czerny
Add more advanced finger technique to the expressive skills developed with Burgmüller. Choosing sets like the 30 or 40 studies will reliably level you up.

◯ Inventions (Bach)
Through polyphonic practice, you’ll sharpen your ear for layered lines and improve hand independence, enabling more refined expression.

◯ Sonatinas
Challenge standard Classical pieces and learn the basics of sonata form to move smoothly on to larger works like Beethoven’s.

Combining with Lessons and Online Study

◯ In-person lessons
With a teacher, you can fine-tune touch and expression more smoothly, which also helps maintain motivation.

◯ Online lessons
Convenient real-time guidance from home—easy to continue even for busy learners or those far from a studio.

Summary: How to Make the Most of the “Burgmüller” Piano Method

The “Burgmüller” piano method offers a balanced way to learn both expressive musicianship and basic technique through gentle, beautiful melodies and diverse character pieces.

It’s recommended for those stepping up from Beyer who want to level up steadily while enjoying the music itself.

As you master Burgmüller’s pieces, you’ll acquire many performance skills, including reading, rhythm, and pedaling.

Keep learning with enjoyment—record your performances to review them, and get feedback in lessons where possible.

You can now practice Hanon and Burgmüller with the “Textbook Excerpts” in the VR Piano Game!

Practice pieces excerpted from representative piano textbooks can now be played in the VR Piano Game. This allows even beginners who cannot read sheet music to enjoy learning basic techniques such as Hanon and Burgmüller through a fun piano game. もくじTextbook Excerpt Content<Hanon><Burgmüller><Czerny 30 Études Op.849><Inventions> (J.S. Bach)<Sonatina Album 1>ConclusionTextbook Excerpt Content <Hanon> No.1, No.5, […]