Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Applicatio in C major' BWV 994 is a charming and accessible keyboard piece, often considered an early study or prelude. It demonstrates Bach's mastery of counterpoint and idiomatic keyboard writing, making it excellent for developing finger agility and harmonic awareness.
Develop clear contrapuntal lines and maintain a steady, even tempo with precise articulation.
Applicatio in C major (BWV 994) is rated Henle level 2 of 9 — beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 2–3. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 2 — meaning you can already play level 1–2 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of Applicatio in C major (BWV 994) lasts about 3.5 minutes.
Applicatio in C major (BWV 994) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.