An optimistic and charming parlor waltz that highlights simple diatonic melodies. It is representative of community-focused recreational piano music.
Focus on the 'oom-pah-pah' feel of the left hand without overpowering the melodic line.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
Ashland the Beautiful is rated Henle level 2 of 9 — beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 2–3. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 3.
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 Ashland the Beautiful lasts about 3 minutes.
Ashland the Beautiful is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Autumn Waltz by Stephen Foster, At Twilight by Rudolf Friml, 'A robba fina! by Eduardo Di Capua — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.