Buddy

William Conrad Polla

RomanticObscurecapriceF majorAllegro2/4~3 min
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 4

About this piece

Buddy is a brisk, lighthearted piece by William Conrad Polla, likely written as a piano novelty for the popular market. It features a percussive right hand and a rhythmic left-hand foundation typical of American parlor music of the era.

Teacher notes

Maintain rhythmic integrity during the faster sections, ensuring the left hand does not rush.

Technical focus

speed-agilityarticulationleft-hand-independence

Mood

energeticplayful

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Buddy

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Browse all Henle level 3 pieces (Late beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Buddy by William Conrad Polla?

Buddy is rated Henle level 3 of 9 — late beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 4–5. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.

What level do I need to play Buddy?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 3 — meaning you can already play level 2–3 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Buddy?

A typical performance of Buddy lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Buddy?

Buddy is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Buddy?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Broadway Rag by William Conrad Polla, Black Sheep by William Conrad Polla, Blinking Moon by William Conrad Polla — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.