Butterflies

Arthur Steinke

RomanticObscureromanceC majorAllegretto3/4~2 min
H2
Henle (estimated)
RCM 3ABRSM 2

About this piece

This is a lighthearted salon piece by Arthur Steinke characteristic of early 20th-century pedagogical literature. It is distinctive for its simple melodic structure and charming, approachable harmonic language.

Teacher notes

Focus on maintaining a consistent, light articulation to capture the fluttering character of the butterfly.

Technical focus

articulationfinger-independencecantabilepedaling

Mood

playfulgentle

Listen & watch

No video available for this piece.

Your status

Not in your repertoire

Sign in to track this piece

Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Butterflies

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

Browse all Henle level 2 pieces (Beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Butterflies by Arthur Steinke?

Butterflies is rated Henle level 2 of 9 — beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 2–3. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 3.

What level do I need to play Butterflies?

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.

How long is Butterflies?

A typical performance of Butterflies lasts about 2 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Butterflies?

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

What pieces are similar to Butterflies?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Arroz con leche by Anonymous, 18 German Dances and Esoccaises by Franz Schubert, 18 German Dances and Ecossaises by Franz Schubert — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.