Byerly's Waltz

William Byerly

ClassicalObscurewaltzC majorModerato3/4~3 min
H3
Henle (estimated)
RCM 4ABRSM 3

About this piece

Byerly’s Waltz is a classic example of American frontier-era piano music. It is marked by simple, balanced periods and a traditional accompanying left-hand texture.

Teacher notes

Work on achieving a clean, detached sound in the right-hand melody against the steady left-hand accompaniment.

Technical focus

alberti-bassarticulationfinger-independence

Mood

elegantgentle

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Byerly's Waltz

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 Byerly's Waltz by William Byerly?

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

What level do I need to play Byerly's Waltz?

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 Byerly's Waltz?

A typical performance of Byerly's Waltz lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Byerly's Waltz?

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

What pieces are similar to Byerly's Waltz?

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