Cake-Walk

Kerry Mills

ModernSpecialistmarchF majorAllegro2/4~3 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 4ABRSM 4

About this piece

Kerry Mills' At a Georgia Camp Meeting is one of the most famous cakewalks that helped bridge ragtime and early popular piano styles. It is distinguished by its infectious, march-like syncopation and bouncy melodic figures.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge is maintaining a steady, driving tempo while executing sharp syncopations in both hands.

Technical focus

speed-agilityarticulationleft-hand-independence

Mood

energeticplayful

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Cake-Walk

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

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Cake-Walk by Kerry Mills?

Cake-Walk is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 4.

What level do I need to play Cake-Walk?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 4 — meaning you can already play level 3–4 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 Cake-Walk?

A typical performance of Cake-Walk lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Cake-Walk?

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

What pieces are similar to Cake-Walk?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include 12 Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je, Maman" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alexander's Ragtime Band by Irving Berlin, Waltz in D-flat major, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.