This piece adapts the rhythmic tropes of the cakewalk into a more formal structure set in D major. It is notable for its upbeat energy and traditional cadential gestures.
Ensure precise rhythm in the left-hand accompaniment to support the syncopated right-hand figures.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
Cakewalk No. 1 in D major is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 4.
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.
A typical performance of Cakewalk No. 1 in D major lasts about 3 minutes.
Cakewalk No. 1 in D major 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 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.