Cinderella

William Conrad Polla

RomanticObscureromance~3 min

About this piece

A light-hearted piano composition by William Conrad Polla, likely intended for teaching or amateur performance. It relies on standard harmonic progressions and simple tuneful themes.

What makes it challenging

At Henle 2 this is a beginner-level piece, where steady coordination between the hands is the main hurdle. The main demands: a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; careful pedaling — clarity depends on the foot as much as the fingers; and precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece.

Teacher notes

Pay attention to clean articulation and light phrasing to capture the whimsical character of the piece.

Technical focus

cantabilepedalingarticulation

Mood

playfulelegant

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

What to play around Cinderella

Similar to Cinderella

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

Easier, same character

A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.

The next step up

Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.

Browse all Henle level 2 pieces (Beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Cinderella by William Conrad Polla?

Cinderella 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 Cinderella?

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 Cinderella?

A typical performance of Cinderella lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Cinderella?

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

What pieces are similar to Cinderella?

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