Classical Piano: How to Play Für Elise

Learn to play Beethoven’s "Für Elise" with confidence in 30 days.

This four-week course teaches you a structured, step-by-step approach to playing one of the most iconic piano pieces ever composed, emphasizing essential chord progressions, hand positioning, and articulation. Each week, you’ll engage with carefully designed exercises and assignments that break down the piece into manageable sections, ensuring a deep and thorough understanding of both the technical and expressive aspects of the music.

By the end of the course, you'll have the confidence and skills to perform "Für Elise" in its entirety. You'll hone your ability to transition smoothly between hand positions, execute expressive articulations, and make interpretive choices that enhance your performance. This course will also help you develop your own artistic voice while staying true to the musical score.

Beyond technical mastery, you’ll explore the historical and cultural significance of "Für Elise" and its place within the Classical Period. Through discussions and guided analysis, you'll consider Beethoven’s compositional style, the evolution of the piano, and how historical context informs interpretation.

Whether you are playing for personal enjoyment or as a stepping stone toward more advanced piano study, you'll emerge from this course with a deeper appreciation for Beethoven’s music and a stronger command of the keyboard.

What you will learn:

✔	Play “Für Elise” fluently, incorporating proper fingerings, hand positions, and chord transitions
✔	Identify and apply essential music theory concepts, including major and minor chords, intervals, and chromatic scales
✔	Utilize effective practice strategies to enhance memorization, articulation, and interpretation of classical repertoire
✔	Analyze and interpret “Für Elise” within its historical and stylistic context, making informed artistic choices in performance

Prerequisite Skills

Completion of Piano & Keyboard Fundamentals 1 and Piano & Keyboard Fundamentals 2, or equivalent knowledge and/or experience.

Next Session

Jan. 12 - Feb. 8, 2026

Teen and adult sections

VIEW ALL DATES

Tuition

$299

Rates increases Jan. 1

Ages

Teens: Grades 6-12

Adult Learners: 18+

Expert guidance
Receive direct, personalized feedback from a professional artist.

Learn on your own schedule
Explore meaningful instruction in about five hours a week, over four weeks.

Collaborate
Work with your instructor and peers through messaging or optional real-time weekly classes.

Real growth
Develop artistic skills and projects that are important to you in 30 days.

Computer or mobile device with Internet and camera. Internet speed must be at least 1.5Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. For students using a mobile device, download the Canvas mobile app and select “Interlochen Online” as your school.
Electric or acoustic keyboard/piano, minimum of 61-keys
Sustain/damper pedal (an example can be found here)

No, course sections are designed for their respective age groups, either for adults (students 18 and older) or young people (students under 18).

Yes, there are eight sessions of courses per year. View the academic calendar for more session dates.

Interlochen Online certificate This is one of three courses needed to complete the Classical Piano certificate program.