Ten Easy Pieces (Bartók)

The Ten Easy Pieces is a collection of piano pieces written by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók between 1908 and 1909. They are intended for beginner to intermediate piano students and serve as an introduction to Bartók's compositional style, albeit in a simplified and accessible manner. The pieces draw heavily on Hungarian folk music, incorporating melodies, rhythms, and scales characteristic of the region. The collection demonstrates Bartók's early interest in ethnomusicology and his efforts to integrate folk elements into art music. While technically easier than many of Bartók's more advanced works, the Ten Easy Pieces still present rhythmic and harmonic challenges for young pianists, fostering musicality and a deeper understanding of 20th-century composition. The collection remains a popular teaching tool and is often included in piano lesson repertoire.