One thing I have discovered in my years of playing and teaching piano is that there is a serious need for a standardized, consistent music grading system. A large amount of music is simply ungraded, and different publishers use the same terms to describe VERY different playing levels (any beginner attempting to play "easy" piano music has surely encountered this phenomenon). I would like to develop a computer program that will accept and automatically grade digital music. But until that program is written, I've decided to take a stab at grading piano pieces myself. The first book I decided to grade is the LDS Simplified Hymnal (the one with the gray cover, last updated in 1986). Here then, with a *huge* "I've never done this before" disclaimer, is my attempt at organizing the songs in this book into relative difficulties:
EASIEST
5 - Redeemer of Israel
10 - We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet
50 - How Firm a Foundation
54 - For the Beauty of the Earth
76 - How Gentle God's Commands
89 - Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
91 - Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire
92 - Sweet Hour of Prayer
100 - Lord, We Ask Thee Ere We Part
102 - Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing
124 - Jesus, Once of Humble Birth
127 - Silent Night
132 - Away in a Manger
154 - Choose the Right
162 - Do What Is Right
207 - Our Father, by Whose Name
208 - I Am a Child of God
209 - Keep The Commandments
210 - Teach Me to Walk in the Light
211 - Love One Another
216 - Ye Elders of Israel
MODERATELY EASY
6 - Now Let Us Rejoice
15 - We Ever Pray for Thee
18 - God Bless Our Prophet Dear
20 - A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
33 - Glory to God on High
48 - Faith of Our Fathers
55 - Prayer of Thanksgiving
56 - Come, Ye Thankful People
57 - Now Thank We All Our God
58 - Dearest Children, God is Near You
63 - I Need Thee Every Hour
64 - Lord, Accept Our True Devotion
69 - Come, Follow Me
70 - Be Still, My Soul
72 - Come unto Jesus
73 - Come, We That Love the Lord
77 - Be Thou Humble
78 - Where Can I Turn for Peace
80 - I Know that My Redeemer Lives
83 - Testimony
88 - Let the Holy Spirit Guide
90 - Secret Prayer
96 - Sweet Is the Work
98 - Sing We Now at Parting
100 - God Be with You Till We Meet Again
114 - 'Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love
116 - We'll Sing All Hail to Jesus' Name
120 - I Stand All Amazed
122 - There Is a Green Hill Far Away
123 - How Great the Wisdom and the Love
130 - Joy to the World
134 - Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
136 - The First Noel
141 - I Have Work Enough to Do
147 - Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
156 - You Can Make the Pathway Bright
158 - Count Your Blessings
164 - We Love Thy House, O God
166 - Let Us All Press On
186 - How Wondrous and Great
187 - Come, All Whose Souls Are Lighted
188 - I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go
190 - Jehovah, Lord of Heaven and Earth
192 - Truth Reflects upon Our Senses
202 - Love at Home
217 - Rise Up, O Men of God
219 - Come, All Ye Sons of God
MODERATELY DIFFICULT
4 - High on the Mountain Top
8 - Israel, Israel, God Is Calling
16 - Praise to the Man
19 - Joseph Smith's First Prayer
22 - Come, Come, Ye Saints
31 - Come, Ye Children of the Lord
35 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
36 - All Glory, Laud, and Honor
38 - God of Our Fathers, We Come unto Thee
40 - Press Forward, Saints
41 - Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah
42 - All creatures of Our God and King
44 - God is Love
46 - How Great Thou Art
62 - Lead, Kindly Light
65 - Master, the Tempest is Raging
68 - Our Savior's Love
74 - Though Deepening Trials
82 - My Redeemer Lives
84 - I Believe in Christ
86 - Did You Think to Pray?
94 - Gently Raise the Sacred Strain
99 - Now the Day Is Over
104 - Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide
106 - Abide with Me!
107 - God, Our Father, Hear Us Pray
108 - In Humility, Our Savior
115 - Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King
117 - God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son
126 - He Is Risen!
128 - Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful
133 - O Little Town of Bethlehem
138 - Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains
139 - We Are Sowing
142 - Come, Let Us Anew
144 - There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today
146 - Improve the Shining Moments
150 - Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words
152 - Scatter Sunshine
160 - Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel
165 - O Thou Rock of Our Salvation
179 - Hope of Israel
180 - Onward, Christian Soldiers
182 - Hark, All Ye Nations!
184 - Go 'Forth with Faith
185 - Arise, O God, and Shine
191 - Oh Say, What Is Truth?
194 - The Iron Rod
195 - Help Me Teach with Inspiration
196 - Thanks for the Sabbath School
198 - The Glorious Gospel Light has Shown
199 - Each Life That Touches Ours for Good
200 - O My Father
201 - As I Search the Holy Scriptures
206 - Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth
212 - In Our Lovely Deseret
218 - Ye Who Are Called to Labor
MORE DIFFICULT
2 - The Spirit of God
12 - Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice
14 - We Listen to a Prophet's Voice
26 - Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
28 - Battle Hymn of the Republic
30 - Come, O Thou King of Kings
32 - Great King of Heaven
34 - Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
37 - God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand
52 - The Lord Is My Light
60 - The Lord Is My Shepherd
79 - More Holiness Give Me
94 - As the Dew from Heaven Distilling
103 - As the Shadows Fall
110 - O God, the Eternal Father
112 - While of These Emblems We Partake
113 - Upon the Cross of Calvary
118 - In Memory of the Crucified
119 - Behold the Great Redeemer Die
140 - Because I Have Been Given Much
148 - Have I Done Any Good?
168 - Called to Serve
170 - We Are All Enlisted
172 - Behold! A Royal Army
176 - Carry On
204 - Families Can Be Together Forever
214 - The Light Divine
MOST DIFFICULT
1 - The Morning Breaks
9 - An Angel from on High
24 - Zion Stands with Hills Surrounded
125 - Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
174 - True to the Faith
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