Ragtime!

Ragtime is an incredibly upbeat, jazzed-up, feel-good musical genre that was most popular between 1897 and 1918. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of several American cities lie St. Louis and New Orleans, even years before ragtime music was published as popular piano sheet music.

Known as the “King of Rag,” Scott Joplin became famous after his publication of “Maple Leaf Rag” in 1899. Maple Leaf Rag was a heavy influence on subsequent ragtime composers and their publications for years and years afterward because of the piece’s melody and harmonic progressions.

Here is my very own interpretation of Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag.

Advanced Piano

Scott Joplin: Collected Piano Works

If you are interested in stepping into the ragtime genre, there is no better composer to study than Scott Joplin. I recommend Scott Joplin: Collected Piano Works for a complete collection of Joplin’s greatest works, including rags, marches, and waltzes. This piano sheet music book has received a 5-star rating and is meant for those players who are in the early advanced stage of playing.

Medium Piano

Ragtime Favourites by Scott Joplin – Piano Accompaniment

For those who are not quite advanced, but past the beginner stage, there are several arranged Joplin pieces to fit your level. Ragtime Favourites by Scott Joplin – Piano Accompaniment is meant for the medium-level piano player. It includes 36 pages of amazing rags that are not too difficult, but not too easy for those who need the challenge.

Easy Piano

Joplin’s Greatest Rags For Easy Piano

Now, what if you’re just a beginner? You can still enjoy learning ragtime pieces. In my earlier piano days, I learned several easy ragtime pieces that were specifically arranged to for beginner piano players, with the same great sound of the original composition. If you’re looking for easy ragtime music, I really recommend Joplin’s Greatest Rags For Easy Piano. You don’t have to be an expert pianist to tackle these pieces.


The original publication of Maple Leaf Rag (which I played in the YouTube video) is a grade 9-level piece. When I first started learning this piece, I was studying for my grade 7 conservatory exam. This just goes to show that when you really want something, and you really discipline yourself to study the piece and practice often, you can achieve anything. Luckily, I was prepared with enough technical expertise and training to go beyond my grade-level to learn how to play this piece.

Elise’s Musical Tip For The Day:

Don’t be intimidated by the fast-paced movements and detached notes of the ragtime genre. If you are really interested in learning ragtime pieces, look at it as if it were a magnificent challenge, and don’t let anything hold you back. Focus on the easy or medium level Joplin pieces if you are not ready to tackle the original advanced compositions. You’ll be happy you did! Ragtime is one of the best genres of music that can help you feel happy, perky, and really good about yourself.

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Now, just to clear some things up here. I am NOT super talented. If I was, I would have been able to learn this piece within a week (or a couple of days), and would have been able to play it flawlessly, every time, with perfect flowing motion and rhythm. The flowing motion that I am doing right now bothers me a little. I want it PERFECT. I will have to slow this piece way, way, way down to practice the flowiness to get it just right. THEN I will sound like a real concert pianist (maybe).

Anyways, there are a few flubs in here (see if you can pick them out… no wait, don’t), but I’m pretty okay with it. If I ever do master the flowing speed, I may try re-taping this thing. I hope you enjoy my amazing transition effects and whatnot. (Ha ha.)

Elise’s Musical Tip For The Day:

I dare you to tackle Clair De Lune. It’s a great challenge. It looks quite easy, but man, those hand-flowing motions and arpeggiated chords get me every time. And you REALLY have to develop your own sense of musicality for this piece. It sounds beautiful, but considering I’ve heard myself play it a million times now, I’m kind of sick of it for the time being. (That usually happens to me with any piece I need to practice over and over and over again.) I hope you do enjoy this performance, though, and I hope it sort of inspires you readers to keep playing the piano, no matter how hard or frustrating it may seem

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