Not familiar with this collection? Start here. Two perspectives for teachers.
Difficulty ratings combine ABRSM/RCM grading and Joyce's teaching judgment. Within a single level, interpretive depth still varies considerably — fewer notes does not mean easier to play well.
★ Beginner
approx. ABRSM Grade 1–2 · 1–2 years of study
No.1 Melody
No.2 Soldiers' March
No.3 Humming Song
No.5 Little Piece
No.7 Hunting Song
No.9 Folk Song
No.18 Reaper's Song
★★ Elementary
approx. ABRSM Grade 2–3 · 2–3 years of study
No.6 Poor Orphan
No.8 Wild Horseman
No.10 Happy Farmer
No.11 Sicilienne
No.12 Knecht Ruprecht
No.13 May, Dear May
No.15 Spring Song
No.17 Morning Wanderer
★★★ Lower Intermediate
approx. ABRSM Grade 3–4 · 3–4 years of study
No.4 Chorale
No.14 Little Study
No.16 First Loss
No.19 Little Romance
No.20 Rustic Song
No.22 Roundelay
No.24 Harvest Song
No.27 Canon Song
No.28 Remembrance
★★★★ Intermediate
approx. ABRSM Grade 4–5 · 4–6 years of study
No.21 Untitled
No.23 The Horseman
No.25 Knight's March
No.26 Untitled
No.29 The Stranger
No.30 Untitled
No.33 Vintage Time
No.38 Wintertime I
No.39 Wintertime II
No.41 Nordic Song
★★★★★ Upper Intermediate
approx. ABRSM Grade 5–6 · 5+ years of study
No.31 War Song
No.32 Sheherazade
No.34 Theme
No.35 Mignon
No.36 Italian Sailors' Song
No.37 Sailors' Song
No.40 Little Fugue
No.42 Figured Chorale
No.43 New Year's Eve
⚠️ No.16 First Loss is technically simple — but its emotional depth far exceeds its difficulty rating. Even students at lower levels will need a long time to find the right interpretation.