Hi everyone, I'm new to these forums.

I did my grade 8 piano the other day and I now want to learn a Beethoven piano sonata. Does anyone have any suggestions on which one? I am looking for a relatively accessible one that I could learn to play all of quite well, but not necessarily the easiest one?

Any suggestions?

I guess you may have done third movement of Op10 No1 for your grade 8. (list B)
If you did, I suggest you learn the other two movements. Otherwise learn all of it. !

I'd have thought your other best alternatives are its 'sister' in F Op 10 No 2 (I did it for ALCM in 1963!), or one of the Op14 ones (I prefer No 2). Another which is fairly straightforward is Op 79 in G.

Slighty harder , but rewarding is Op90 (only 2 movements) or the Pastorale Op26 in D

If you ask me to pick one, I'd go for Op10 No 1 first.

Thanks, I think I'll take your advice and learn op 10 no 1

I learnt op 14 nos 1 & 2 when I was about Grade 8 - I think they have both been set for Grade 8 at one time or another (when I did Grade 8, you had to do all 3 movements)

Well, I do suggest that you can wait. Beethoven is very famous on the symphonic soundings on many piece, including the sonatas. Have you played the sonatas by Mozart, Haydn or Schubert? It can be a stepping stone before going to Beethoven. If you play Beethoven too soon, you may lose interest on pieces on the other composers, then your ground (er.. I mean the foundation/pieces you played of the other composers) will be shortened.

One more suggestion - play pieces by Bach - it can trained and keep-up your techniques.

The above is just my opinion, some of the forum members may disagree with that.

Yes I agree you should keep some Bach going and Mozart and Haydn are good preparation for Beethoven. But Schubert - most of them are at least as demanding as the easier Beethoven ones.

is the first movement of the pathetique grade 8? thats rather a lovely thing to play!

At least. It's a fine piece to play but perhaps not the ideal starting point for Beethoven. I'd suggest Op 14 No 2?

Thanks everyone for all of your help. I think I might take Hok Yan Wong's advice and learn some Mozart or Haydn first and come back to the Beethoven later.

Suggest Mozart K330 or K332. Or Haydn 49 or 50