Almost June by Ludovico Einaudi – My Latest Piano Video

I’m thrilled to finally share my performance of “Almost June” by Ludovico Einaudi! This has been one of those pieces I’ve been playing for quite a while now, but I just hadn’t sat down to film it properly. As I mentioned in my 2026 piano goals, I love to record my progress on pieces like this – it gives me a sense of completion and allows me to move on to something new with a clear conscience.

Watch my performance here:

About “Almost June”

“Almost June” is a beautiful solo piano piece from Ludovico Einaudi’s 2022 album Underwater. This album marked a significant moment in Einaudi’s career as his first full solo piano album in twenty years. Written during the pandemic lockdown at his home in Italy, Einaudi described the creative process as one of complete freedom. He explained that without his usual busy schedule and outside distractions, the music flowed naturally and purely, without filters.

The Underwater album features twelve intimate piano tracks, with “Almost June” as the sixth piece. Einaudi referred to the creative approach as “songwriting, not composing” – emphasising the brevity and simplicity of each track. He described each song as being like a single breath, a wave that comes and goes, needing nothing else.

The title Underwater itself is a metaphor for a very fluid dimension, a space to float without boundaries and freely reflect. This perfectly captures the essence of “Almost June” – it’s meditative, gentle, and deeply contemplative.

What Makes “Almost June” Special

Like much of Einaudi’s work, “Almost June” isn’t technically demanding in terms of finger gymnastics or complex passages. Instead, its beauty lies in its simplicity and the space it creates for musical expression. The piece is written in B-flat major and spans just three pages of sheet music, making it accessible to intermediate pianists.

What I love about playing Einaudi’s music is that while the notes are relatively straightforward, there’s enormous room for interpretation through dynamics, pedalling, and phrasing. It’s the perfect type of piece to play when you want to focus on musicality rather than technical challenges.

The Underwater album also features a distinctive sound quality – Einaudi used a “felt piano” technique, creating a muffled, intimate tone that draws listeners into a confidential space. This sonic choice reflects the album’s themes of isolation, reflection, and inner peace.

Tips for Playing “Almost June”

If you’re thinking about learning “Almost June,” here are some things I discovered while working on it:

Focus on the flow: The piece has a gentle, rolling quality that mimics water or waves. Don’t rush the tempo – Einaudi plays it around 81 BPM. Let each phrase breathe naturally.

Master the chord progressions: The main harmonic movement uses F major, C minor, B-flat major, and E-flat major. Once you understand this progression, the piece becomes much easier to memorise.

Use the pedal thoughtfully: The sustain pedal is your friend here, but be careful not to muddy the harmonies (I am guilty of this!!!). Change the pedal with each new chord to maintain clarity while creating that signature Einaudi shimmer.

Express through dynamics: Since the technical demands aren’t extreme, you can really focus on shaping the dynamics. Think about where you want to build intensity and where you want to pull back. The piece has natural crescendos and diminuendos that help create its emotional arc.

Play with feeling, not perfection: This isn’t a piece where every note needs to be crystalline and precise. It’s more about capturing a mood and a moment. Don’t be afraid to let your interpretation shine through.

Why I Film My Progress

As I’ve shared before, I find it incredibly satisfying to film pieces once I feel they’re ready. It’s not about achieving perfection – it’s about documenting where I am in my journey at this particular moment. Recording “Almost June” means I can now let it go and move on to other exciting pieces without that nagging feeling that I never properly finished it.

This is something I talked about extensively in my 2026 piano goals post, where I committed to filming at least one piece per month this year. “Almost June” is my January recording, and it feels wonderful to tick that goal off already!

Other Einaudi Pieces I’m Working On

“Almost June” isn’t the only Einaudi piece in my repertoire. I’m also working on “Natural Light” and “Nobody Knows,” both from the same Underwater album. I find these pieces perfect for those days when I want to sit at the piano and just enjoy playing without too much mental strain.

Einaudi’s music has a meditative quality that I find deeply calming. After working on more technically demanding pieces like Mendelssohn’s Song Without Words or Schumann’s Reverie, it’s lovely to return to something that allows me to focus purely on expression and feeling.

Finding the Sheet Music

“Almost June” is widely available from various sheet music retailers, including Musicnotes, Sheet Music Direct, and Sheet Music Plus. The official arrangement is published by Hal Leonard and consists of three pages. It’s classified as intermediate level, making it accessible to pianists who have a solid foundation but aren’t necessarily advanced players.

The piece is also available in the complete Underwater sheet music folio if you want to learn multiple pieces from the album.

Ludovico Einaudi: A Brief Background

For those unfamiliar with Ludovico Einaudi, he’s an Italian pianist and composer who has become one of the most commercially successful classical composers of our time. Born in 1955 in Turin, he trained at the Conservatorio Verdi in Milan and studied under the renowned composer Luciano Berio.

Einaudi’s music blends classical training with elements of pop, rock, folk, and world music, creating a distinctive style that appeals to a broad audience. His work has been featured in numerous films including The Intouchables, Nomadland, and The Father. His most famous pieces include “Nuvole Bianche,” “Una Mattina,” and “Experience.”

The Underwater album represents a return to his solo piano roots, stripped back from the orchestral arrangements that characterised some of his recent work. It’s an intimate, personal statement that showcases why his music resonates with so many people.

What’s Next on My Piano Journey

Now that I’ve completed “Almost June,” I’m excited to move forward with other pieces. My main focus for the year includes Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata (Movement 2), which is shaping up to be my year-long project, and continuing work on several Grade 7 ABRSM pieces.

I’m also planning to revisit some pieces I started but didn’t finish, including Mozart’s Allegro K.282 and C. Hartmann’s Nocturne. There’s something satisfying about returning to pieces with fresh ears and finally getting them performance-ready.

If you’re interested in following along with my piano journey, you can find me on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. I love connecting with other adult learners and piano enthusiasts!

Final Thoughts

“Almost June” is one of those pieces that perfectly captures why I fell in love with the piano. It’s not about showing off technical prowess or playing the most challenging repertoire. It’s about those quiet moments at the keyboard where the music just flows, where you can lose yourself in the sound and the feeling.

If you’re looking for a new piece to learn that’s rewarding without being overwhelming, I highly recommend exploring the Underwater album. Each piece has its own character while maintaining that signature Einaudi style that’s both accessible and deeply moving.

Thank you for watching my performance, and I hope it inspires you to explore this beautiful piece yourself!

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Have you played any Einaudi pieces? Which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments or reach out on social media – I’d love to hear from you!