How to Play Fur Elise

"Für Elise" is the popular name of "Bagatelle in A minor", one of the most famous solo piano pieces, by Ludwig van Beethoven. It seems that everyone who learns how to play the piano always plays this piece. It sounds extremely impressive when played, but many musicians are tired of it because it is played much too frequently, learned by almost every classical music student, and often played poorly.
Get the sheet music for Für Elise.
It begins in 3/8 time with a right-hand theme accompanied by arpeggios in the left hand; the harmonies used are A minor and E major.
Learn that the next section maintains the same texture, but broadens the harmony to include C major, which is A minor's relative major, and G major, C major's dominant key.
Notice that a faster section follows, written in the key of F major, then a few bars in C major. This section is one that many pianists, who easily play the opening, are forced to either skip, or spend a lot of time developing the necessary coordination to play. Next the piece moves into D minor with a theme set over a pedal point. After a modulation back to A minor and a gauntlet of arpeggios, the main theme returns, and the piece quietly ends in its starting key of A minor, with an authentic cadence.
Start out by playing through the piece with just your right hand then once you have that down, play through the piece with you left hand.
Practice playing it with both hands. It probably won't sound very good the first time you play it, but keep practicing and you'll get it. Practice it slowly; never rush when learning.
Add in dynamics, musicianship, and you passion (which should be evident) to the mix.
The tempo of the piece is Poco Moto, which means with a little motion. This means you need to play it with a little speed and you need to keep the piece moving.
Don't be intimidated by the sixteenth notes or the sixteenth note triplets. They seem fast at first glance, but because of the time signature, they are more like eighth notes (to a quarter note).
It has never been known who Elise was, whom the piece was dedicated to. One theory is that Elise was a name generally used to describe a sweetheart and this was written to all and for all sweethearts. It might have been the love for a woman that inspired him to write this piece without them ever meeting but it is left entirely to the imagination.