Ellmenreich's Spinning Song is not merely a charming character piece, but a foundational pedagogical tool that develops crucial piano skills such as dexterity, finger independence, and rhythmic consistency, essential for intermediate-level students. Albert Ellmenreich (1816–1905) was a German composer and actor.

An étude is a musical composition, usually short, designed to improve a musician's technical skills on a particular instrument. It's essentially a musical exercise, often with a focus on a specific technique like scales, arpeggios, or finger dexterity. While originally conceived for practice, many études have become recognised as concert pieces, appreciated for their musicality as well as their technical demands.