For 2nd Grade Elementary School Students: Must-Play Pieces for Piano Recitals! Recommended Masterpieces & Famous Songs

strollHisaishi Joe

My Neighbor Totoro 'Stroll' [How to Play on Piano – Absolutely Playable for Beginners!] Level: ☆☆

The opening theme “Sanpo” from Studio Ghibli’s 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro is one of the most popular Ghibli songs among young children! Its friendly, adventure-sparking melody invites performers into Totoro’s world, making it a piece brimming with excitement.

Among second graders, there are surely many who love Ghibli’s unique world.

By working on this song, which teaches the joy of walking, they can experience the fun of performing and the wonderfulness of expressing their feelings through sound.

Six Pieces for Children (Christmas Album), Op. 72: No. 2 in E-flat major, Andante sostenuto, MWV U 170Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn: 6 Kinderstücke Op. 72 [also known as „Christmas Pieces Op.72] – No. 2 Andante sostenuto

Composed as a gift for children at Christmas in 1842, Mendelssohn’s piano miniature is enveloped in a gentle, tender atmosphere.

Written in E-flat major, it features a delicate touch and refined harmonic progressions, and despite its brief length of 42 measures, it conveys a profound musicality.

Set at a relaxed Andante sostenuto tempo, its warmly expressive melody has a soothing charm.

Among the six pieces in this collection, it is particularly approachable, making it an ideal work for those just beginning piano study or for listeners interested in Romantic-era music.

Piano Sonata K. 545, 1st MovementWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

36th Prizewinners’ Commemorative Concert / Rikuto Wakabayashi — Mozart: Piano Sonata K. 545, 1st movement

Among Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s piano works, this piece is especially famous.

Even those who aren’t well-versed in classical music might say, “I know this melody!” Composed in June 1788 with piano learners in mind, it captivates with its bright and light character.

However, despite its familiarity, playing it beautifully is by no means easy.

It’s filled with essential techniques, such as maintaining balance with the left-hand accompaniment while keeping the right-hand melody even and well-articulated.

Performing such a renowned piece at a recital is sure to boost your confidence—and the sense of accomplishment when you master it is exceptional.

Arabesque of WavesMiyoshi Akira

Akira Miyoshi: Arabesque of Waves / Shunya Yada (43rd Prizewinner Commemorative Concert, A1 Division [Gold Prize])

This is a work by Japanese composer Akira Miyoshi, featuring an elegant melody that evokes a shimmering water surface.

Included in the 1987 piano miniatures collection “Umi no Nikkichō” (A Sea Diary), the piece—true to its title, which refers to Arabic-style ornamental patterns—conjures scenes of delicate, unceasing motion in sound.

Its deft shifts between G-sharp minor and B major create sonorities that suggest a grown-up, bittersweet poignancy, like a fleeting shadow passing through brightness.

Also selected as a PTNA Competition set piece, it demands restrained pedaling and rich expressiveness, making it a guaranteed showpiece.

It is especially suited for elementary and middle school students who aspire to perform their dream piece with heartfelt expression.

Children’s Notebook (Seven Piano Pieces), A Pleasant Story, Op. 69-4Dmitry Shostakovich

[Grade B, Modern/Contemporary] Shostakovich: A Pleasant Story, Op. 69-4 (2024 PTNA Competition Required Piece) pf. Asuto Kitamura

Dmitri Shostakovich’s piano miniatures Notebook for Children, Op.

69, were lovingly composed for his beloved daughter.

The fourth piece is a playful, delightful number that feels as if a child is setting up a mischievous prank.

Set to a lively Allegro tempo, one whimsical melody after another appears, bringing a smile to the listener’s face.

If you play while imagining a story, expressive richness will come naturally.

It’s a perfect piece for children who want to let their individuality shine in competitions, or for those who’d like to discover the joy of expressing humor through music.

Aeolian harpWilliam Gillock

W. Gillock: Aeolian Harp — Gillock: Aeolian Harp

This is a work by William Gillock, captivating for its delicate, beautiful sonorities that evoke the sound of a harp swaying in the wind.

Released in 1957, it features richly colored, impressionistic harmonies and a gentle, heart-touching melody.

Not only does it nurture the expressive skills essential for progressing in piano study, but it also enables performers to convey a beautiful, enchanting world that captivates audiences—making it ideal for competitions.

It’s recommended for children who want to refine their expressiveness with a piece that has a beautiful melody or who want to play a memorable piece in a competition.

Boys’ Merry-Go-RoundNiels Wilhelm Gade

Gade: Boys' Merry-Go-Round

This is a children’s piano piece with a bright, lively rhythm.

Its simple yet beautiful melody is striking, vividly portraying children dancing in a circle.

Included on the album “Children’s Christmas,” the piece is full of playful fun and conveys a spirited, boyish energy.

It balances educational consideration with artistry, evoking scenes of traditional European children’s games.

Also featured as a piano set piece in the ABRSM exams, it is loved worldwide as a performance piece that shines on stage.

Highly recommended for those who want a dazzling recital piece.