[Piano Recital] Carefully Selected Masterpieces and Popular Pieces Recommended for 3rd Grade Elementary School Students!

Line Dance of TulipsHirayoshi Takeshu

All Japan Piano Competition 2022, Preschool Division, Silver Prize, Yuki Ninomiya

This piece by Takeshi Hykkyoku* captures the heart with a buoyant melody, as if colorful tulips were stepping in unison.

It is included in the piano collection for children, “Niji no Rhythm” (Rainbow Rhythm).

Though the performance time is short—about one minute and thirty seconds—it’s packed with rewarding elements to practice, such as major seventh chords and left-hand techniques.

Start by securing a solid sense of rhythm at a slow tempo.

With steady practice, aim for a light, lively performance that will captivate both audience and judges!

Phantom KnightWilliam Gillock

Gillock: Phantom Rider (from Lyric Preludes) – Pianist: Yuki Kondo

This is a piece by William Gillock, notable for a melody that carries a mysterious, quiet strength.

Its atmosphere evokes the image of a knight standing within a mirage, captivating the hearts of many children.

The resonant low register creates a sense of weight, while the high register reveals a delicate, dreamlike melody—drawing listeners into a world of storytelling.

Frequently selected as a required piece for the PTNA Piano Competition, it’s perfect for expressive young players.

It’s also recommended to practice while expanding concrete imagery—asking questions like, “What kind of scene do you picture here?”

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.

speed carNakata Yoshinao

[Recommended for Piano Recitals] Speedy Car ♫ Yoshinao Nakada / The Speedy Car, Yoshinao Nakada

This piece, often used as a piano practice work, is filled with a crisp rhythm and a lively sense of momentum.

It vividly evokes the feeling of a car speeding down the road, and it’s the kind of music that makes you smile as you play.

The effective use of performance markings such as accents and staccato makes it a compelling piece for learning technical elements like rhythmic precision and varied touch.

It’s a perfect choice for a boy to perform at a piano recital, inviting him to imagine scenes as he plays and capturing the audience’s hearts.

Highly recommended for those who want to create an energetic stage presence or develop expressive power through music.

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.

Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven

Für Elise / Beethoven / Für Elise (For Elise) / Beethoven / Piano / Tried playing / CANACANA

A famous work by Ludwig van Beethoven, the German master whom every pianist admires at least once.

Written in April 1810, this piece resonates in the heart with its wistful, beautiful melody.

It begins with a gentle, conversational, and calm theme that instantly captivates the listener.

However, the mood changes dramatically in the middle section, revealing a touch of mature passion and dramatic intensity.

It’s as if a straightforward heart crosses paths with the desire to act grown-up.

Perfect for elementary and middle school students who want to challenge themselves with rich emotional expression and play the piano as if spinning a story.

Imagine the changes in feeling from scene to scene, and perform with expressive nuance!

Always With MeKimura Yumi

[Free Sheet Music] Always With Me Level 2 [Beginner Piano]

This piece is known as the ending theme of Studio Ghibli’s classic film Spirited Away.

It came about when Yumi Kimura sent a letter and a CD directly to director Hayao Miyazaki.

Released in July 2001, it won multiple awards, including the Gold Award at the 43rd Japan Record Awards.

Its lyrics, themed around dreams, hope, and the cycles of life, resonate with many people.

The left-hand accompaniment maintains a consistent pattern, and the right-hand melody is relatively easy to play, making it perfect for children who have just started learning piano.

Once they can play it, adding expression will make the performance even better.

Consider it as a candidate for a recital piece.