![[For 4-year-olds] Recommended pieces for a piano recital!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/C_sPKoqlS6I/maxresdefault.webp)
[For 4-year-olds] Recommended pieces for a piano recital!
Four-year-olds are starting to express their own feelings and understand their friends’ feelings.
As they become more assertive, some children may share their preferences when choosing a piece for the piano recital, saying things like, “I want a cute piece!” or “I want to play a cool piece that will surprise my friends!” In this article, we’ll introduce pieces that are perfect for a piano recital and recommended for four-year-olds in the middle preschool class.
Letting them choose from several candidate pieces can boost their motivation for the recital even more.
We hope this article will serve as a helpful guide for selecting pieces so you can offer works with a variety of moods.
[For 4-Year-Olds] A Curated Selection of Recommended Pieces for Piano Recitals! (1–10)
Midnight OwlWilliam Gillock
How about a slightly mysterious piece composed by William Gillock, a leading figure in music education? It conjures up the image of owls glowing-eyed and gliding quietly through a midnight forest—a piece with a cool, atmospheric vibe.
Because it easily inspires storytelling, it will draw out rich expressiveness from the performer.
The gradual crescendos and the contrast between staccato and legato create a captivating effect that sets listeners’ hearts racing.
This work is also a staple in the PTNA Piano Step program and is perfect for four-year-old children who want to step into the role of a story’s protagonist.
In the moonlightfuransu min’yō
The French folk song “Au Clair de la Lune” is notable for its relaxed melody.
It’s a very simple piece with monotonous hand movements, so even beginners—let alone four-year-olds—should be able to play it right away.
However, as you can see in the video, without a good sense of rhythm, the relaxed structure makes any timing slips stand out.
For simple, slow pieces like this, be sure to practice with a metronome to solidify your rhythm before performing at a recital.
The Chick’s WaltzCatherine Rollin
A cute, bright piece that sounds as if little chicks are dancing.
This piece is included in a collection called “Beanie Zoo.” “Beanie” refers to American stuffed animals—palm-sized toys filled with beans, similar to Japanese otedama.
Let’s play while imagining the world woven by these tiny animals.
At the beginning, the left hand carries the melody, and in the middle section the right hand takes the melody, so be careful with balance to keep the accompaniment from becoming too loud.
Wish Upon a StarLeigh Harline
This song was created as the theme for Disney’s film Pinocchio.
Its gentle, beautiful melody evokes the stars in the night sky.
It’s a well-known classic with a tune that everyone recognizes, so it could be a fun piece to play at a first recital.
It would be nice to actually watch the movie or read the lyrics to understand the world of the song before performing it.
There are sheet music options at various levels and in various arrangements, so try choosing one that matches your skill level or a version you like and give it a go!
Aura LeeGeorge Rodway Poulton
Aura Lee is a popular piece that also appears in Japanese textbooks.
Many people may have played it on a melodica or recorder.
On the piano, Aura Lee generally has two difficulty levels: intermediate and beginner.
Of course, we’re introducing the beginner-friendly arrangement, but while it isn’t a piece with repeated octaves, the left-hand fingering is somewhat challenging.
Therefore, unless a four-year-old is already comfortable using both hands, giving a good performance may be difficult.
strollJoe Hisaishi
Even decades after the 1988 release of the animated film My Neighbor Totoro, its opening theme “Sanpo” remains a staple and an immovably popular choice for recitals.
The cry of “I want to play Totoro!” from students has become a familiar refrain for piano teachers.
Since a variety of arrangements are available for purchase, it’s easy to find sheet music suited to each level, making it ideal to let each student play from music that matches their abilities.
Hansel and GretelDoitsu min’yō
This is a work handed down in Germany, based on the adventure story of a brother and sister who get lost in the forest.
Its charm lies in the exciting narrative combined with a lively melody, and the lyrics portray the siblings’ feelings as they summon courage to overcome hardships in the ominous woods.
It’s a perfect song for children who want to dive into the story’s world and become the characters themselves.
It was recorded on the album “Children’s Piano Album (Vol.
1)” in December 1998, and it has also been selected as a required piece for the 2024 PTNA Piano Grade Test.
With a structure where the left and right hands seem to tell different parts of the story, it’s recommended for children from age four who want to enjoyably develop their expressive abilities.