[For 4-year-olds] Recommended pieces for a piano recital!

Carrying YouHisaishi Joe

Carrying You - 'Castle in the Sky' (Laputa) - Piano

Composer Joe Hisaishi has been responsible for the music in Studio Ghibli films for many years.

While his fantastical style might seem difficult, there are actually many simple pieces that even children can play.

This time, we’re introducing “Carrying You.” It’s one of the theme songs from the film Castle in the Sky and is characterized by its simplified accompaniment.

Since sheet music in various arrangements is available, it’s a good idea to choose a score that matches your child’s level and let them practice so they can enjoy performing it.

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A Small SongCornelius Gurlitt

Little Song (Gurlitt) Children's Music Recital (Recommended for Beginner Piano Recitals)

“A Little Song” is a popular piece often performed at piano recitals.

It’s frequently confused with a work by Khachaturian, but the piece introduced here is by Gurlitt.

This miniature is included in his collection Children’s Concert, and as the title suggests, it’s written in a very simple style that even children can play.

The tempo indications and hand usage are very straightforward, but in pieces like this the left-hand accompaniment tends to become too loud, causing the right-hand melody to get buried.

Developing the technique of playing the accompaniment more softly to bring out the melody is a very important skill for future piano playing, making this piece perfect for building that foundation.

When performing it at a recital, adding more dynamics and phrasing will make it even better.

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Toy Cha-Cha-ChaKoshibe Nobuyoshi

[Easy Piano] The Toy Cha-Cha-Cha

Nobuyoshi Koshibe, a shining star in the world of Japanese children’s songs.

One of his signature works is this “Omocha no Cha-Cha-Cha,” which depicts the nighttime adventures of adorable toys.

When children fall asleep, the toys leap out of their boxes and start dancing in a festive mood, all expressed with a lively rhythm.

The secret party woven by toy soldiers, French dolls, and animals is sure to spark children’s imaginations.

Born in 1959, this song became so popular that it was selected among the 100 Best Japanese Songs in 2007.

It’s perfect for a piano recital piece for four-year-olds, and its bright, cheerful atmosphere is sure to warm up the venue.

Do consider it as one of your options!

Happy WitchJane Bastien

Bastien: Happy Witch, pf. Yuichiro Nakada

The works of American composer Jane Bastien are approachable for children and ideal for the early stages of piano study.

This piece evokes a story featuring a cheerful witch.

Although short in performance time, it includes key elements for creating atmosphere, such as the use of staccato and the handling of silence.

Imagining a story in which the witch descends to earth and lifts the spirits of those who are feeling down will enable deeper expression.

By shaping the music as if it were a scene from a picture book or an animated film, you can bring out its full charm.

It’s a fun, educational piece that’s perfect for a four-year-old’s piano recital.

Birthday MarchLouis Köhler

"Birthday March" composed by L. Köhler (from The Teacher’s Selection: Piano Recital Masterpieces 1)

A charming piece that’s perfect for a first recital and is included in many children’s piano collections! Louis Köhler’s “Birthday March” is simple and easy to remember, yet it’s packed with important elements for learning piano, such as chord staccato and smooth melodic legato.

Another appeal of this piece is the wide range of dynamics it allows, from energetic passages to gentle, quiet ones.

Imagine a birthday surprise as you play, and perform with rich expression.

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Children’s Album – 24 Easy Pieces, Op. 39: No. 8 “Waltz”Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

B-class Romance Tchaikovsky: Waltz, Op. 39 No. 8 (2023 PTNA Competition Required Piece) pf. Mako Hamada

“Children’s Album – 24 Easy Pieces, Op.

39, No.

8 ‘Waltz’” is a piece frequently performed at piano recitals featuring elementary school children and preschoolers.

Composed by Tchaikovsky when he was 38, it’s perfect for getting used to the waltz style.

Although the difficulty level is approachable for beginners, the staccato passages can be challenging for children who have not yet developed fine motor skills.

Waltzes with frequent staccato are quite rare, so be sure to give it a try.

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butterflyDoitsu min’yō

"Butterfly" Piano Duet

A German folk song that has been widely adopted in Japanese children’s songs.

Its catchy melody is often heard at piano recitals.

From among such German folk songs, the piece I’d like to recommend is “Chōchō.” It’s a familiar children’s song for Japanese people.

Many four-year-olds still find it difficult to play with both hands.

In that case, as shown in this video, I recommend trying a parent-child duet.

This piece changes its character dramatically partway through, which makes it appealing—you can show your originality in those sections.

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