[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.
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[For 4-year-olds] A selection of recommended pieces for piano recitals (21–30)
marchDmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich was a composer active in the Soviet Union during the 20th century.
Exceptionally talented both as a pianist and as a composer, Shostakovich firmly established his reputation as one of the greatest classical composers of the 20th century.
This piece is the first number from Children’s Notebook, and it evokes soldiers marching without bending their knees.
Aside from the slurs indicated by the composer, it is desirable to play non-legato; however, since it depicts a soldiers’ march, it should be performed in a way that does not become too light.
butterflyDoitsu min’yō
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.
The Queen’s MinuetWilliam Gillock
William Gillock, an American composer so prolific in children’s pieces that he’s often called the Schubert of music education.
When it comes to beginner-friendly works for children, Gillock’s pieces are classics.
Among his works, the one I especially recommend is Minuet for the Queen.
Its dark atmosphere leaves a strong impression; while it calls for a touch of crisp staccato technically, it’s fundamentally set in an easy-to-play triple meter.
GoodbyeDoitsu min’yō
“Farewell,” a German folk song that’s also popular in Japan.
Compared to other German folk songs that have become children’s songs, it’s somewhat on the minor side, but you still hear it fairly often at piano recitals.
As for difficulty, it’s around the middle of the beginner level; if you stick to a minimum performance, it would rank on the lower end of beginner pieces.
The indicated tempo isn’t particularly challenging, but because this piece relies heavily on expressive dynamics and nuance, it’s recommended for times when you want to develop that aspect of your playing.
clock towerCornelius Gurlitt
Cornelius Gurlitt, the great German composer who wrote numerous works ranging from songs and piano pieces to cantatas, operas, and symphonies.
While Gurlitt left many technically demanding pieces, he also composed some simple and charming works for children.
One of these is Clock Tower.
Because the accompaniment is somewhat difficult, we recommend playing it as a duet, as shown in the video.
It’s a must-check piece for those planning to perform at a piano recital as a parent-child duo.
Boys’ Merry-Go-RoundNiels Wilhelm Gade
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.
Dance of the SwineherdBartók Béla
Motivated by Hungarian folk dances from the album For Children, this piece is one that especially highlights a boy’s cool, striking presence when performed.
The combination of lively, rhythmic keystrokes and a bouncy melody captivates the audience every time it’s played.
Although originally released in 1908 as an educational piano work, it also possesses a stage-ready brilliance and dynamism.
Because it is based on dances actually performed in rural Hungary, rhythm and expressiveness are essential.
It’s an ideal piece for a boy who has just awakened to the charm of the piano to cultivate his musicality through performance.