![[For 5-year-olds] A curated selection of recommended pieces for a piano recital!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lh0zsIkfia0/sddefault.jpg)
[For 5-year-olds] A curated selection of recommended pieces for a piano recital!
Five-year-olds are starting to do more on their own and are becoming interested in reading and writing letters and numbers.
I usually teach piano and also work with children in the senior kindergarten class who are turning five.
They often get curious about the titles of different pieces, and after recitals they’ll share their impressions of their friends’ performances, saying things like, “〇〇-chan’s piece was so cool!”
This time, I’ve picked out pieces that are perfect for a five-year-old’s piano recital.
To match each child’s preferences, I’ll introduce a variety of recommended works with different moods—lively pieces, brilliant showpieces, and gentle, lyrical selections.
Please use these ideas as a reference for your next recital.
[For 5-year-olds] A curated selection of recommended pieces for a piano recital! (1–10)
Ode to JoyLudwig van Beethoven
Ode to Joy, a piece included in the masterpiece Symphony No.
9 by the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven, is known in Japan as Yorokobi no Uta.
It is also a representative piece often played by beginners who have just started learning piano.
For children who have only just begun, coordinating different movements with both hands is extremely challenging, but this piece is structured to be easy even for them to perform.
If you follow the arrangement shown in the video, it becomes even easier to play, so be sure to check it out.
Minuet in G majorChristian Petzold
This piece, composed by Christian Petzold, one of the leading German musicians of the Baroque era, features a light and elegant melody beloved by a wide audience, from children to adults—many people have likely heard it at least once.
Its tone is bright and lively.
The difficulty level is approachable even for beginner pianists, and it’s also popular as a recital staple.
Petzold served as an organist at the Sophienkirche in Dresden from 1703, and he drew on that experience to skillfully combine beautifully resonant harmonies with a flowing melody.
Its gentle, inviting character is sure to soothe listeners’ hearts.
If you haven’t studied harmony yet, you might find the left hand unexpectedly hard to memorize, so try practicing the left hand alone repeatedly.
The EntertainerScott Joplin
Scott Joplin, known as the King of Ragtime.
Born in Texas in 1868, he showed musical talent from an early age.
This work is one of his signature pieces, published in 1902.
Its bright, lively rhythm and distinctive melody are striking.
It gained renewed attention when it was used as the theme for the 1973 film The Sting.
For a five-year-old performer, it’s a wonderful piece that makes finger movement fun and helps develop a sense of rhythm.
It’s so charming that listeners will naturally want to tap along.
Because there are many jumps in both the right and left hands, try not to lift your hands too far from the keys while playing—this will reduce missed notes and make it easier to control the rhythm.
At a recital, it will surely fill the entire venue with a cheerful atmosphere!
Toy Cha-Cha-ChaKoshibe Nobuyoshi
A shining star in the world of Japanese children’s songs, Nobuyoshi Koshibe.
One of his signature works is Toy Cha-Cha-Cha, which charmingly depicts the nighttime adventures of lovable toys.
When children fall asleep, the toys leap out of their box and start dancing in a festive mood, captured with a lively rhythm.
The secret party spun by tin soldiers, French dolls, and animals alike is sure to spark children’s imaginations.
Born in 1959, the song became so beloved that it was selected for the 2007 Japan’s 100 Famous Songs.
It’s an ideal piece for a piano recital by a five-year-old, and its bright, cheerful atmosphere is sure to warm up the room.
Be sure to consider it as one of your options!
My Neighbor TotoroHisaishi Joe
This song, composed by Joe Hisaishi, is the theme of Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece film My Neighbor Totoro.
Using a pure, pristine C major scale and incorporating symphonic jazz and live performance, it is deeply connected to the film’s scenes.
The lyrics, written by Hayao Miyazaki, depict an enchanting natural world and encounters with the mysterious creatures who live there.
There are various arrangements of sheet music available, so it would be great to choose one that suits your child.
Once you can play this friendly, warm piece, it’s sure to be a joy.
It’s perfect for a piano recital, so give it a try!
The Skaters’ WaltzÉmile Waldteufel
A signature work by Émile Waldteufel, known as the “French Johann Strauss.” Composed in 1882, this piece musically depicts people gracefully gliding across a winter skating rink.
Its brilliant melody and rhythmic triple meter are distinctive, brimming with a charm that excites children’s hearts.
The cheerful, light atmosphere makes it perfect for a piano recital by a five-year-old! It’s a special piece that will bring smiles not only to the child performing but also to everyone listening.
Why not choose this work to fully savor the joy of music while developing a sense of rhythm?
Small WorldThe Sherman Brothers
Popular as a piece for piano recitals, “It’s a Small World” is a great choice for beginners—you can fully enjoy the character of the song with just a few notes.
Unlike other tunes that became famous as songs in films or anime, this piece was composed by the Sherman Brothers, who are songwriters, specifically for a new Disney attraction.
The right-hand melody flows in a way that makes finger movement easy, and with a simple arrangement in the left hand, you can play it with almost no position shifts.
If you want to experience the world of Disney music on the piano, why not start with this piece?
