[For 5-year-olds] A curated selection of recommended pieces for a piano recital!

I Stepped on the CatSakkyokusha fushō

I Stepped on the Cat [Piano]

Loved around the world and known in every era, this piece has an unknown composer and even an unknown country of origin.

Its title and lyrics vary by country, but animals always make an appearance.

In Japan, it’s known as “Neko Funjatta” (“I Stepped on the Cat”).

It features a light, rhythmic, waltz-like melody.

The Japanese lyrics are comical, describing someone accidentally stepping on a cat and startling it.

There’s also a surreal twist where the cat flies up into the sky and says “goodbye-bye,” which is quite amusing.

Since it uses only the black keys, it may be better to learn it by ear while watching the keyboard rather than by studying the sheet music.

For children who usually study sheet music diligently, playing a piece like this once in a while can be a fun change of pace.

How about performing it at a recital and bringing smiles to the audience?

paprikaFoorin

Paprika (C Major) Beginner Piano Sheet Music

Foorin’s “Paprika,” produced by Kenshi Yonezu, expresses the purity of childhood and hope for the future.

Created as part of NHK’s 2020 Support Song Project, it sings about memories with loved ones and the determination to pursue dreams.

While the lively rhythm and bright melody are striking, there are some sixteenth notes, so it’s best if children can play at the most comfortable tempo without letting the rhythm fall apart.

Let’s perform with lots of energy and brighten up the venue!

glass slipperWilliam Gillock

[Recommended for Piano Recitals] The Glass Slipper ♪ Gillock / The Glass Slipper, Gillock

William Gillock, a composer renowned for his beautiful melodic sense—so much so that he’s often called the Schubert of music education—draws out the charm of his pieces through rich expression rather than advanced technique, making his works frequent choices for beginners’ repertoire.

Among them, we’d like to introduce “The Glass Slipper.” It’s perfect as a first waltz piece, so why not give it a try?

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Ryo

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Carrying YouHisaishi Joe

[Age 5, Kindergarten Senior] 'Carrying You' [Piano Recital] “Carrying You” from 'Castle in the Sky' (5 years old)

Joe Hisaishi is the composer who has been in charge of music for Studio Ghibli works for many years.

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

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

Since a variety of arrangements have been published, it’s a good idea to choose sheet music that matches your child’s level and let them practice so they can enjoy performing it.

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Mickey Mouse MarchJimmie Dodd

Mickey Mouse March / Piano Easy Beginner with Do-Re-Mi Notation

A huge hit with kids! This song became well known as the opening theme of the American children’s show “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Composed by Jimmie Dodd, it uses a lot of stepwise motion—moving to neighboring notes—so the fingerings are easy to memorize and it’s simple to play even with one finger.

As you practice, try prompting with cues like, “Next comes the note right next door,” or “Now let’s go down step by step to lower notes.” Once they’re comfortable, have them try capturing the light, bouncy rhythm too.

Rather than focusing on note values, convey an image: “Play as if you’re skipping along, cheerfully!”

A Small SongCornelius Gurlitt

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

A popular piece for piano recitals, “Little Song.” It’s often confused with Khachaturian’s work, but the piece we’re introducing this time is by Gurlitt.

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

The tempo indications and use of both hands 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 softly to bring out the melody is a very important skill for future piano playing, making this piece perfect for building that foundation.

If you perform it at a recital, adding more dynamics and expression will make it even better.

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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Starfuransu min’yō

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star [For Piano Beginners • With Sheet Music]

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is included in a variety of piano method books for children and has become a staple piece for recitals.

Since many children are already familiar with singing it in kindergarten or nursery school, it’s easier to tackle than a completely unfamiliar song.

Solo performances are of course lovely, but if you’d like to make a recital performance more dazzling, we recommend a duet with a parent or teacher! A parent-child duet will be a memorable and valuable experience for both the parent and the child.

We encourage you to give it a try!

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yuri

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