[For 6-year-olds] A curated selection of standout pieces for piano recitals!

gallopDmitri Kabalevsky

[Recommended for Piano Recitals] Gallop ♫ Kabalevsky / Gallop Op. 39-18, Kabalevsky

Dmitry Kabalevsky was a Russian composer and pianist.

He wrote many works for children, yet he is widely recognized as a composer of consistently excellent pieces.

“Gallop” means “a horse’s canter” and refers to a rapid, light dance that became popular in the mid-19th century.

The forward-driving tempo and the steady left-hand pulses make it sound as if a horse is running and its hooves are clattering.

The leaps in the right-hand melody are especially striking.

Perform with plenty of contrast so that the difference in dynamics between the opening and the middle section is clearly felt.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

HATSUMI

Report a problem

My Neighbor TotoroHisaishi Joe

Piano recital ♫ I wonder if Sakurako-chan will do well. My Neighbor Totoro. Nervous and excited.

Joe Hisaishi is a Japanese composer who has worked on Studio Ghibli films and created many famous pieces.

He’s an extremely popular composer, known even by people who aren’t familiar with classical or piano music.

Among his works, the one I especially recommend for six-year-olds is “My Neighbor Totoro.” It’s notable for its bright tone that perfectly suits elementary school children, and its steady tempo makes it very easy to play.

Even so, it’s also a piece where you can learn off-beats, making it a valuable learning experience.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

Polka from Album for ChildrenLouis Heinrich Köhler

[Recommended for piano recitals] Polka ♫ Köhler / Polka, Koehler

Are you looking for a piece that will make you feel buoyant and joyful at a recital? This is a piece from the piano collection Kinder Album, Op.

210—a set of 30 works compiled in the 19th century for educational purposes.

Its lively polka rhythm conjures images of twirling around a ballroom.

It’s also ideal for learning to vary tone color—playing briskly with staccato and elegantly with legato.

With a brightness that brings smiles to listeners’ faces, it’s a recommended choice for children who want to develop expressive power and shine on stage at their recital.

Holiday in ParisWilliam Gillock

Gillock: Holiday in Paris — Pianist Yuki Kondo

William Gillock is an American composer who created numerous masterpieces with song structures so simple that even children can perform them.

Among Gillock’s works, one I especially recommend is “Holiday in Paris.” It’s such a famous piece that it’s no exaggeration to say anyone who started piano in childhood will play it at least once.

In terms of difficulty, it’s roughly on par with the first half of Burgmüller’s pieces.

Its beautifully charming melody is very striking, so be sure to listen to it as a reference for a recital.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

Burgmüller 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100 No. 20 “Tarantella”Johann Burgmüller

Burgmüller 'Tarantella' – Piano Recital by an Older Kindergartener (6 years old) / Burgmüller – La Tarentelle (piano), 6 years old

How about a passionate dance from southern Italy? It is based on the anecdote of dancing to draw out the poison after being bitten by a tarantula, and the music is filled with a tension and dynamism that seem to embody that story.

The buoyant 6/8 rhythm beats like the heartbeat of a protagonist desperately continuing to dance.

In the brief, brighter middle section, how you express the shift in feeling will be the key to the performance.

This piece is perfect for children who want to take on a rhythmic and cool-sounding work.

It would be wonderful if they could imagine a story and deliver a passionate performance! It is one of the studies from Johann Burgmüller’s collection 25 Études, Op.

100, published in 1851.

Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100 No. 2 “Arabesque”Johann Burgmüller

First Piano Recital – Age 6 – Burgmüller: L’arabesque

“Arabesque” from Johann Burgmüller’s Etudes, 25 Easy and Progressive Studies Op.

100, is a piece that shines on the recital stage.

Its light, exotic atmosphere—reminiscent of the ornamental patterns of Islamic art—is truly captivating.

Riding on a buoyant staccato rhythm, the right hand darts about as if a small adventure is beginning.

Loved since its publication in Paris in 1851, this work teaches the joy of telling a story through music while developing finger independence.

Well known in Japan as a required piece for competitions, it comes to life when the contrast between bouncing and smooth tones is clearly expressed.

Etude AllegroNakata Yoshinao

Recital: Etude Allegro — 6-year-old kindergarten senior 🙋 The new channel URL has been changed 🙌

This is a brilliant and lively piece included in the 1956 published sheet music collection “Children’s Piano Pieces.” Its defining feature is the unbroken stream of buoyant sixteenth notes, evoking the image of someone dashing energetically under the sun.

The climactic glissando sparkles like casting a rainbow, sure to captivate listeners in an instant.

This work is recommended for six-year-old children who are eager to take on a slightly more challenging piece.

It’s a delightful way to develop fast finger technique, and the sense of accomplishment upon finishing is exceptional!