[Piano Recital] Recommended for Boys! A Curated Selection of Cool, Impressive, and Popular Pieces
Speaking of piano lessons, there used to be an image that they were for girls, but these days—perhaps due to the influence of video sites, social media, and the street piano trend—more and more boys want to learn piano as well.
As a result, many parents are enrolling their sons with the hope that “I want my son to be able to play too!” And one milestone they’ll almost certainly encounter is the piano recital.
In this article, we introduce stylish, stage-ready pieces that are perfect for boys as candidate pieces for the recital that every child taking piano lessons is bound to experience.
Why not pick out some possibilities early so your child can answer when the teacher asks, “Is there anything you’d like to play?”
- [For Elementary School Students] Brilliant, Showy Masterpieces That Sound Impressive at Piano Recitals
- [Intermediate Level] Cool Piano Pieces You Can Play [Great for Recitals Too]
- [For Piano Recitals] Simple yet Cool Classical Pieces
- [Piano Recital] Perfect Pieces for Middle Schoolers! A Curated Selection of Impressive, Audience-Pleasing Works
- [For 6-year-olds] A curated selection of standout pieces for piano recitals!
- It’s so cool if you can play these on the piano! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces.
- Piano Masterpieces: Surprisingly Easy Despite Sounding Difficult!? A Curated Selection Perfect for Recitals
- [Popular Piano] Capture the Audience’s Attention! Recommended Pop Songs That Shine at Piano Recitals
- [Piano Recital] Carefully Selected Classical Pieces Recommended for Upper Elementary School Students
- [For Intermediate Players] Challenge Yourself! Recommended Masterpieces That Shine at Piano Recitals
- [Beginner] Recommended Piano Pieces to Play at a Recital
- [Classical Music] All pieces under 3 minutes! A collection of short and cool piano pieces
- [For 5-year-olds] A curated selection of recommended pieces for a piano recital!
[Piano Recital] Recommended for Boys! Carefully Selected Cool and Impressive Popular Pieces (51–60)
Fantasia “Sakura Sakura”Hirai Kōsaburō
A solo piano piece by Japanese composer Kozaburo Hirai, based on a melody familiar to everyone in Japan.
From the eight-bar, dreamlike introduction, it unfolds into an accessible main theme—sure to make a striking impression on any recital stage.
The charm of this work lies in how it paints a variety of scenes like a single story, from the splendor of cherry blossoms in full bloom to the fleeting beauty of petals dancing in the air.
The rhythmic section from measure 35, which imitates drums, adds energy and exhilaration to the piece.
It’s perfect for elementary and middle school students who want to express a slightly mature, traditional Japanese atmosphere.
It also serves wonderfully as an etude for developing rich expressive power, so try performing it dramatically while visualizing the scenes.
Song of JoyLudwig van Beethoven
“Ode to Joy,” which extracts the theme from the fourth movement of the masterpiece Symphony No.
9 by the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven, is also known as “Hymn to Joy” and is included in various piano method books.
It’s a piece that beginners who have just started playing the piano often try, and it’s also a popular staple for recitals.
For beginners, coordinating different motions with both hands is extremely difficult.
This arrangement has been put together with accompaniment that makes it easier even for such beginners to perform.
The difficulty varies depending on the arrangement, but if it follows a structure like the one in the video, even children should find it approachable.
Be sure to check it out!
25 Etudes, Op. 100, No. 25: ‘La chevaleresque’ (The Lady’s Riding)Johann Burgmüller
The final piece in Burgmüller’s masterpiece 25 Progressive Pieces, Op.
100, is The Nobleman’s Horse (La Chevaleresque).
Alongside Arabesque, The Gentle Flower, and The Angel’s Voice, it is one of Burgmüller’s most well-known works and is also popular as a recital piece frequently performed.
The key point of this work is that it is packed with techniques beginners should master.
It encompasses challenges essential to piano playing, such as a wide range of registers, powerful chords, and passages requiring swift finger movements.
It is truly an ideal piece for building a solid foundation in piano technique.
Étude AllegroNakata Yoshinao
Up-tempo and brimming with a sense of speed, Étude Allegro is guaranteed to shine at any recital! This piece is one of the works in Children’s Piano Pieces, a collection composed by Yoshinao Nakada—well known as a composer of children’s songs—after he was asked to create a set of piano works for children.
After the exciting opening that sparks anticipation, a quiet middle section arrives; just when it seems the bright mood has returned, the piece comes to a gentle close.
Enjoy these shifts in character, and aim to play it with lively energy and momentum!
[Piano Recital] Recommended for Boys! A Curated Selection of Cool & Impressive Popular Pieces (61–70)
Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven
A masterpiece by Ludwig van Beethoven that any piano student has dreamed of playing at least once! Not only is it famous as a piano piece, but it has also been arranged into pop and popular songs by various artists.
Its appeal lies in its variety: the gentle opening phrase that smoothly connects the left and right hands, the bright and brilliant middle section, and the later passage that feels like fierce anger.
Pay attention to the shifts in mood and play with plenty of expression and dynamic contrast!
Etude “30 Pieces for Children, Op. 27” No. 3Dmitri Kabalevsky
This compact piece, woven from a simple yet enchanting melody and dynamic rhythms, is one of the celebrated works from “30 Children’s Pieces, Op.
27,” composed between 1937 and 1938 for young players.
The energetic right-hand melody and powerful left-hand chords create a sonority reminiscent of a heart-stirring dance.
While containing technical elements, it is a piano miniature rich in expressive resonance.
Its conservative yet innovative harmonic progressions captivate listeners within a brief performance time.
Ideal for recitals and competitions, its accessible melody—imbued with elements of Russian folk music—will resonate deeply with audiences.
“Dance of the Natives” from Children’s Piano PiecesNakata Yoshinao
Though just one minute long, this powerful piece stands out among the 17 works included in the album “Children’s Piano Pieces.” Its strong rhythm, grounded in A minor, generates a distinctive sense of tension and vitality.
The work’s appeal lies in its striking melody: it employs a traditional Japanese pentatonic scale while exuding the vibrant energy of folk music.
It has been selected as a required piece for the PTNA Piano Step program and is well known at the Basic 5 level.
The hand-crossing technique leaves a strong impression on audiences, making it ideal for recitals and competitions.
This superb miniature captivates listeners with expressive flair while incorporating devices that draw out the performer’s technique.