![[Latest] Nursery Teacher Exam Piano Set Pieces | Thorough Prep with 2023 Selections and Past Pieces!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/6FDXWPOuUuA/maxresdefault.webp)
[Latest] Nursery Teacher Exam Piano Set Pieces | Thorough Prep with 2023 Selections and Past Pieces!
After studying early childhood education and completing rigorous practical training, the final hurdle before becoming a certified childcare worker is the Nursery Teacher Examination.
Once you pass all nine written subjects, what awaits you is the practical skills test covering Music, Art, and Language.
Among these, the sing-and-play piano component can be a major source of anxiety for those with little instrumental experience.
In this article, we present a comprehensive collection of past nursery teacher exam repertoire pieces that you should practice—both as preparation for the exam and to build performance skills you can use in real childcare settings.
Of course, the latest assigned pieces are included as well.
This time, we have carefully selected easy arrangements that even those who feel unsure about piano can master without strain.
All sheet music is available for download, so give it a try!
[Latest] Piano Pieces for the Nursery Teacher Certification Exam | Thorough Preparation with 2023 Selections and Past Pieces (1–10)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your handsamerika min’yō
“If You’re Happy and You Know It,” originally an American folk song, became a huge hit in Japan when Kyu Sakamoto sang it in 1964.
It was also a required piece for the 2023 Nursery Teacher Certification Exam.
Some people may have sung it often since childhood without realizing it was born abroad.
It’s very popular as a children’s song and frequently appears in elementary school textbooks.
When accompanying yourself, clearly articulate the dotted rhythm that bounces like a skip; this makes it easier to place the vocals.
Start by practicing the right-hand rhythm accurately, then gradually coordinate it with the left hand.
Goat MailDan Ikuma
“Yagi-san Yubin” is a humor-filled story based on the motif of a black goat who eats a letter from a white goat and then asks, “So, what was it you wanted earlier?” It was a set piece for the 2023 childcare worker certification exam.
While the melody line has some motion, the chord changes aren’t very drastic, so choosing a simple accompaniment arranged with only bass notes allows you to practice playing with both hands while focusing on your right hand.
Once the right hand feels comfortable, try arrangements with broken chords in the accompaniment as your next challenge.
Under the big chestnut treeIgirisu min’yō
The children’s song “Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree,” based on an English folk tune, is one of the assigned pieces for the 2020 childcare worker certification exam.
It’s a classic that’s virtually always sung in nurseries and kindergartens! Because it’s often performed with hand motions and choreography, it’s a must-learn for anyone aiming to become a childcare worker.
When you’re actually performing while teaching the children the song and the moves, it’s important to keep your attention on them as you play.
To make that possible, start by choosing an easy arrangement so you can play with confidence and not be overwhelmed by the piano part.
A line of ducklingsNakata Yoshinao
The nursery rhyme “The Duck Parade” depicts ducklings toddling and smoothly swimming as they follow their mother duck.
It was a designated song for the 2021 Nursery Teacher Certification Exam.
The light dotted rhythm evokes the image of ducks walking earnestly, wagging their tails.
To express this adorable scene, focus on the rhythm of the melody! Play clearly to avoid sounding too sweet, and let your voice bounce with energy as you sing and play.
The note with an ornamental pitch one octave higher that appears partway through serves as an accent in the piece, so try to play it with a sparkling, standout sound.
Nyanunyonyo Weather ForecastUno Seiichirō
You can tell the weather from a cat’s behavior! The unique lyrics of “Nyan‑nyu‑nyo no Tenki Yohō” capture children’s hearts and don’t let go.
It was a set piece for the 2020 childcare worker certification exam.
If you sing while expressing with your body how the cat raises its tail, sharpens its claws, or washes its face, kids will enjoy it even more.
Since it’s a bright, lively song, the key is to play the dotted rhythms in the melody clearly and keep the accompaniment light! If you’re not comfortable with dotted rhythms, we recommend practicing with an arrangement like the sheet music introduced here: let the singing carry the melody, and have the piano play only a broken‑chord accompaniment.
Playing bus (pretend bus play)Yuyama Akira
Not only can you sing it, but you can also use “Bus Pretend Play” in many ways: pass tickets to the friend next to you as the lyrics say, bump hips while swaying, use it as background music for musical chairs, and more.
It was a set piece for the 2019 nursery teacher certification exam.
Since you’ll likely be playing the piano while watching the children move, it’s best to be able to play it with ease.
First, master an easy arrangement of the melody and bass notes, and once you’re comfortable, add rhythm to the accompaniment so the children can sing along with energy.
loquatIsobe Shū
The children’s song “Biwa,” which sings about loquat fruits growing close together, sheltered by the tree’s leaves, was a designated piece for the 2022 nursery teacher certification exam.
Because the melody is very simple, an arrangement with just a single melodic line and bass notes should be approachable even for those worried about the piano performance.
If you’re practicing with an accompaniment score that doesn’t include the melody line, like the sheet music introduced here, one recommended method is to set the rhythm aside at first and practice holding the chords with both hands while singing along.
After that, add the rhythm according to the score.