[Beginner] Also great for piano recitals! Classical pieces that look cool when you can play them
Many people who want to learn to play the piano probably think that those admired classical pieces are impossible until you can already play to some extent.
For those people, we’ve picked out beginner-friendly classical pieces that will look cool when you can play them! While flashy and dynamic piano works often demand advanced technique, the pieces we’re introducing here are all masterpieces within easy reach for beginners, letting you enjoy short yet impressive phrases.
We’re also including famous pieces arranged for beginners, so whether you’re looking for a recital piece for your child or you’ve started learning piano as an adult, be sure to check them out!
- [For Elementary School Students] Brilliant, Showy Masterpieces That Sound Impressive at Piano Recitals
- [For Piano Recitals] Simple yet Cool Classical Pieces
- For Beginners: Easy to Play and Sounds Impressive! Pieces That Shine at Piano Recitals
- Beginner to Intermediate: Chopin pieces with relatively low difficulty. Recommended works by Chopin.
- Piano Masterpieces: Surprisingly Easy Despite Sounding Difficult!? A Curated Selection Perfect for Recitals
- [Beginner] Recommended Piano Pieces to Play at a Recital
- [Beginner] Recommended for adult piano beginners! Beautiful & stylish piano pieces
- [For 6-year-olds] A curated selection of standout pieces for piano recitals!
- [Piano Recital] Recommended for Boys! A Curated Selection of Cool, Impressive, and Popular Pieces
- [Intermediate Level] Cool Piano Pieces You Can Play [Great for Recitals Too]
- [Classical Music] All pieces under 3 minutes! A collection of short and cool piano pieces
- [Piano Recital] Carefully Selected Classical Pieces Recommended for Upper Elementary School Students
- [Piano Pieces] Easy for Children to Play! A Roundup of Simple Classical Works
[Beginner] Also great for piano recitals! Classical pieces that look cool if you can play them (31–40)
Holiday in ParisWilliam Gillock
William Gillock is known for having many pieces aimed at children.
Among them, I would like to recommend Paris Holiday this time.
Although this work is relatively minor within Gillock’s oeuvre, it is packed with elements that beginners should tackle.
In particular, the whole-tone scale appears near the end, which will be a significant new experience for children who haven’t encountered it before.
If you practice slowly, hands separately, you’ll steadily become able to perform it with confidence, so please consider it as a candidate piece for a piano recital.
Wiener MarchCarl Czerny
This Austrian piano march captivates with its clear rhythm and lively melody.
Evoking the elegance and sophistication of Vienna, it is a popular choice for piano recitals and concerts.
Although composed in the early 19th century, it continues to be cherished by many pianists and music lovers today, thanks to its dazzling expressive power that enthralls audiences.
It’s especially recommended for boys looking for a stylish, stage-worthy piece.
While it serves as solid technical practice, it also hones musical expression, making it a work that will significantly elevate the skills of anyone studying the piano.
Etude Allegro: A Duet Collection for ChildrenNakata Yoshinao
This piano duet in C major has a bright, energetic character and is a work that nurtures children’s musicality.
The sixteenth-note passages in the right hand develop technique for producing even tone, while the left hand sings the melody with expressive richness.
In the middle section, there is a modulation to A-flat major, requiring legato playing with the use of the pedal.
A brilliant glissando appears at the end, and since its publication in 1956, the piece has been popular for recitals and similar events.
It is recommended for those preparing repertoire for recitals or competitions, and it is also ideal for players seeking both technical improvement and enhanced musical expression.
Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven
For anyone who has practiced piano to some extent after starting out, this is a piece everyone wants to try at least once.
Speaking personally, the first piece I could play properly after I began taking piano lessons was Für Elise.
As a work of classical music, it’s probably recognized by people of all ages—title and all—and it’s the kind of piece that anyone will understand when you perform it.
The left-hand leaps, the right-hand melody with repeated chords, the drastically different middle section, and the developments in the latter half are somewhat challenging and require precise, fluid fingering, so beginners may find it difficult.
There are also sheet music arrangements that feature only the most famous main theme, so if playing the entire piece feels too tough, try looking for those versions.
Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545, First MovementWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Among Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sonatas, the Piano Sonata No.
16 in C major, K.
545, is one of the most well-known works.
It is included in collections such as Sonata Albums and Sonatina Albums that many piano students use as study texts.
The first movement is especially popular and is frequently performed at piano recitals.
To bring out the full charm of this bright and lively piece, aim for even tone production and maintain precise rhythmic control throughout your performance.
[Beginner] Also recommended for piano recitals! Classical pieces that look cool when you can play them (41–50)
French Suite No. 2, BWV 813: GigueJ.S.Bach
Enveloped in a light, dance-like rhythm, this piece serves as the brilliant finale to the French Suite No.
2.
Its lively 3/8 meter and contrapuntal structure are exquisitely interwoven, creating a beautiful musical dialogue through the interplay between the right and left hands.
Composed around 1722, the work is also included in the music notebook compiled for his wife, Anna Magdalena, conveying the warmth of music-making in the home.
While the key of C minor lends depth and tension, the characteristic vitality of a dance is never lost.
It is recommended for those wishing to take on Baroque music or experience the beauty of counterpoint.
Though it presents technical challenges, it also demands musical expressiveness, making it a compelling work that offers the joy of performing as well as the pleasure of listening.
Dance of the nativesNakata Yoshinao
For a six-year-old looking for a powerful and cool piece, how about a work by the Japanese composer Yoshinao Nakata? It conjures up a wild, energetic scene, as if one were dancing and stamping the earth with vigor.
Clearly differentiating staccatos and accents will be key to expressing the piece’s dynamism.
In fact, there’s a record of it winning first prize at a competition held in 2004.
This piece is perfect for practicing dynamic contrasts and is recommended for children who want to play a slightly more advanced, cool piece at a recital.