[Beginner] Also great for piano recitals! Classical pieces that look cool when you can play them

‘Jupiter’ from the suite ‘The Planets’Gustav Holst

Jupiter — from the suite “The Planets” — [Beginner Piano Version]

This piece is part of the suite The Planets by Gustav Holst.

It takes as its subject Jupiter, known as the bringer of jollity.

Premiered in September 1918, during the final weeks of World War I, the work reflects the composer’s intention to express festive joy.

While resplendent, the piece also carries a profound background, and its appeal remains intact even in a simple piano arrangement, allowing you to feel the grandeur of the music.

With a relaxed tempo and no difficult rhythms, it’s accessible even for beginners at the piano.

I encourage you to try this beautiful work!

Overture from Heaven and HellJacques Offenbach

[Sports Day Music] Infernal Galop (Easy Piano) [Beginner-Friendly, with Do-Re-Mi Notes] (Orpheus in the Underworld ~ Can-Can)

The overture to an operetta composed in 1858 by French composer Jacques Offenbach.

Known for its lively, sparkling tempo, it was originally created as a parody of classical Greek mythology, but today it is often used at school sports days and other athletic events.

If you start practicing at a slow tempo and gradually speed up, you’ll be able to express the piece’s lightness more effectively.

It’s also recommended for beginners at the piano, so why not try practicing with a simple arranged version?

ButterflyHenri Van Gael

[Recommended for Piano Recitals] Butterflies ♫ Gaël / Les Papillons, Gaël

This work, composed by Belgian composer Henri Van Gael, is notable for its light and elegant melody.

The flowing motion of the music evokes the image of a butterfly in flight, soothing the hearts of listeners.

Born in 1846, Van Gael left around 200 works over his lifetime, and this piece is among his most beloved.

The transition from A minor in the first half to A major in the second half is like a butterfly fluttering its wings and soaring skyward.

Its beautiful character, expressing both grace and transience, has made it a popular choice often performed at piano recitals.

It’s a heartwarming and charming piece that is also recommended for those who have just begun learning the piano.

Minuet for TrumpetWilliam Duncombe

“Minuet for Trumpet,” composed by W. Duncombe (from Teacher’s Choice: Piano Recital Masterpieces, Vol. 1)

Minuet for Trumpet is a recommended piece not only for small children but also for adults who have just started piano and are finally beginning to play a little with both hands.

Its musical structure flows naturally from simple repeated notes into an elegant melody, giving you that delightful feeling of “I’m really playing the piano!” just by performing it.

Technically it’s not difficult at all, but try to play it with feeling while considering the balance with the left-hand accompaniment.

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Hunting SongCornelius Gurlitt

[Recommended for Piano Recitals] Hunting ♪ Gurlitt / Hunting Op.210-7, Gurlitt

The 19th-century German composer Cornelius Gurlitt is best known for his collections aimed at piano beginners and children, and the piece “Hunting Song” introduced here is one of the works from his piano collection Kinder-Musik-Konzert, Op.

210.

Although it is a very short piece, its dynamic development vividly depicts a scene from a hunt, making it a cool showpiece once a beginner can play it.

While the frequent slurs and the leaps of sevenths can be challenging—especially for players with small hands—the technical demands are well within the elementary level.

Even though it’s short, try to shape the musical phrasing to bring out the character of the piece.

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Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin

Rhapsody in Blue by Composer: G. Gershwin (Beginner Piano Sheet Music)

A masterpiece by George Gershwin, one of the defining American composers of the 20th century.

In Japan, it gained popularity as the ending theme for the TV drama “Nodame Cantabile.” Gershwin wrote this piece to capture America’s energy and the bustle of its cities in music, and it’s said he came up with the main theme on a train from New York to Boston.

It’s an anecdote that truly evokes the vastness of America.

With its fusion of classical and jazz, it has a distinctive coolness that sets it apart from other classical works.

There are also arrangements for beginners, so give it a try!

AnglaiseJohann Georg Leopold Mozart

[Recommended for Piano Recitals] Anglaise ♫ L. Mozart / Anglaise, L. Mozart

Anglaise, composed not by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart but by his father, Leopold Mozart, is an English-style dance that uses a lively duple meter popular in the 17th century.

Written right around the boundary between the Baroque and Classical periods, it distinctively reflects influences from both styles.

Although this piece often appears in collections for children, you may find it somewhat challenging in that, true to Baroque practice, the left hand does not merely accompany with chords while the right hand carries the melody; instead, both hands play independent melodic lines.

That said, as long as you have solid fundamentals, it’s well within reach.

Aim to express the refined, brilliant beauty and flair of the melody with smooth, elegant playing!

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