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[For Beginners] Enjoy Parent-Child Piano Duets! Recommended Songs Introduced

Graduated from a music school / 21 years of piano experiencesatomi
I began playing the piano at the age of four and spent six years at a conservatory, focusing mainly on classical music while honing my skills. In addition to solo performance, I studied extensively in chamber music and two-piano repertoire, and I had the opportunity to perform twice on stage as a soloist in piano concertos. While not to the same extent as classical, I also learned jazz and pop through practical performance. I was active as a pianist in various settings, including instrumental and vocal/choral accompaniment, performance assistance for other departments, and recording sessions. Beyond the piano, I devoted five years to the trombone in a wind ensemble. I hope to draw on these experiences to share the charm of music with many people.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Seeing your child practice the piano may inspire many parents to dream of playing a duet together.

Why not make that dream come true? In this article, we’ll introduce recommended pieces for parent–child piano duets from a wide range of genres.

Duets might sound difficult at first, but there are many published duet scores for familiar music—nursery rhymes and folk songs sung in preschools and kindergartens, theme songs from animated films, and pieces that beginner piano students learn—making them approachable for parents and children alike.

Even if your child has just started lessons and you, as a parent, are trying the piano for the first time, you can give it a go with ease.

We hope you and your child will experience the joy of breathing together and making music as one!

[For Beginners] Enjoy Piano Duets as Parent and Child! Recommended Pieces (41–50)

From the suite “Ma mère l’Oye,” No. 3: “Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas”Maurice Ravel

From 'Ma mère l’Oye' III. Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas — Ravel (piano four hands)

From the suite “Ma mère l’Oye,” No. 3: “Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas”Maurice Ravel

Watch “From the suite ‘Ma mère l’Oye,’ No. 3: ‘Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas’ Maurice Ravel” on YouTube.

This is a masterpiece that unfolds a fairytale world imbued with an Oriental atmosphere.

It vividly portrays, through the unique four-hand resonance of piano duet, the tale of a beautiful princess cursed and transformed.

The piece is one of the five movements in a piano duet suite composed by Maurice Ravel between 1908 and 1910 for the children of his friends.

In this work, the sounds of Chinese instruments—such as xylophone and percussion—are brilliantly evoked using two pianos.

Amid its light and bright character, the timbre brims with exotic color, as if the distant toll of a gong were resounding.

Demanding rich expression across the piano’s high and low registers and close ensemble coordination, it is an ideal work for concerts and recitals.

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From the suite ‘Ma mère l’Oye’: No. 4, ‘Dialogue of Beauty and the Beast’Maurice Ravel

From the suite 'Ma mère l'Oye': IV. Conversation of Beauty and the Beast / M. Ravel (piano four hands)

From the suite 'Ma mère l’Oye': No. 4, 'Dialogue of Beauty and the Beast'Maurice Ravel

Watch “From the suite ‘Ma mère l’Oye’: No. 4, ‘Dialogue of Beauty and the Beast’ Maurice Ravel” on YouTube

A piano duet inspired by the fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast,” this masterpiece weaves delicate beauty with grand drama.

The interplay between clarinet depicting Beauty and contrabassoon portraying the Beast is striking, creating a vivid sense of witnessing a conversation between the two.

Premiered in Paris in April 1910, it has also been used in ballet and visual media for its graceful melodies and rich narrative quality.

While it demands advanced technique and expressive nuance from the performers, its fairy-tale foundation lends it an approachable charm, making it a sparkling gem that stands out in concerts and recitals.

Highly recommended for those who want to savor the lush resonance of two pianos and the exhilarating tension of breathing in unison with a partner.

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In conclusion

This time, we’ve picked out well-known pieces—songs that almost everyone has heard at least once—from our recommendations for parent–child piano duets.

When you already know the melody, it’s easier to read the music and learn the rhythm, so even young children should find these pieces approachable! Even parents with little piano experience can feel at ease and enjoy making music together with their child.

Use the pieces we introduced as a reference, and give a fun parent–child duet a try!