Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands at School Culture Festivals

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
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.

For students in bands, performing on the cultural festival stage is probably a major goal, isn’t it?

However, if you’ve only just started your instrument or have members with limited experience, choosing songs to play can be quite challenging.

The guitar might be easy but the drums are hard… or the drums are easy but the bass is hard… It’s tough to pick songs that are satisfying to listen to while keeping the difficulty under control.

So in this article, we’ll introduce recommended songs that beginners can definitely pull off if they practice hard.

The key is to be flexible—don’t cling too much to the original, and arrange the parts you absolutely can’t manage.

If you work on it with your bandmates while having fun as you prepare for your first stage, it’s sure to become a lifelong memory!

[Culture Festivals / School Festivals] Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands (91–100)

Crimson-colored sunsetFujifaburikku

Fujifabric – Akane-Colored Sunset

Crimson-colored sunsetFujifaburikku

It’s a slightly sentimental song about looking up at the sky in Tokyo and reminiscing about the past.

It was released in 2005 as Fujifabric’s sixth single.

The tempo is quite slow, so it’s great for beginners—highly recommended especially for bands that have a keyboard player.

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Happy New DayKaneyori Masaru

Kaneyori Masaru [Happy New Day] Music Video

Happy New DayKaneyori Masaru

“Happy New Day” is Kaneyori Masaru’s pep song for girls sprinting through their youth.

It’s a companion-style message song that gives you the courage to live positively.

Its classic, catchy guitar-rock sound will lift your spirits in any situation.

It’s a track we especially want to deliver to girls in their late teens to twenties.

Sing it on a school festival stage, and it’s sure to resonate with everyone around you!

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Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it’s embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai 'Is Youth Embarrassing?' Official Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Hazukashiika Seishun wa

Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it's embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai

A power-charged, feel-good song that captures the straight-from-the-heart spirit of youth in sound and lyrics! Ryokuoushoku Shakai’s exhilarating, fast-paced sound is packed with the passion of young people chasing their dreams head-on.

Featured on the album “Channel U,” this track was chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s original romance show “Kyou, Suki ni Narimashita: Summer Vacation 2024,” and was released in July 2024.

This piece, which gives a strong push to everyone living in the here and now, is also perfect as stage BGM to brighten the opening of school and culture festivals!

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fragrant oliveorenji supainikurabu

[As a band] Kinmokusei / Orange Spiny Club [Tried performing it]

fragrant oliveorenji supainikurabu

A four-piece band, Orange Spiny Club, whose songs feature delicate lyrics and a nostalgic melody, has been gaining attention mainly on social media.

This track, included on their Tower Records–exclusive indie-era album “When I Get Irritated,” has surpassed 100 million streams across music platforms and cemented Orange Spiny Club’s popularity.

The guitar parts mostly use basic techniques like arpeggios and strumming, and the solo is simple, making it approachable for learners.

The drums are an easy, laid-back 8-beat, but the bass line is quite active, so beginner bands should practice together slowly at first.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Blue and Summer

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

It’s a refreshing rock number packed with the brilliance and wistfulness of summer.

While it portrays anxieties about friendships and romance, the song overflows with a positive belief in human connections.

Released in August 2018 as the theme song for the film “A Blue Summer: 30 Days of You,” Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s seventh single surpassed 500 million streams in January 2024.

It was also performed at the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in December 2024, generating major buzz.

Filled with summer-specific imagery and a desire to cherish every moment of youth, it’s guaranteed to unite and electrify the entire venue if performed at a school festival.

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REDKOTORI

KOTORI 「RED」 Official Music Video

REDKOTORI

KOTORI, a rising young band, is gaining attention, especially among younger listeners, and has started appearing at festivals around the country.

This song is structured to start slowly and pick up the tempo in the second half.

In truth, it’s harder to tighten up a band ensemble on slower songs, but for beginners, slower tempos might be easier to get into.

Guitarists should practice arpeggios as much as possible! Since the tempo changes significantly in the latter half of the song, let the bass and drums take the lead.

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I’ll walk home.Saitō Kazuyoshi

Let’s Walk Home (ROCK’N ROLL Recording Session 2023)

I'll walk home.Saitō Kazuyoshi

This is a single by Kazuyoshi Saito released in June 1994, a rock ’n’ roll number characterized by a lively shuffle beat and a catchy melody.

Chosen as the opening theme for “Ponkickies,” it gained nationwide popularity.

Despite its bright, poppy feel, it carries a passionate message about walking your own path on your own two feet.

It was featured in a Suntory commercial in 2001 and a Suzuki Lapin commercial in 2015, making it a timeless classic loved across generations.

With a comfortable tempo and a natural call-and-response structure, it’s a safe choice to perform at gatherings with a wide range of ages.

The guitar phrases are memorable, too, making it rewarding to play!

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