[Piano Recital] Perfect Pieces for Middle Schoolers! A Curated Selection of Impressive, Audience-Pleasing Works

Children’s Album, Volume 1: “Album of My Boyhood,” No. 5: EtudeAram Khachaturian

[Piano Recital Recommendation] Etude ♪ Khachaturian / Etude, Khachaturian

This piece, distinguished by its rhythmic, crisp staccato and unique melody, is a light and lively work written in C major with a 4/4 time signature.

The right hand’s staccato and the left hand’s chromatic chord movements maintain an exquisite balance, packing rich expression and vivid imagery into a brief performance of just 1 minute and 30 seconds.

The rhythms of Armenian traditional music and dance are skillfully incorporated, allowing for a performance brimming with lively dynamism.

Composed in 1926, the piece is well-suited for developing rhythmic precision and balance between both hands, and it is known as a popular choice for piano recitals.

It is recommended for pianists who have mastered basic techniques and wish to take on a performance rich in expressive nuance.

Midnight Fire FestivalHirayoshi Takeshu

[Rehearsal] Jeans Hall just before the recital (Takekuni Hirayoshi: The Midnight Fire Festival) [Kojima Civic Exchange Center]

This is a solo piano piece by the passionate Japanese composer Tokiyuki Hirayoshi, evoking scenes of blazing flames.

Its dynamic, intense sonorities and meticulously crafted articulation are beautifully balanced, depicting sparks of fire soaring into the night sky.

The unique irregular meters create a compelling sense of motion, while rhythm patterns reminiscent of Spanish dance elevate the listener’s spirit.

Selected as a required piece for the 2024 PTNA Piano Competition, it is increasingly recognized as a work that supports technical development for piano learners.

Though cast in a minor key, it conveys a vigorous energy without darkness, offering a refreshing exhilaration—like a dance of the heart—when heard on a hot summer night.

Fountain of Stars from ‘Constellations of Sound’Yuyama Akira

36th Prize Winners' Commemorative Concert / ANRI Inoue Akira Yuyama: Fountain of Stars

This piece is included in Akira Yuyama’s piano collection Constellation of Sound, by one of Japan’s most renowned composers.

Completed in March 2009 and published in October of the same year, the collection was composed with the aim of being enjoyable for both children and adults.

It is characterized by beautiful melodies and richly imaginative music, brimming with charm that tickles a dreamer’s heart.

As distinctive rhythms intertwine with clear melodic lines, performers can fully express their own sensibilities.

It’s a perfect choice for a junior high school recital and is sure to add sparkle to the stage! Why not captivate your audience with music that shimmers like the stars?

Dance and SongNakata Yoshinao

[Recommended Piano Recital Piece] A Dance and Song ♫ Yoshinao Nakada

This is a solo piano piece that begins with light 5/8-meter staccato and syncopation.

Rhythmic, dance-like elements alternate with an elegant singing melody, vividly capturing the exhilaration of a summer night and its serene afterglow.

Composed during the mature period of the composer, who served as a lecturer at Kobe Yamate Women’s Junior College in 1993, it is one of the most popular tracks among the 24 pieces included in the album “Children’s Dreams.” While incorporating Japanese-style elements, it possesses a universal appeal and is highly regarded as a recital repertoire.

It is recommended for those aiming to level up while enjoying piano performance, as it allows players to savor the beauty of melody and harmony while honing both technical skills and expressive depth.

Arabesque of WavesMiyoshi Akira

Akira Miyoshi: Arabesque of Waves / Shunya Yada (43rd Prizewinner Commemorative Concert, A1 Division [Gold Prize])

This is a work by Japanese composer Akira Miyoshi, featuring an elegant melody that evokes a shimmering water surface.

Included in the 1987 piano miniatures collection “Umi no Nikkichō” (A Sea Diary), the piece—true to its title, which refers to Arabic-style ornamental patterns—conjures scenes of delicate, unceasing motion in sound.

Its deft shifts between G-sharp minor and B major create sonorities that suggest a grown-up, bittersweet poignancy, like a fleeting shadow passing through brightness.

Also selected as a PTNA Competition set piece, it demands restrained pedaling and rich expressiveness, making it a guaranteed showpiece.

It is especially suited for elementary and middle school students who aspire to perform their dream piece with heartfelt expression.

Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100 No. 2 “The Hunt”Johann Burgmüller

9. The Hunt / Burgmüller: 25 Progressive Pieces – No. 9 La Chasse – Classical Piano – CANACANA

This work beautifully harmonizes a light, flowing melody with a rhythmic accompaniment in 2/4 time.

It weaves an elegant sonic pattern inspired by the decorative motifs of Islamic art, creating a brilliant atmosphere when combined with its lively, march-like character.

The combination of a graceful right-hand sixteenth-note melody and left-hand staccato chords gleams like a sparkling jewel.

Published in Paris in 1851, the piece has long been cherished as an attractive work that sounds impressive despite its modest technical demands.

We invite you to immerse yourself in this radiant and graceful world of sound.

severe thunderstormJohann Burgmüller

[Piano Recital Recommendation] The Thunderstorm ♫ Burgmüller / Orage, Burgmüller

This is a dramatic and cool piece included in Johann Burgmüller’s study collection 18 Characteristic Studies, Op.

109.

Like a single film, it brilliantly depicts the arrival of a violent storm, the rumbling thunder, and its quiet passing.

The thunder expressed through octave tremolos is powerful and highly effective in performance! It’s not only about building strength and excitement; the challenge lies in gradually softening the sound as if the storm is receding, which makes it very rewarding to practice.

It’s the perfect piece for elementary and middle school students who want to greatly enhance their expressive power with a story-like work.

If performed with rich emotion at a recital, it will draw every listener into its world.