[Piano Pieces] Easy for Children to Play! A Roundup of Simple Classical Works
One of the reasons children who have just started piano lessons lose interest is that they begin to feel, “Piano is hard…” If reading music is difficult and practice doesn’t progress, or if their fingers don’t move the way they want and they can’t get a passing mark from the teacher, they tend to develop negative feelings toward the piano they started with such excitement.
In this article, we’ll introduce easy classical pieces that are approachable even for children.
There are always individual differences in how difficult something feels and how quickly one progresses, but please pick pieces that suit your child so they can feel, “Piano is fun!”
- [For Elementary School Students] Brilliant, Showy Masterpieces That Sound Impressive at Piano Recitals
- [Beginner] Recommended Piano Pieces to Play at a Recital
- [For Piano Recitals] Simple yet Cool Classical Pieces
- For Beginners: Easy to Play and Sounds Impressive! Pieces That Shine at Piano Recitals
- [For Kids] Play Piano with One Finger! Recommended Songs Collection
- [Classical Music] All pieces under 3 minutes! A collection of short and cool piano pieces
- Disney Classics on Piano: A Curated Selection of Easy Pieces, Perfect for Recitals
- Piano Masterpieces: Surprisingly Easy Despite Sounding Difficult!? A Curated Selection Perfect for Recitals
- Beginner to Intermediate: Chopin pieces with relatively low difficulty. Recommended works by Chopin.
- Recommended for piano beginners! 10 sheet music picks that adults can enjoy too
- [Beginner] Also great for piano recitals! Classical pieces that look cool when you can play them
- Even beginners can play them easily on the piano! A curated selection of popular and latest J-POP songs.
- For Preschoolers to Elementary School Children: Challenging Piano Pieces — A Curated Selection from Competition Repertoire
[Piano Pieces] Easy for Kids to Play! A Roundup of Simple Classical Works (61–70)
Birthday MarchLouis Köhler
A charming piece that’s perfect for a first recital and is included in many children’s piano collections! Louis Köhler’s “Birthday March” is simple and easy to remember, yet it’s packed with important elements for piano study, such as chord staccatos and smooth legato in the melody.
Another appeal of this piece is the wide range of dynamics you can explore—from lively passages to softly played sections.
Imagine a birthday surprise as you perform, and bring the music to life with expressive playing.
castanetWilliam Gillock
William Gillock’s Castanets features a striking opening that begins with a succession of chords and an exotic musical character.
Not only is it varied and enjoyable to play, but it also incorporates many essential elements for progressing in piano study—such as alternating between the hands, controlling tempo, and passages that require finger independence—so you can develop techniques that will benefit your future performances as you practice.
It’s an ideal choice for those who feel, “Standard pieces are boring,” or “Because it’s a recital, I want to try something with a different atmosphere from the pieces in my usual books.”
Holiday in ParisWilliam Gillock
William Gillock is an American composer who created numerous masterpieces with musical structures so simple that even children can perform them.
Among his works, one I especially recommend is Paris Holiday.
It’s such a famous piece that it’s no exaggeration to say many children who have just started learning piano will perform it at least once.
In terms of difficulty, it’s roughly on par with the first half of Burgmüller’s pieces.
Its beautiful, charming melody is wonderfully appealing, so I encourage you to try it as a recital piece!
“Dance of the Natives” from Children’s Piano PiecesNakata Yoshinao
Though just one minute long, this powerful piece stands out among the 17 works included in the album “Children’s Piano Pieces.” Its strong rhythm, grounded in A minor, generates a distinctive sense of tension and vitality.
The work’s appeal lies in its striking melody: it employs a traditional Japanese pentatonic scale while exuding the vibrant energy of folk music.
It has been selected as a required piece for the PTNA Piano Step program and is well known at the Basic 5 level.
The hand-crossing technique leaves a strong impression on audiences, making it ideal for recitals and competitions.
This superb miniature captivates listeners with expressive flair while incorporating devices that draw out the performer’s technique.
Gypsy DanceHeinrich Lichner
Gypsy Dance by German composer Heinrich Lichner is a popular piece often chosen for recitals.
It’s recommended for children who are around the level of reaching from beginner to intermediate.
With its exotic, foreign-tinged melody that evokes a passionate dance, selecting this work for a recital is sure to draw attention.
The left-hand accompaniment uses staccato and can easily become uneven, with the volume tending to get too loud.
Aim to play crisply while maintaining balance so as not to interfere with the smooth right-hand melody.
Jazz PreludeWilliam Gillock
“Jazz Prelude,” included in William Gillock’s piano collection Jazz Stylings, is, as its title suggests, a very cool piece with a jazzy vibe.
Jazz rhythms might feel unfamiliar at first, but once you get the hang of them, they can be addictive! Unlike standard classical repertoire, this piece has a stylish, mature atmosphere that could make a big impact at a recital.
It’s the perfect choice for a child who says, “I want to play something with a different feel from everyone else!”
Carnaval, Op. 9 No. 2: PierrotRobert Schumann
From the collection Carnaval, here is a short piece in which Robert Schumann portrays the clown Pierrot.
Noted for its introverted, wistful atmosphere, the piece features a steady, almost monotonous rhythm punctuated by sudden, leaping motions.
Though only about two minutes long and set in E-flat major, its effective use of pedal creates resonant sonorities that quietly depict Pierrot’s delicate emotional world.
Schumann composed this suite between 1834 and 1835, reflecting his romantic relationships and inner life in the music.
It’s recommended for those who have just begun learning the piano or who want to start with a short piece.
Since it doesn’t demand difficult techniques, focusing on expressive playing will let you fully savor the charm of Romantic-era music.