[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!”
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[Piano Pieces] Easy even for children! A roundup of simple classical works (71–80)
Csikos PostHermann Necke
When you listen to this piece, do you ever feel an irresistible urge to start running? Many people probably do.
Hussar’s March (The Post) by German composer Hermann Necke—better known in Japan as “Csikos Post”—is a familiar tune often used as background music for footraces at school sports festivals.
You may often hear a brilliant arrangement for wind instruments, but it was originally written for piano! In the sheet music introduced here, the left hand is written in quarter notes, but if you subdivide into eighth notes when you play, you can get even closer to the lively feel of the original.
Keep practicing and gradually pick up the tempo!
25 Etudes, Op. 100 No. 20 “Tarantella”Johann Burgmüller
Burgmüller’s 25 Études is a famous collection that every pianist inevitably encounters in their practice.
Although regarded as relatively easy among études, it distills essential techniques for beginners.
This time, we introduce a more challenging piece from the set: 25 Études Op.
100, No.
20 “Tarantella.” It is a vigorous dance primarily in 6/8—or sometimes felt in 3/8.
Notably, the eighth rest between the two eighth notes starting at measure 17 demands an exquisitely balanced length—neither too long nor too short.
It is a highly valuable piece for learning delicate, nuanced performance.
25 Etudes, Op. 100, No. 25: ‘La chevaleresque’ (The Lady’s Riding)Johann Burgmüller
The piece that serves as the finale of Burgmüller’s masterwork, 25 Progressive Pieces, is The Lady’s Ride.
Alongside Arabesque, Gentle Flower, and The Angel’s Voice, it is known as one of the relatively easier works among Burgmüller’s pieces.
The key point of this work is that it’s packed with techniques beginners should master.
It spans a wide range of the keyboard and features chords and a relatively fast right hand.
It’s a perfect piece for building a child’s foundational skills!
KrakowiakLudomir Różycki
This Krakowiak, which has been selected as a required piece for the Chopin Competition, takes its name from a folk dance originating in the Kraków region in southern Poland.
The work is characterized by duple meter featuring syncopation and accents on weak beats, and is well known as a piece that even children can attempt.
To get comfortable with the rhythm, be sure to practice repeatedly.
Babayaga Op. 39-20Pyotr Tchaikovsky
This is a masterpiece created by a Russian composer devoted to nurturing children’s hearts through music.
The work vividly portrays, in sound, the tale of a mysterious witch who lives in a hut standing on chicken legs and travels in a flying mortar—captivating children’s imaginations.
With a melodic line that includes rapid ascending and descending scales and wide leaps, along with unstable harmonic sonorities, it skillfully conveys the witch’s eeriness and enigmatic movements.
Composed in 1878, its brisk tempo and richly descriptive power brim with immediacy, letting listeners savor the story’s excitement.
Brimming with expressive nuance and drama, this piece is perfect for a child’s piano recital or as an encore.
A recommended classic for anyone who wishes to foster imagination through music.
Indian danceWilliam Gillock
This piece, inspired by Native American culture and rhythms, captivates with its simple yet powerful pulse and distinctive melody.
The drum-like accompaniment in the left hand is striking, while the right-hand melody unfolds in response.
Combining a steady beat with triplets, the work brims with the vigor and dynamism that many boys admire.
Included in the album “Two Indian Dances,” it also stands out for encouraging expressive playing as performers imagine the culture and stories behind the music.
Written in G major, its bright and lively character is sure to shine in recitals and competitions.
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.”