[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 Children to Play! A Roundup of Simple Classical Works (1–10)
Nocturne No. 2, Op. 9-2Frederic Chopin
Frederic Chopin, a composer who left countless masterpieces to the world, wrote the famous Nocturne No.
2, Op.
9-2.
Almost everyone has heard this melody at least once.
While the score-reading and fingering are not particularly difficult, the piece includes elements that require patient practice, such as left-hand leaps and delicate expression.
It’s not something you can simply call “easy,” but by the time you master it, you’ll have developed a high level of expressiveness.
It’s a highly recommended piece for children who want to further refine their piano performance skills and take on a new challenge.
From the New World, Movement IIAntonín Dvořák
A symphony composed in the later years of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák.
Written in America in 1893, it brilliantly fuses the diverse musical cultures of the New World with European musical styles.
The beautiful melody of the second movement is known in Japan as “Ieji” (Going Home) and is widely used as evening music.
Although originally an orchestral work, there are many piano arrangements, making it a great recommendation even for those attempting two-handed playing for the first time.
By cherishing simple overlapping tones, aim for a performance that evokes vast landscapes and a sense of hope for the New World.
Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 2: “Soldiers’ March”Robert Schumann
A bright, lively piece that conjures up soldiers marching in step right before your eyes! The second piece from “Album for the Young,” Soldier’s March, is built from a succession of chords and dotted rhythms.
You may find it challenging to play all the notes of each chord together evenly, but with slow, careful practice you’ll be able to catch every note solidly.
To internalize the buoyant rhythm, it’s also recommended to incorporate clapping or tapping out the rhythm into your practice!
[Piano Pieces] Easy even for children! A round-up of simple classical works (11–20)
Étude AllegroNakata Yoshinao
Up-tempo and brimming with a sense of drive, Etude Allegro is sure to shine at any recital! This piece is one of the works in the mini-collection Children’s Piano Pieces, composed by Yoshinao Nakada—well known for his children’s songs—after he was asked to create a piano collection for children.
After the thrilling opening, a calm middle section arrives; just when the bright mood seems to return, the piece closes gently.
Enjoy these shifts in character, and aim to play with lively energy and momentum!
American PatrolFrank White Meacham
Composed in 1885, this piece is known as a masterpiece symbolizing American patriotism.
Created by Frank White Meacham, it is characterized by a structure that skillfully weaves together popular melodies of the time.
Its lively rhythm and brilliant melodies are striking, sure to lift the listener’s spirits.
To bring out the piece’s lightness, it’s best to clearly contrast the staccato passages in the melody with the legato ones.
The more you can play it, the more fun it becomes—no doubt about it! Give it a try.
knightDmitri Kabalevsky
Knight by the Russian composer Dmitry Borisovich Kabalevsky, who left many works for children, is a crisp and striking piece that evokes the bravery of a knight.
The piece is divided into three parts: at first the melody is in the left hand, in the middle section it moves to the right hand, and finally it returns to the left hand for the finale.
Since beginner piano scores often fix the pattern as “melody in the right hand, accompaniment in the left,” it’s a great idea to boldly choose a piece for a recital in which both hands take the lead!
Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, a composer who represents the German Classical tradition and produced numerous masterpieces.
Among his works, the piece that is especially approachable even for beginners is surely Für Elise.
Despite its beginner-friendly tempo and manageable leaps, the music is crafted to feel romantic, as if it tells a story.
The more expressive you become, the more impressive it sounds, so beginners should definitely give it a try.