[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 round-up of simple classical works (11–20)
Love’s GreetingEdward Elgar
Salut d’Amour is a famous piece often performed at piano recitals and is one of Edward Elgar’s representative works.
It’s generally considered suitable for intermediate players, but aside from some challenging left-hand jumps, there aren’t many difficult passages, making it approachable even for children.
With many arranged editions available, you can choose one that matches your level and play it comfortably.
It also makes a striking impression in recitals, so do consider it as a reference piece.
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!
AllegrettoAnton Diabelli
This Allegretto is a piano piece by Anton Diabelli, an Austrian-born composer who studied under Franz Joseph Haydn.
Those familiar with classical music will know that Anton Diabelli played a key role in the circumstances surrounding the publication of works such as Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations.
Diabelli’s Allegretto, though short, is a piece that allows you to fully savor the Classical style.
Aim for a powerful performance: keep the staccato crisp, be keenly aware of dynamics, and play with the feeling of recreating an orchestra.
Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100 No. 2, ArabesqueJohann Burgmüller
Burgmüller’s 25 Easy and Progressive Studies is a collection every piano learner encounters at least once.
Arabesque, the second piece, is especially popular for its energetic and striking character.
The right hand’s fast, detailed passages often come together smoothly thanks to their tempo-friendly patterns, but the real challenge lies in the middle section with the left hand.
The moment the melody shifts to the left hand, many players struggle to keep up with the tempo and the flow often breaks.
Except where a tempo reduction is indicated, aim to maintain the opening momentum by isolating and carefully practicing the tricky spots in small sections.
small black personClaude Debussy
“The Little Negro” is a short piano piece composed on the rhythmic basis of a two-beat dance step called the “cakewalk.” Over the left hand, which keeps a steady beat, the right hand layers light, syncopated rhythms.
Just when you think the lively mood will continue, the music turns gentle for a while.
But that doesn’t last long; from a restless feeling it returns to the cakewalk rhythm.
It’s easy to get distracted by the complex rhythms in the right hand, but in fact playing the left hand accurately is crucial.
Be sure to practice each hand separately and with care!
Midnight Fire FestivalHirayoshi Takeshu
With its distinctive rhythm and driving momentum, this piece exudes a cool, passionate vibe! “Midnight Fire Festival” is included in Tetsuya Kiyoshi Hirayoshi’s piano collection for children, “Rainbow Rhythm.” A popular work often chosen as a competition set piece, it brims with intensity and power—perfect for energetic children.
It mixes passages that feel like duple meter with those that feel like triple meter, and features complex rests in the left hand, offering plenty of rewarding challenges to practice.
To play it stylishly, start by firmly grasping the rhythm with one hand at a time.
[Piano Pieces] Easy Even for Kids! A Roundup of Simple Classical Works (21–30)
Six EcosaisLudwig van Beethoven
Among Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano works, the Six Ecossaises are well loved as pieces for beginners.
The work is structured with five short themes inserted between a recurring main theme, making it perfect for learning how to switch moods and sharpen musical expression.
It’s packed with fundamental techniques such as staccato, legato, and turns, so careful practice will help you level up.
With its many repetitions, it’s easy to memorize and is also recommended for recitals.