[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 for Kids to Play! A Roundup of Simple Classical Works (31–40)
Album for the Young, Op. 68-1 “Melody”Robert Schumann
The first piece, “Melody,” from Robert Schumann’s Album for the Young, a collection of 43 piano miniatures written for children and young people.
It’s a beautiful piece whose simple, warm tune feels quintessentially Schumann.
With relatively few notes, it’s approachable even for children, but to convey its gentle beauty, it’s important to be mindful of the balance between the hands.
Let the tender right-hand melody take center stage by keeping the left hand as soft as possible and playing with care.
Boys’ Merry-Go-RoundNiels Wilhelm Gade
This is a children’s piano piece with a bright, lively rhythm.
Its simple yet beautiful melody is striking, vividly portraying children dancing in a circle.
Included on the album “Children’s Christmas,” the piece is full of playful fun and conveys a spirited, boyish energy.
It balances educational consideration with artistry, evoking scenes of traditional European children’s games.
Also featured as a piano set piece in the ABRSM exams, it is loved worldwide as a performance piece that shines on stage.
Highly recommended for those who want a dazzling recital piece.
French Suite No. 6, BWV 817 – GavotteJ.S.Bach
Among the suites composed during the Baroque era, this piece is notable for its clear duple meter and approachable melody.
Written around 1722 to 1725 for educational purposes, it beautifully fuses French elegance with German structural rigor.
As a valuable work that conveys the atmosphere of courtly dance to the present day, it demands both expressiveness and technique from the performer, yet it remains accessible thanks to the relative scarcity of difficult phrases or virtuosic passages.
It is recommended for those who have only recently started playing the piano or who wish to try Baroque music, and by practicing with an emphasis on tone and expression, one can perform while sensing the ambiance of the court of that time.
MemoryWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
This is a piano miniature in G major, notable for its gentle atmosphere and flowing melody.
Employing an accompaniment pattern known as the Alberti bass, the beautiful melody conveys the refined aesthetic of the Classical era despite its simplicity, soothing the listener’s heart.
The fluid accompaniment based on broken chords is a hallmark found in many of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s piano works, and its charm is fully showcased here as well.
While the piece is structured to be approachable for performers, it also offers ample opportunities for expressive playing.
It is an ideal choice for those who have mastered basic piano techniques or for listeners wishing to become more familiar with classical music.
French Suite No. 1, BWV 812: Minuet IIJ.S.Bach
Among the French Suites, this dance is especially approachable and perfect as an introduction to Baroque music.
Composed around 1722, it is also included in the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, making it a warm, home-oriented piece.
It has an elegant yet introspective atmosphere, with Bach’s characteristic counterpoint woven throughout, but the technical demands are kept moderate, making it comfortable to play.
It is usually performed together with Minuet I, and its gentle yet profound expressiveness resonates quietly with listeners.
It’s a recommended piece for those who want to try Baroque music or hone their expressive skills.
[Piano Pieces] Easy Even for Children! A Roundup of Simple Classical Works (41–50)
Eight Pieces, Op. 84: No. 3, FugueGabriel Fauré
Despite employing the fugue form, this piece possesses a flowing beauty and delicate depth.
Composed in 1869, it captivates with a tightly interwoven four-voice texture.
The clarity of the subject and the interplay among the voices create the impression of watching an elegant social dance.
The modulation from A minor to A major is striking, and the refined grace characteristic of French music shines through.
At its premiere in April 1903 by Ricardo Viñes, its subtle expressivity was highly praised.
This work is recommended for those who wish to become acquainted with traditional classical forms or who are captivated by the elegance of French music.
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!