[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 (51–60)
Sonatina in A minor, Op. 27 No. 18Dmitri Kabalevsky
From its powerful main theme to the lyrical middle section, this miniature distills the essence of music into about one minute.
Composed in 1938 by Dmitry Kabalevsky, it opens with a sonorous A minor and unfolds a succession of richly expressive melodies.
Marked by clear rhythm and tonality, it moves listeners deeply without relying on flashy virtuosity.
For performance, the key point is to present the rhythmic opening theme with firm clarity.
In the middle section, a gentler expressiveness is required.
It’s an ideal piece for those who want to hone storytelling through music or make a strong impact with a short work.
“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.
French Suite No. 2, BWV 813: GigueJ.S.Bach
Enveloped in a light, dance-like rhythm, this piece serves as the brilliant finale to the French Suite No.
2.
Its lively 3/8 meter and contrapuntal structure are exquisitely interwoven, creating a beautiful musical dialogue through the interplay between the right and left hands.
Composed around 1722, the work is also included in the music notebook compiled for his wife, Anna Magdalena, conveying the warmth of music-making in the home.
While the key of C minor lends depth and tension, the characteristic vitality of a dance is never lost.
It is recommended for those wishing to take on Baroque music or experience the beauty of counterpoint.
Though it presents technical challenges, it also demands musical expressiveness, making it a compelling work that offers the joy of performing as well as the pleasure of listening.
French Suite No. 2, BWV 813: Menuet IJ.S.Bach
Beloved as an elegant dance in triple meter, this piece is part of a C minor suite composed around 1722–1725.
Its simple yet refined melody, set in binary form, is captivating, and its inclusion in the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach suggests it was intended for domestic performance.
While adopting a French-style dance form, it also conveys the distinctive beauty of Baroque-era polyphony.
With its relaxed tempo and absence of difficult passages or virtuosic demands, it is recommended for those wishing to try Baroque music or savor the depth of classical traditions.
By paying attention to tone color, expression, and dynamics, performers can enjoy its graceful world all the more.
[Piano Pieces] Easy for Kids to Play! A Roundup of Simple Classical Works (61–70)
French Suite No. 5, BWV 816: SarabandeJ.S.Bach
For those who want to take on classical music or try playing an elegant dance, how about a beautiful sarabande excerpted from a Baroque suite? The third movement of the French Suite No.
5 in G major, BWV 816, is one of the most approachable works among the six suites composed between 1722 and 1725.
Written in a gentle triple meter, it features an ornate right-hand melody interwoven beautifully with a left-hand accompaniment.
Although originally a dance of Spanish origin, it exemplifies the sarabande as a refined form that took shape in France and Germany during the Baroque era.
With its deep expressiveness and serene beauty, this movement is recommended for those looking to refine their musicality, as it calls for thoughtful interpretation of ornaments and careful phrasing.
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.
Polonaise in G minor (BWV Anh. 119)J.S.Bach
This piece included in the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach is a brief yet captivating work in the form of the Polish folk dance, the Polonaise.
Its G minor tonality evokes a wistful atmosphere, and the dignified triple meter leaves a strong impression, conveying profound emotion despite its simplicity.
As one of the pieces composed for the notebook prepared for his wife in 1725, it reflects both domestic warmth and educational intent.
Structured in a typical two-part A-A-B-B form, it lasts about one minute, making it approachable not only for technical study but also for developing expressive skills.
It is an excellent choice for those who want to explore Baroque-style polyphony or learn a refined dance form.