[Piano Recital] Carefully Selected Classical Pieces Recommended for Upper Elementary School Students

Fantasia in G minor, TWV 33:8Georg Philipp Telemann

PTNA 2017 Competition National Finals, Class C / Gold Prize, Miki Yasukawa

Fantasia in G minor, TWV 33:8, composed by the Baroque master Georg Philipp Telemann, is a work that condenses his experiences absorbing a wide array of musical styles from various countries within the glittering courts.

Its lively melodies and free sense of improvisation reveal how deeply Telemann delighted in music.

For children new to Baroque music, polyphony—constructed from overlapping voices—may feel challenging to play, but this piece should be relatively approachable.

It’s a perfect choice for elementary or middle school students who enjoy calm, contemplative works.

Tarantella, Op. 77 No. 6Moritz Moszkowski

Yui Shimoda (piano) — Moszkowski: Tarantella, Op. 77 No. 6 (40th All Japan Junior Classical Music Competition National Finals)

Moritz Moszkowski’s Tarantella, Op.

77 No.

6 is a perfect piece for energetic children.

While it includes passages that demand technique, once you get the feel for it, it’s quite manageable—so even though it’s challenging, it brings joy, and after the recital you’ll be filled with a great sense of accomplishment.

The piece’s vitality and rhythmic appeal create moments when elementary and middle school students can truly experience the fun of playing the piano.

Practice carefully, but during the performance don’t worry too much about missed notes—play boldly, imagining a wild, whirling dance!

Doll’s Dream and AwakeningTheodor Oesten

[Recommended for piano recitals] Dolls’ Dream and Awakening ♪ Oesten / Dolly’s Dreaming and Awakening, Oesten

Many people probably remember this as the “Your bath is ready!” melody from their water heater—a charmingly fairy-tale-like piece.

Included in the 1862 piano collection Kinderscenen, this work portrays a story that moves from “dream” to “awakening,” divided into four sections.

The progression from a gentle, tender dream world to a gradually more radiant awakening is full of variety and highly effective in performance—it’s sure to sound wonderful at a recital.

It’s perfect for elementary school children who are good at imagining stories, as well as middle schoolers who want to stretch themselves and try richer expression.

Try playing with expressive nuance while imagining your own doll’s story!

Phantom KnightWilliam Gillock

Gillock: Phantom Rider (from Lyric Preludes) – Pianist: Yuki Kondo

This piece by William Gillock is striking for its melody, which holds a mysterious, quiet strength.

Its atmosphere evokes the image of a knight standing in a dream, capturing the hearts of many elementary and middle school students.

The resonant low register creates a sense of weight and depth, while the high register brings out a pale, otherworldly line, as if inviting the listener into a storybook world.

Frequently selected as a required piece for the PTNA Piano Competition, it’s perfect for children with rich expressive abilities.

It’s also recommended to practice while expanding concrete imagery—asking questions like, “What kind of scene do you picture here?”

severe thunderstormJohann Burgmüller

[Piano Recital Recommendation] The Thunderstorm ♫ Burgmüller / Orage, Burgmüller

This is a dramatic and cool piece included in Johann Burgmüller’s study collection 18 Characteristic Studies, Op.

109.

Like a single film, it brilliantly depicts the arrival of a violent storm, the rumbling thunder, and its quiet passing.

The thunder expressed through octave tremolos is powerful and highly effective in performance! It’s not only about building strength and excitement; the challenge lies in gradually softening the sound as if the storm is receding, which makes it very rewarding to practice.

It’s the perfect piece for elementary and middle school students who want to greatly enhance their expressive power with a story-like work.

If performed with rich emotion at a recital, it will draw every listener into its world.

Maiden’s PrayerTekla Bądarzewska-Baranowska

Maiden’s Prayer – Badarzewska [La prière d’une vierge] Piano / CANACANA

Tekla Bądarzewska’s “A Maiden’s Prayer” is distinguished by its delicate, resplendent melody.

Its sweet, beautiful tune conjures a scene of someone single‑heartedly wishing for something with a pure heart, captivating many listeners.

Since its publication in Warsaw in 1856, it has continued to be cherished around the world.

You may well recognize it from its appearance in the anime Classicaloid or its use as a station melody on the Tokaido Shinkansen.

The decorative passages—interweaving octaves and septuplets—evoke the elegance of salon music.

It’s a perfect piece for elementary and middle school students who want to stretch themselves a little and take on a sophisticated, aspirational work.

Turkish MarchWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Turkish March Mozart, 3rd grade elementary school

This melody by Mozart that everyone knows is actually the third movement of the landmark Piano Sonata No.

11 in A major, K.

331.

The piece embodies the “Turkish style” music that swept Europe in the late 18th century, brimming with exotic flair—one can almost picture a military band marching boldly by.

Its glittering, powerful character is sure to resonate with elementary and middle school students who look up to adulthood.

It even became a hot topic as a commercial jingle in 1985.

While the tune is familiar, mastering the precise, meticulously crafted lines so characteristic of Mozart is a rewarding challenge.

It’s perfect for children who want to be the star of the recital with a cool piece—the sense of accomplishment when you finish playing it is second to none!