[Piano Recital] Carefully Selected Classical Pieces Recommended for Upper Elementary School Students
Children in the lower to middle elementary grades combine natural childlike innocence with a touch of precociousness born from admiring adulthood.
As their tastes for piano recital pieces start to show, some teachers may be struggling to find a piece that truly satisfies them.
In this article, we’ve selected classical works that are perfect for elementary and especially middle-grade students to perform at recitals.
Even within this age group, each child’s piano experience, performance level, and musical preferences vary.
We’ve gathered pieces that children are likely to enjoy from multiple angles—lively pieces, gentle and lyrical ones, and technically more challenging works—so please use this as a reference when choosing repertoire.
Playlist
| [Piano Recital] Carefully Selected Classical Pieces Recommended for Upper Elementary School Students | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | Midnight Fire FestivalHirayoshi Takeshu |  play_arrow | Passion that surges forward with a unique, driving rhythm… |
| 2 | Piano Sonata K. 545, 1st MovementWolfgang Amadeus Mozart |  play_arrow | The Appeal and Techniques of Mozart’s Famous Piano Pieces |
| 3 | Fantaisie-ImpromptuFrederic Chopin |  play_arrow | Impressive for its passion and beauty in Chopin’s works |
| 4 | Sonatina Op. 55 No. 1, First MovementFriedrich Kuhlau |  play_arrow | Among sonatina works, it enjoys particularly high popularity, and f... |
| 5 | Arabesque of WavesMiyoshi Akira |  play_arrow | An Introduction to the Elegant Piano Miniatures of Akira Miyoshi |
| 6 | Fountain of Stars from ‘Constellations of Sound’Yuyama Akira |  play_arrow | Japanese composer Akira Yuyama’s piano collection “Sound…" |
| 7 | Album for the Young, Op. 68, No. 8 “The Brave Horseman”Robert Schumann |  play_arrow | A lively piece! This piece was composed in 1848 by Ku… |
| 8 | Fantasia in G minor, TWV 33:8Georg Philipp Telemann |  play_arrow | The great master of Baroque music, Georg Philipp… |
| 9 | Tarantella, Op. 77 No. 6Moritz Moszkowski |  play_arrow | Moritz Moszkowski’s “Tarantella…” |
| 10 | Doll’s Dream and AwakeningTheodor Oesten |  play_arrow | A piece that expresses a story from dream to awakening |
| 11 | Phantom KnightWilliam Gillock |  play_arrow | A melody imbued with mysterious, quiet strength leaves an impression… |
| 12 | severe thunderstormJohann Burgmüller |  play_arrow | Burgmüller storm depiction piano piece |
| 13 | Maiden’s PrayerTekla Bądarzewska-Baranowska |  play_arrow | The beautiful melody of Maiden’s Prayer |
| 14 | Turkish MarchWolfgang Amadeus Mozart |  play_arrow | Mozart's Turkish March. For a recital. |
| 15 | 25 Etudes, Op. 100 No. 20 “Tarantella”Johann Burgmüller |  play_arrow | Well known as a collection of piano études, Johann ... |
| 16 | Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven |  play_arrow | Challenge yourself with emotional expression in Beethoven's masterpieces |
| 17 | Aeolian harpWilliam Gillock |  play_arrow | Delicate and beautiful, reminiscent of the sound of a harp swaying in the wind. |
| 18 | Line Dance of TulipsHirayoshi Takeshu |  play_arrow | As if colorful tulips were all simultaneously bl— |
| 19 | Fantasia “Sakura Sakura”Hirai Kōsaburō |  play_arrow | A Japanese composition based on a melody that every Japanese person knows... |
| 20 | Turkish MarchLudwig van Beethoven |  play_arrow | I can see soldiers from a distant land marching toward us… |
| 21 | Waltz No. 4 in F major, Op. 34-3 “Cat Waltz”Frederic Chopin |  play_arrow | Composed by Frédéric Chopin in 1838… |
| 22 | pirateRoger Grove |  play_arrow | An up-tempo book with a pirate adventure theme… |
| 23 | Brilliant WaltzGlenda Austin |  play_arrow | An elegant composition that fuses waltz and jazz |
| 24 | “Fountain on a Rainy Day” from “Album for Children”William Gillock |  play_arrow | A composer who created numerous piano pieces for children, U... |
| 25 | 12 Variations on “Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman” (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |  play_arrow | Based on an old French folk song, Wolfgang… |
| 26 | Children’s Album, Volume 1: “Album of My Boyhood,” No. 5: EtudeAram Khachaturian |  play_arrow | A lively piano piece of Armenian traditional music |
| 27 | Wiener MarchCarl Czerny |  play_arrow | Charming piano pieces of Austria |
| 28 | Six Pieces for Children (Christmas Album), Op. 72: No. 2 in E-flat major, Andante sostenuto, MWV U 170Felix Mendelssohn |  play_arrow | Mendelssohn’s heartwarming piano piece |
| 29 | Mazurka No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 7 No. 1Frederic Chopin |  play_arrow | Mazurka No. 5 by Frédéric Chopin… |
| 30 | Boys’ Merry-Go-RoundNiels Wilhelm Gade |  play_arrow | A lively and beautiful piano piece for children |
| 31 | Final Fantasy VII Piano Collections “One-Winged Angel”Uematsu Nobuo |  play_arrow | Piano masterpiece of the Sephiroth battle theme |
| 32 | Seven Cheerful Variations on a Ukrainian Folk SongDmitri Kabalevsky |  play_arrow | Dmitr…, known for his diverse piano pieces for children |
| 33 | Waltz ÉtudeWilliam Gillock |  play_arrow | You can develop expressiveness with a bright waltz composed by Gillock. |
| 34 | Babayaga Op. 39-20Pyotr Tchaikovsky |  play_arrow | A famous piece for children that depicts a witch's tale through music |
| 35 | Something good might happen!Yuyama Akira |  play_arrow | A piano piece that fuses classical and jazz |
| 36 | Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz” (“Little Dog Waltz”)Frederic Chopin |  play_arrow | Frederic Chopin’s “Waltz No. 6 …” |
| 37 | Children’s Album, Volume 1, “Picture Book of Boyhood”: No. 7, Hobbyhorse (Cavalry)Aram Khachaturian |  play_arrow | A dynamic piano miniature that expresses a child's playful spirit |
| 38 | Tarantella from ‘Album for the Young’William Gillock |  play_arrow | Beginner piano pieces composed by Gillock |
| 39 | Burgmüller 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100 No. 15 “Ballade”Johann Burgmüller |  play_arrow | Burgmüller’s narrative and elegant piano pieces |
| 40 | Csikos PostHermann Necke |  play_arrow | A gem of a lively tune beloved as sports day BGM |
| 41 | Carnival BallWilliam Gillock |  play_arrow | A passionate piece with the charm of samba rhythm |
| 42 | “The Four Seasons” — From 12 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 37bis: “February: Carnival”Pyotr Tchaikovsky |  play_arrow | Carnival from Tchaikovsky's The Seasons |
| 43 | Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332 (K6 300k), No. 1Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |  play_arrow | Elegant melodies and beautiful music of the Classical era |
| 44 | Sonatina in F major, First MovementAnton Diabelli |  play_arrow | With its graceful, approachable melody and the unique qualities of F major… |
| 45 | Habanera on a Summer NightHirayoshi Takeshu |  play_arrow | A piece with Cuban rhythms and graceful melodies |
| 46 | “Baumkuchen” from “The World of Sweets”Yuyama Akira |  play_arrow | Baumkuchen: cultivating children’s expressive abilities |
| 47 | Masquerade Ball ‘Waltz’Aram Khachaturian |  play_arrow | Waltz. Used in a movie and the Olympics. |
| 48 | Sonatina, 3rd MovementWilliam Gillock |  play_arrow | An appealing sonata piece infused with a modern sensibility |
| 49 | Brave SoldierCornelius Gurlitt |  play_arrow | A powerful march that stirs a boy’s heart |
| 50 | Études “30 Pieces for Children, Op. 27” No. 3Dmitri Kabalevsky |  play_arrow | A charming masterpiece in the style of a Russian folk song, a short piano piece for children |
| 51 | Midnight Fire Festival from ‘Rhythm of the Rainbow’Hirayoshi Takeshu |  play_arrow | A passionate, Spanish-style piano miniature |
| 52 | Gypsy Dance (Dance of the Gypsies)Heinrich Lichner |  play_arrow | Romani music-influenced, passionate short piece |
| 53 | Children’s Corner No. 1: “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum”Claude Debussy |  play_arrow | A lively piano miniature dedicated to Debussy’s beloved daughter |
| 54 | Brave Rider from ‘Album for Children’Robert Schumann |  play_arrow | A short masterpiece that expresses the image of a knight |
| 55 | Third movement from Sonatina, Op. 36 No. 1Muzio Clementi |  play_arrow | Lively three movements, virtuosic and captivating |
| 56 | Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100 No. 2 “The Hunt”Johann Burgmüller |  play_arrow | A brilliant march inspired by Islamic art |
| 57 | Indian danceWilliam Gillock |  play_arrow | Powerful music with Indigenous rhythms, brimming with dynamism |
| 58 | “Dance of the Natives” from Children’s Piano PiecesNakata Yoshinao |  play_arrow | A short piece with powerful rhythms and captivating traditional scales |
| 59 | Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven |  play_arrow | This piece is marked by a gentle, singable melody that leaves a strong impression... |
| 60 | The Confectionery World, No. 14: “Demon Arare”Yuyama Akira |  play_arrow | Fuse Japanese and Western music in a short piece |
| 61 | Burgmüller 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100 No. 20 “Tarantella”Johann Burgmüller |  play_arrow | A passionate piece inspired by Southern Italian dances. |
| 62 | Sonatina in A minor, Op. 27 No. 18Dmitri Kabalevsky |  play_arrow | A short piece by Kabalevsky that requires deeply moving expressiveness |
| 63 | Dance of the SwineherdBartók Béla |  play_arrow | An enchanting piece of Hungarian folk dance music |
| 64 | Sonatina No. 1, Movement I, Op. 20-1Friedrich Kuhlau |  play_arrow | A clear and approachable piece in C major |
| 65 | Sonatina No. 12, Movement IMuzio Clementi |  play_arrow | A bright Classical-era piano piece like spring |
| 66 | Sonatina No. 7, First MovementMuzio Clementi |  play_arrow | An elegant and technically skillful piano piece, brilliant and bright. |
| 67 | Dance and SongNakata Yoshinao |  play_arrow | An enchanting piano solo piece with a Japanese-style rhythm |
| 68 | Chase the mysteryJuhara Ryoko |  play_arrow | A thrilling musical work with a sense of storytelling |
| 69 | Invention No. 8, BWV 779J.S.Bach |  play_arrow | A lively, upbeat piece perfect for improving your technique. |
| 70 | speed carNakata Yoshinao |  play_arrow | Piano practice pieces that help you learn a sense of rhythm and expressiveness |
| 71 | scramble crossinghashimoto kouichi |  play_arrow | A dynamic piece that expresses the hustle and bustle of the city through irregular time signatures |
| 72 | Minuet in F major, K. 5, from Nannerl’s Music BookWolfgang Amadeus Mozart |  play_arrow | A work by six-year-old Mozart for his sister |
| 73 | Symphonia No. 1 in C majorJ.S.Bach |  play_arrow | A children’s piano piece from 1720 characterized by counterpoint |
| 74 | Impromptu of the WindNakata Yoshinao |  play_arrow | A melody like a refreshing, free wind |
| 75 | Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100, No. 11 “The Wagtail”Johann Burgmüller |  play_arrow | A light, bird-like piece in 2/4 time |
| 76 | Etude Allegro: A Duet Collection for ChildrenNakata Yoshinao |  play_arrow | Nurturing children's musicality with a C major duet piece |
| 77 | Turkish RondoJohann Burgmüller |  play_arrow | A brilliant modulation piece from A minor to A major |
| 78 | Sonatina No. 10, First MovementMuzio Clementi |  play_arrow | A masterpiece that conveys the expressiveness and allure of piano music |
| 79 | Serenade of the BuglerFritz Spindler |  play_arrow | The lively, resounding tone of the trumpet is captivating… |
| 80 | Etude AllegroNakata Yoshinao |  play_arrow | A piece composed by Yoshinao Nakada for children... |