Masterpieces on Mini Piano: Carefully Selected from Classical, Pop, and Film Music
A mini piano whose music-box-like tone offers a soothing touch.
Also known as a toy piano, it’s long been loved as a “toy piano,” but in recent years it has often been performed by renowned pianists.
Videos of professional performers placing a mini piano on top of a grand piano and playing both simultaneously have also gained popularity.
In this article, we’ve picked out mini piano performance videos along with dedicated sheet music!
We’ll introduce performances and scores arranged for mini pianos—typically 25 to 44 keys—based on classics, pop, and film music originally played on standard 88-key pianos.
Masterpieces on a Mini Piano: Selected Classics, Pop, and Film Music (1–10)
SummerHisaishi Joe
Every summer, many people are likely reminded of this song’s nostalgic, heartrending, deeply emotive, quintessentially Japanese melodic line.
Joe Hisaishi’s “Summer,” composed by one of Japan’s most celebrated composers, is among his most famous and beloved works, originally written for the soundtrack of Takeshi Kitano’s film “Kikujiro.” It was later used in commercials, and has continued to be cherished as an immensely popular piece known even by those who haven’t seen the movie.
When played on a mini piano, the song’s somewhat nostalgic resonance is heightened, stirring an indescribable feeling.
It can be tricky to play with both hands—especially for those with larger hands, as the right and left may collide—but you can fully capture the atmosphere by playing just the melody with the right hand and accompanying with simple left-hand chords.
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331, Third Movement “Turkish March”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
There are countless works titled “— March,” but this “Turkish March” is so famous that it’s no exaggeration to say everyone knows it.
Even if you don’t know the official title, you’ve almost certainly heard its striking main theme at least once in a commercial or somewhere similar.
It’s oddly delightful that when you try it on a mini piano, even the bustling development starts to feel kind of cute.
That said, when it comes to expressing the Turkish March’s fast sixteenth-note passages and the broken octaves in the latter half on a mini piano, many people may find it tricky, with the right and left hands colliding.
I recommend playing it on a 32-key or 44-key mini piano!
Happy Birthday to YouMildred J. Hill／Patty Smith Hill
Of course, little children—and even adults—are sure to enjoy hearing “Happy Birthday to You” played on a mini piano.
No explanation needed: it’s the most famous birthday song in the world, and many people can probably play the right-hand melody on the piano.
Even without sheet music specifically for mini piano, it should be easy to try.
The toy-like timbre of a mini piano suits this melody perfectly, so if you play it as a surprise for the birthday star, it’s sure to liven up the party!
A Whole New WorldAlan Menken
Among Disney songs, the theme song from the film Aladdin, “A Whole New World,” is especially popular and beloved as a gem of a love song—it’s a big hit at weddings, too.
Its romantic melody is unforgettable.
When played on a miniature piano, the soothing quality is enhanced, offering a different charm from the grandeur of the original.
There are many piano arrangements in print, but this mini-piano version is arranged to be played on 32 keys.
If playing chords with your right hand is difficult, it’s fine to just play the melody and combine it with the left hand.
Give it a try!
My Neighbor TotoroHisaishi Joe
Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece, My Neighbor Totoro.
Not only is the film itself popular, but the theme song “My Neighbor Totoro” is also extremely well-loved and is frequently performed at piano recitals.
While the piece has a bright, lively, and upbeat feel, when played on a mini piano it transforms into soothing music, thanks to the gentle tone and simple melody! This sheet music can be played on a 32-key instrument, so focus on your fingertips and give it a try.
It’s also great fun to create an ensemble by combining your child’s mini piano performance with piano or other instruments played by family members!
Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin
Frederic Chopin, known as the “Poet of the Piano,” composed Waltz No.
6, commonly known as the “Minute Waltz,” a famous piece that even those not well-versed in classical music have likely heard at least once.
Its lively, bustling rhythm and subtly humorous yet impeccably beautiful melody vividly embody the image of a puppy spinning in circles as it chases its own tail—quintessential Chopin.
Although both hands dart vigorously across the keyboard in this piece, playing it on a mini piano gives it a different flavor that, in a sense, accentuates its “puppy-like” charm and makes it utterly adorable.
Since your fingers are prone to getting tangled when actually playing it, it’s best to get accustomed to the size of a mini piano before taking on the challenge.
“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker SuitePyotr Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker, one of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s three great ballets alongside Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty, is particularly well known because its motif is Christmas.
It is frequently performed during the season, and its music is beloved as an essential part of Christmas.
The uniquely charming tone of a toy piano may be just perfect for performing pieces from The Nutcracker.
In this article, we feature the very famous Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Even if you don’t know the title, you’ve surely heard its melody at least once—it carries a curious, whimsical sense of humor.
This piece pairs wonderfully with a toy piano, and it would be great fun to play it together as a parent-child duet with a regular piano!