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[With Piano Sheet Music] Easy to Play! Introducing Free Performance Videos of Children’s Songs and School Songs
The nursery rhymes and children’s songs we sang over and over when we were little stay firmly etched in our memories, no matter how many years—or even decades—go by.
With their simple melodies and chord progressions that are easy to learn and hard to forget, these songs are ideal not only for singing but also for practicing the piano.
So this time, we’ve picked out piano videos of familiar nursery rhymes and children’s songs!
All of them are free videos with sheet music and easy-to-play arrangements, so as long as you have a keyboard, you can start practicing right away even without the sheet music in hand.
This is a must-see for piano beginners who want to start with songs they already know, those considering obtaining a childcare license, and teachers currently struggling to choose pieces for a recital!
[With Piano Sheet Music] Easy to Play! Introducing Free Performance Videos of Children’s Songs and School Songs (1–10)
hometownOkanoteiichi
A celebrated masterpiece by Teiichi Okano, cherished as a song that symbolizes Japan.
Released in 1914 as a Ministry of Education school song, it is characterized by its simple and beautiful melody.
The lyrics, which express deep love and nostalgia for one’s hometown, resonate with many people.
Composed within a range of less than one octave and featuring a straightforward rhythm, it’s easy for piano beginners to play without strain.
Even if you can’t read solfège, if the melody is ingrained in your body, you can learn the keyboard layout by producing the sounds as you go.
Once you’ve mastered the melody, try adding a bass line or simple accompaniment and challenge yourself to play with both hands!
Grandfather’s ClockHenry Clay Work
The famous piece composed in 1876 by American composer Henry Clay Work is cherished in Japan as a children’s song.
Thanks to its repeating simple melody, it’s approachable even for beginner pianists.
The right hand traces the familiar tune, while the left hand can transform the mood depending on the arrangement.
Start with single notes, and as you grow more comfortable, try chords, broken chords, or add a touch of rhythm for a pop feel—challenge yourself with different versions as your playing improves.
This work symbolically expresses the relationship between clocks and life, evoking the passage of time and the bonds of family.
rainbowNakagawa Hirotaka
Composed by Hirotaka Nakagawa, a picture-book writer and singer-songwriter with experience as a nursery school teacher, “Niji” has been covered by various artists as an uplifting song and is also highly regarded as a choral piece.
While it includes elements that can be a bit challenging for beginners at the piano—such as dotted rhythms, triplets, and ties—practicing while humming the melody can help you grasp these rhythms.
It would be great to convey the song’s positive atmosphere with a bright tone.
Puppy March
“Puppy March” appears in several beginner piano books and is also a popular choice for recitals.
When you hear the melody “Mi-Do Mi-Do Mi-So So,” you can just picture a cute puppy toddling along.
Because the character of the piece changes between the first 8 measures and the last 8 measures, its appeal lies in how you can shape expression within a short piece—for example, “play the first half softly, then build a little in the second half.” Aim to move beyond the mere task of pressing the written keys and turn it into a performance that expresses the music, adding dynamics to create a rich, expressive result.
Mary’s lambamerika min’yō
The American nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” published by a Boston publisher in 1830.
In Japan, it is said to have become widely known around 1952 after being broadcast on NHK Radio.
With just eight measures, the first two measures of both the first and second halves share exactly the same notes and rhythm, and only two chords are used—its simple structure makes it very easy to remember and ideal as a practice piece for those just beginning piano.
Once you can play an arrangement using only the bass line and melody, try various accompaniments to get used to playing with both hands.
The Bear of the Forestamerika min’yō
“The Bear in the Forest,” originally an American folk song, is a children’s song that has long been loved by people of all ages in Japan.
The lyrics charmingly depict an encounter with a bear in the woods, and you can’t help but feel warm and fuzzy listening to it.
Although the full story unfolds over five verses, when playing it on the piano, it’s recommended to cut it to a suitable length.
Set a manageable number of repetitions to help with focus, and try incorporating it into your daily practice as a piece for mastering sight-reading and two-hand playing.
butterflyDoitsu min’yō
“Butterfly” is based on a folk children’s song said to have originated in Germany and passed down across many Western countries.
It portrays butterflies fluttering their wings as they dance around beautiful flowers—a piece that blends elegance with charm.
Because the melody uses only five notes, requires no hand movement, and has simple rhythm, it’s perfect for learners who are at the stage of memorizing finger numbers and note names.
You can also play it with just two chords, so by combining only two bass notes with the melody, you can complete a two-hand performance!