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[Beginner] Recommended Piano Duets | A curated selection of pieces enjoyable for both adults and children
Piano duets that can be enjoyed in all kinds of pairs—teacher and child, children together, or parent and child!
The special joy of synchronizing with someone to create a single piece of music is something you can only truly experience by performing together; it’s not the same as practicing or playing alone.
Here, we introduce recommended beginner-level pieces that make it easy to dive into the fun of piano duets.
Brilliant, showy pieces are perfect for recitals, too!
For pieces where the parts differ in difficulty, pairs like “Beginner × Intermediate” or “Beginner × Advanced” can enjoy playing together as well.
We hope this helps you find your favorite duet pieces.
[Beginner] Recommended Piano Duets | A Curated Selection of Pieces Enjoyable for Both Adults and Children (1–10)
Suite Ma mère l’Oye, No. 1: Pavane of the Sleeping BeautyMaurice Ravel
Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose), composed by the French composer Maurice Ravel and based on the old English nursery tales known as Mother Goose, was originally written for piano four hands, but the orchestral and ballet versions derived from it are also widely beloved.
The first piece that opens the suite, Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty, draws on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty and evokes a mysterious sensation, as if drifting through a dream.
Aim for a soft, rounded sound without sharp edges to create a delicate, gauzy atmosphere.
Grandfather’s ClockHenry Clay Work
Grandfather’s Clock is an American popular song that has long been cherished in Japan as a children’s nursery song.
For a pair attempting a duet for the first time, a familiar tune for both might be easier to tackle.
If the child takes the melody part as the lead and the parent or teacher handles the accompaniment, even a simple nursery melody can be transformed into a luxurious piano piece in an instant! Try performing while fully sensing each other’s breathing and timing.
A Little Night MusicWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A Mozart masterpiece brimming with the charm of piano four-hands.
Eine kleine Nachtmusik was completed in Vienna in August 1787.
Its lively rhythms and well-balanced melodies let performers fully enjoy the pleasure of breathing and moving together.
Although best known as a string serenade, the piano four-hand version is arranged to be enjoyable for everyone from beginners to seasoned players.
It’s also a standout choice for recitals and a popular piece in lessons.
Highly recommended for those who want to deepen communication through the piano or share the joy of music with someone else!
Ode to JoyLudwig van Beethoven
Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven is the fourth movement of Beethoven’s masterpiece, Symphony No.
9.
Also known as Hymn to Joy, it is a work beloved by many.
Because the original is for orchestra, playing only the melody on the piano can feel a bit sparse.
That’s why duet performance is highly recommended! By adding chordal accompaniment to the beautiful melody for greater richness, you’ll gain the confidence of having performed a famous classical piece, which can also boost your motivation to practice the piano.
Aladdin “Friend Like Me”Alan Menken
This piece lets you enjoy a Disney film song as a piano duet.
Incorporating elements of jazz and cabaret, it’s an up-tempo arrangement highlighted by a striking brass section.
Performed powerfully by Koichi Yamadera on the 90-minute special of the TV program Music Station in July 2019, the song beautifully blends a cheerful atmosphere with magical staging.
With its melodic, approachable character, it’s perfect for teacher-and-student or parent-and-child duets.
It has also been staged in the Broadway musical adaptation, earning high acclaim including a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in 2014.
Why not perform this beloved classic—adored across generations—together with someone special?
My Neighbor Totoro ‘Sanpo’ (Stroll)Hisaishi Joe
We present a bright and energetic march-style song used as a Studio Ghibli film’s main theme.
The piece opens with the sound of bagpipes, creating a sense of exhilaration and anticipation for adventure.
Released in April 1988 as the opening theme of the film, it is sung by Azumi Inoue and the Suginami Children’s Chorus.
It expresses the joy of children meeting animals in nature and their curiosity to explore unknown worlds, and it is beloved at events in kindergartens and nursery schools.
Its simple, friendly melody is recommended as a duet piece that can be enjoyed by both adults and children.
By playing in sync, performers can feel a unity with nature and the importance of friendship—making it a song cherished across generations.
Aladdin: A Whole New WorldAlan Menken
A dreamily beautiful piano duet that colors one of Disney Animation’s most iconic scenes.
Its melody conjures the enchanting image of lovers freely soaring beneath a starry sky, expressed in a way that closely mirrors their feelings.
This work portrays the spirit of adventure and pure love of setting off on a magic carpet to discover a whole new world, and by June 1993 it had become a major hit in Japan alone, selling over 120,000 copies.
It also achieved the remarkable feat of winning both a Grammy Award and an Academy Award.
Performed as a piano duet with perfectly synchronized breathing and touch, it offers a wonderful time for teachers and students, parents and children, or friends to inspire one another.