[Beginner] Recommended Piano Pieces to Play at a Recital
A big event that everyone learning piano experiences is… the recital! Practicing to perform not only for family and friends but also for a wider audience helps keep up the motivation to continue playing piano.
Moreover, the experience of standing on stage alone and performing all the way through is sure to build great confidence.
To make such a recital truly rewarding, choosing the right pieces is key! Of course, developing performance technique is important, but since it’s a valuable chance to play on stage, you’ll want to select pieces that both the performer and the audience can enjoy together.
In this article, we’ll introduce famous pieces that are fun for both adults and children to play—not only classical works, but also popular music and film music.
We hope this helps you discover candidates for your next recital program.
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- Beginner to Intermediate: Chopin pieces with relatively low difficulty. Recommended works by Chopin.
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[Beginner Level] Recommended Piano Pieces to Play at Recitals (21–30)
glass slipperWilliam Gillock
William Gillock, often called the “Schubert of music education” for his beautiful melodic sense, wrote in a style that brings out a piece’s charm through rich expression without relying on advanced technique.
For that reason, Gillock’s works frequently appear as assignments for beginners.
Glass Slippers is a perfect piece for getting used to triple meter! Before tackling full-fledged waltzes like Chopin’s, why not experience 3/4 time with this piece?
Variations on ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A genius composer who began composing at the age of five and left behind more than 800 works, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
This piece is a set of variations composed in 1778, based on a popular French song.
You can enjoy how the familiar melody transforms into arrangements that require advanced technique.
It starts simply, and the difficulty increases toward the latter half, with the left hand becoming more active, among other changes.
For piano students, it is a wonderful piece through which they can truly feel their technical progress.
Since the final variations demand a high level of technique, it is also recommended to select and perform the more approachable variations.
[Beginner Level] Recommended Piano Pieces to Play at Recitals (31–40)
Spinning SongAlbert Ellmenreich
Ermendielich’s Spinning Song by the German composer is a well-known staple at piano recitals.
It is said to depict women spinning thread on spinning wheels in the 1800s, when Ermendielich lived.
Aligning the rapid notes can be quite a challenge, but the piece is highly rhythmic and very satisfying to play.
If you can power through while maintaining a sense of speed—the opening section, the middle section where the left hand takes the lead, and the closing section that repeats the opening melody—you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful feeling of exhilaration at the end!
March, BWV Anh. 122Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, a composer who bridged the Baroque and Classical eras.
Born in 1714, he followed a musical path under the tutelage of his father, Johann Sebastian Bach.
His works are known for their expressive melodies and emotional depth.
This piece, included in Anna Magdalena Bach’s Notebook, is a charming miniature that, while concise, exudes an elegant atmosphere.
It is approachable even for those who have just begun learning the piano and allows one to fully savor the allure of Baroque music.
CanonJohann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel’s Canon, known as a soothing classic, is often heard naturally by many people because it frequently appears on TV, in commercials, and as background music at weddings and graduation ceremonies.
With its steady rhythm, and since an arrangement in C major can be practiced using only the white keys, even beginners can approach it with ease.
Start by practicing slowly so that the melody line connects smoothly, and then gradually challenge yourself to add natural dynamics to express the piece’s inherent elegance.
springSamuel Maykapar
Spring by Samuil Maykapar, a Ukrainian-born composer and pianist, is often selected for recitals and as a required piece in competitions.
It is a gently paced work that evokes the calm arrival of spring.
The middle section takes on a somewhat livelier character, making it a piece that allows for contrast even within a short span.
Aim to play smoothly with legato to preserve a courtly elegance, keep the accompaniment as soft as possible, and strive for a tender tone throughout.
SumireStreabbog
A light, waltzing rhythm makes this a charming and delightful piece! It’s especially popular with girls as a recital selection.
Since many Japanese children’s songs and school songs are in duple or quadruple meter, it’s sometimes said that Japanese players often find triple meter challenging.
Of course, that doesn’t apply to everyone, but this piece is perfect for experiencing the feel of 3/4 time, which beginners on the piano can be prone to struggle with.
Try playing it with a buoyant touch, imagining delicate violet flowers.