Recorder
J. Pachelbel (1653–1706)
Canon in D Recorder
The most-played piece at weddings and school concerts. Layer after layer of melody builds over the same eight chords.
L. v. Beethoven (1770–1827)
Für Elise Recorder
The first piece many piano students reach for. Learn the opening E–D♯–E line and you're halfway there.
W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
Turkish March Recorder
Its bright marching rhythm makes it a recital favorite. The beginner version is arranged so your fingers don't tangle.
Korean folk song
Arirang Recorder
Korea's best-known folk song, sung in music class and at cultural exchange concerts.
F. X. Gruber (1787–1863)
Silent Night Recorder
The most-played Christmas carol. Its gentle three-beat melody is easy to pick up, even for beginners.
G. F. Handel (1685–1759), tune · arr. L. Mason
Joy to the World Recorder
A carol famous for its opening D–C♯–B–A scale coming down step by step. Bright and march-like, it works well for ensembles.
Traditional English carol · harm. J. Stainer
The First Noel Recorder
A traditional English carol with the repeating 'Noel, Noel'. The melody repeats, so it's quick to memorize.
A. Adam (1803–1856)
O Holy Night Recorder
Adam's best-known carol. It starts quietly and bursts out at 'Fall on your knees'.
J. F. Wade (1711–1786)
O Come, All Ye Faithful Recorder
The Christmas hymn 'O come, all ye faithful'. The refrain grows louder three times, making it a great closing piece for choirs and ensembles.
French folk song
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Recorder
Often the very first piece on a new instrument. Playing each note twice is great for learning to keep the beat.
German folk song
Lightly Row Recorder
A children's song that starts G–E–E, F–D–D. You can play it with your hand in a single five-finger position.
English folk song
London Bridge Recorder
An English nursery rhyme famous as a playground game. Short and repetitive, so it's easy to memorize.
German folk song
The Cuckoo Recorder
A children's song in three beats that imitates the call 'cuckoo, cuckoo'.
J. Brahms (1833–1897)
Brahms' Lullaby Recorder
Brahms' lullaby. Its slow three-beat lines are good practice for playing long, connected notes.
M. J. Hill (1859–1916)
Happy Birthday Recorder
Moved to C major so you can play it right away at a birthday party.
J. L. Pierpont (1822–1893)
Jingle Bells Recorder
The full Jingle Bells with verse and chorus. Choose Highlights to play just the chorus.
American children's song
Mary Had a Little Lamb Recorder
A children's song that begins E–D–C–D–E–E–E. It uses only five notes, from C to G, so it makes a great first piece.
American children's song
If You're Happy and You Know It Recorder
The clapping spots are left as rests, so you can clap along right there while you play.
S. Winner (1827–1902)
Ten Little Fingers Recorder
A counting song. Good practice for repeating the same note quickly.
American folk song
Old MacDonald Recorder
A song where you swap in different farm animal sounds. The repeated-note chorus helps you learn the rhythm.
Hong Nan-pa (1898–1941)
Pongdang Pongdang Recorder
A children's song by Hong Nan-pa, taken from the original 1933 score of '100 Korean Children's Songs'.
Hong Nan-pa (1898–1941)
Spring in My Hometown Recorder
Hong Nan-pa's song that begins 'The hometown where I lived'. The original is in B♭ major; the beginner version is in C major.
Children's song
Itsy Bitsy Spider Recorder
The spider song as it's sung in Korea, in 6/8 time.
Hong Nan-pa (1898–1941)
The Sun Is Shining Recorder
A children's song by Hong Nan-pa. Play it short and detached, following the staccatos in the original score.
Korean folk song
Doraji Taryeong Recorder
A Gyeonggi folk song that begins 'Doraji, doraji, baek-doraji'. Set in 9/8 to the semachi rhythm.
H. C. Work (1832–1884)
My Grandfather's Clock Recorder
An American song whose chorus imitates the tick-tock of a clock.
Mexican folk song
La Cucaracha Recorder
A Mexican folk song. Play the opening three-eighth-note rhythm short and lively.
German folk song
O Christmas Tree Recorder
The German carol 'O Tannenbaum'. It's a Christmas song rather than a hymn, so it suits school events too.
English carol
We Wish You a Merry Christmas Recorder
An English carol played brightly in 3/4: verse, chorus, and verse again.
C. Petzold (1677–1733)
Minuet in G Recorder
The minuet from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach — a piece every piano student meets.
J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
Musette in D Recorder
A short piece from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. The left hand leaps between octaves.
R. Schumann (1810–1856)
Melody (Schumann) Recorder
No. 1 from Schumann's 'Album for the Young'. Play the right-hand melody as if singing.
L. v. Beethoven (1770–1827)
Ode to Joy Recorder
The theme from the finale of Beethoven's Ninth. The notes move mostly step by step, so it's easy to learn first.
E. Satie (1866–1925)
Gymnopédie No. 1 Recorder
Satie's slow, calm piano piece. The melody drifts gently over the left-hand accompaniment.
J. Strauss II (1825–1899)
The Blue Danube Recorder
The waltz theme by Johann Strauss II, often heard at year-end concerts.
R. Schumann (1810–1856)
Träumerei Recorder
No. 7, 'Dreaming', from Schumann's 'Scenes from Childhood', with interweaving inner voices.
L. v. Beethoven (1770–1827)
Moonlight Sonata Recorder
The first movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14. A slow melody floats over triplet accompaniment.
L. v. Beethoven (1770–1827)
Pathétique, 2nd Mvt. Recorder
The second movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8. The theme returns an octave higher the second time.
W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
Sonata K. 545 Recorder
Mozart's 'easy sonata': a C–E–G theme followed by quick scales.
S. Joplin (1868–1917)
The Entertainer Recorder
Scott Joplin's ragtime, made famous again by the film 'The Sting'.
F. Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
Wedding March Recorder
Mendelssohn's march for the recessional at weddings. It opens with a trumpet fanfare.
W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
Eine kleine Nachtmusik Recorder
The first movement of Mozart's serenade. The original is for strings, so the piano left hand takes the cello part.
J. Brahms (1833–1897)
Hungarian Dance No. 5 Recorder
Brahms' Hungarian Dance. Its gypsy-style rhythm slows down and speeds up.
P. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Swan Lake Recorder
The 'Scene' theme from Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake — the lonely melody sung by the oboe.
M. Leontovych (1877–1921)
Carol of the Bells Recorder
A Ukrainian carol where four notes, C–B–C–A, repeat like bells. It's in 'Home Alone'.
P. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Sugar Plum Fairy Recorder
The celesta piece from The Nutcracker. Melody instruments are written an octave lower, like a celesta part.
P. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Waltz of the Flowers Recorder
The waltz from The Nutcracker, a must at year-end ballet performances.
W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
Twinkle Variations Recorder
Mozart's variations on the 'Twinkle, Twinkle' tune: the theme plus 11 variations.