All songs
J. Pachelbel (1653–1706)
Canon in D
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
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
Its bright marching rhythm makes it a recital favorite. The beginner version is arranged so your fingers don't tangle.
Korean folk song
Arirang
Korea's best-known folk song, sung in music class and at cultural exchange concerts.
F. X. Gruber (1787–1863)
Silent Night
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
An English nursery rhyme famous as a playground game. Short and repetitive, so it's easy to memorize.
German folk song
The Cuckoo
A children's song in three beats that imitates the call 'cuckoo, cuckoo'.
J. Brahms (1833–1897)
Brahms' Lullaby
Brahms' lullaby. Its slow three-beat lines are good practice for playing long, connected notes.
M. J. Hill (1859–1916)
Happy Birthday
Moved to C major so you can play it right away at a birthday party.
J. L. Pierpont (1822–1893)
Jingle Bells
The full Jingle Bells with verse and chorus. Choose Highlights to play just the chorus.
American children's song
Mary Had a Little Lamb
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
The clapping spots are left as rests, so you can clap along right there while you play.
S. Winner (1827–1902)
Ten Little Fingers
A counting song. Good practice for repeating the same note quickly.
American folk song
Old MacDonald
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
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
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
The spider song as it's sung in Korea, in 6/8 time.
Hong Nan-pa (1898–1941)
The Sun Is Shining
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
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
An American song whose chorus imitates the tick-tock of a clock.
Mexican folk song
La Cucaracha
A Mexican folk song. Play the opening three-eighth-note rhythm short and lively.
German folk song
O Christmas Tree
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
An English carol played brightly in 3/4: verse, chorus, and verse again.
C. Petzold (1677–1733)
Minuet in G
The minuet from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach — a piece every piano student meets.
J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
Musette in D
A short piece from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. The left hand leaps between octaves.
R. Schumann (1810–1856)
Melody (Schumann)
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
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
Satie's slow, calm piano piece. The melody drifts gently over the left-hand accompaniment.
J. Strauss II (1825–1899)
The Blue Danube
The waltz theme by Johann Strauss II, often heard at year-end concerts.
R. Schumann (1810–1856)
Träumerei
No. 7, 'Dreaming', from Schumann's 'Scenes from Childhood', with interweaving inner voices.
L. v. Beethoven (1770–1827)
Moonlight Sonata
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.
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
Mozart's 'easy sonata': a C–E–G theme followed by quick scales.
S. Joplin (1868–1917)
The Entertainer
Scott Joplin's ragtime, made famous again by the film 'The Sting'.
F. Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
Wedding March
Mendelssohn's march for the recessional at weddings. It opens with a trumpet fanfare.
W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
Eine kleine Nachtmusik
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
Brahms' Hungarian Dance. Its gypsy-style rhythm slows down and speeds up.
P. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Swan Lake
The 'Scene' theme from Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake — the lonely melody sung by the oboe.
M. Leontovych (1877–1921)
Carol of the Bells
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
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
The waltz from The Nutcracker, a must at year-end ballet performances.
W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
Twinkle Variations
Mozart's variations on the 'Twinkle, Twinkle' tune: the theme plus 11 variations.