piano music for children from all countries

[pianolka]

Hi, I am a piano teacher from Czech Republic and I have an idea to organize a concert of my pupils each year, which would be concentrated on compositions of one chosen country. For example I will choose France and each of my pupil will play one or two instructive compositions of French composers (or a song, because I teach even 5 years old children). Among the compositions I could say something about the country, food, traditions and so on. Please can you recommend me some of your national composers, who write (or wrote) nice piano music for children (children are between 5-18 years old) and the most popular folk children songs? I think it could be interesting for teachers from other countries 
Thank you.   

[communist]

Franz Xaver Scharwenka, Karol Szymonowski, Moritz Moszkowski and Krystof Panderecki

[healdie]

All the way from sunny England

Sir Euguene Goossens lyric poem Op. 35 (don't know how hard it is)

Sir William Walton -Duets for Children,

Percy Young - five folk song duets

any of these should do of course there are alot more

P.S If you are going to say anything about England just Ignore the last hundred years or so (its not pretty)

[pianistimo]

The good thing about children's music is that you can be an average composer and create some pretty good and challenging music that can fit any folk song or ideal of the composer.  Also, there have been some winners of songwriting compositions that express more of a technique plus composition skill in writing piano music for beginners and intermediate players.

Here's some things I found on PepperMusic.com that would qualify for American style music:

Arkansas Suite by Martha Meir
Bald Eagle by Carolyn Miller
Ballad in A minor by Edmon Perkins
Blues A La Mode by Robert Vandall
California Coastline by Tom Gerou

And, i recently purchased an EASY piano concerto entitled 'Concerto #1 in A minor' by Beatrice A. Miller.

There are many folk song type things from Copeland, Jazz things - like an easy version of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and many fantastic duet form Souza Marches for a July concert.  Because of the many cultures in America - you can really play anything.  I happen to love Leroy Anderson at this time of year because you can tone up or down his pieces to suit any level. 

Did Walter Piston write some modern music for piano?  With beginners you can basically take a group of American folk songs and arrange them into a medley.  Samuel Barber presents some challenges for the young musician and would be a good introduction to American music also.

[Petter]

I´m assuming you´re aware of Debussys childrens corner, Schumanns Kinderszenen and Tchaikovskys album for the young? From america I´m thinking Stephen Foster  ..."I dreaaaaaaaam of Jeanie with the light brown hair" lovely song 

[pianolka]

Thank you for all replay!  I didn´t know some of the composers (for example W. Walton, P.  Young, T. Gerou…). I try to look up something about them. Debussy, Tchajkovsky and Schumann are wonderful – I use their pieces. Martha Mier is nice too. I wanted to discover another „national“ composers. For example Lubos Sluka, Ilja Hurník, Emil Hradecky or Ilona Jurnickova has marvelous compositions for piano pupils in Czech Republic.
I am looking forward to next ideas! 

[communist]

Scharwenka album for the young would be good if you ever happen to do Poland

[karisofia]

Don't forget MacDowell. He has some wonderful intermediate/early advanced pieces. Also, William Gillock--I like the Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style.