Schumann for Beginners: Music Written for Young Players

Here's a piece of luck for beginners: one of the great Romantic composers wrote a whole album of short piano pieces specifically for children learning to play — and it's full of small, complete, genuinely beautiful music. If you want real Romantic repertoire early, Robert Schumann is your composer.

Schumann (born 8 June 1810 in Zwickau; died 29 July 1856 in Bonn) was a German composer, pianist and critic whose music typifies the spirit of the Romantic era. (Wikipedia)

Album for the Young (Op. 68) — written for children

Schumann composed the Album for the Young, Op. 68, in 1848 for his three daughters. The main album holds 43 short works, and unlike his Kinderszenen, these pieces are genuinely suitable to be played by children or beginners. (Wikipedia)

Start with these:

• The Happy Farmer (easy) — cheerful, bouncy and immensely satisfying. A brilliant first Romantic piece, and unusual in that the left hand often carries the tune.
• Soldier's March (easy) — crisp, rhythmic and short; great for building a steady pulse.
• Melody (easy) — exactly what the title says: a simple, singing line. Ideal for practising smooth, connected playing.
• First Loss (easy) — a tiny, touching piece that teaches you to shape a phrase.
• The Wild Rider (easy) — galloping and fun; a favourite with young players for a reason.

Kinderszenen (Op. 15) — about childhood, not for children

This is a distinction worth knowing, because the titles mislead people. Kinderszenen ("Scenes from Childhood"), Op. 15, was composed in 1838 and reflects an adult's perspective looking back at childhood — it was not written as music for children to play. It contains thirteen pieces. (Wikipedia)

That said, several are short and approachable:

• Träumerei (easy) — "Dreaming," the seventh piece and one of Schumann's best-known works. (Wikipedia) Slow, warm and famous — a wonderful piece to be able to play.
• Of Foreign Lands and Peoples (easy) — the opening piece of the set, gentle and flowing.
• Pleading Child (easy) · A Curious Story (easy) · Happy Enough (easy) · Important Event (easy)

Why Schumann works so well for beginners

• The pieces are short and complete. You finish something — that matters enormously for motivation.
• They're real music, not exercises. Every one has a character and a title to play towards.
• Each teaches one thing. A march teaches pulse; Melody teaches legato; First Loss teaches phrasing.

A sensible order

1. The Happy Farmer — your first Romantic piece.
2. Melody — learn to sing on the piano.
3. Soldier's March — lock in a steady pulse.
4. Träumerei — the famous, gorgeous one.

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