Description
Little Study is one of the more technically oriented numbers of Schumann's 1848 Album for the Young, the fourteenth of its 43 pieces. In the first part, For Younger Children, where most pieces depict scenes or stories, this one is, as its title says, plainly an étude.
In G major and 6/8, continuous broken-chord figuration keeps both hands in constant motion, the harmony unfolding directly as fine movement. It calls for even touch and quick, nimble fingers. Lasting just under two minutes with about 570 notes, its range runs from G2 to G5, within a 61-key keyboard.
Given its étude-like character, precise fingering deserves more attention here than expressive shaping. Where the figuration passes from one hand to the other, notes tend to break off or overlap at the seam. Find those hand-overs in the hand colours, slow the playback, and repeat them with the A-B loop to build an even flow. Sustained concentration to play it through without a lapse is also part of the test.
A collection of 43 piano pieces Schumann gave to his daughter Marie for her seventh birthday — musically rich works enjoyable for children and adults alike.
Browse all songs in Album for the Young Op.68 →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Robert Schumann was a leading German Romantic composer born in Zwickau. His poetic style reflects his deep literary sensibility, and his wife Clara Schumann was herself a renowned pianist and composer. His pedagogical piano collection Album for the Young remains beloved for its simple yet evocative miniatures for children and families. This site includes pieces from that collection and from Kinderszenen, Op. 15.
View all works by Schumann →