As this piece is not in the grade 7 exam book, I found it in a book I had called 'Standard Piano Classics - 24 Masterpieces In Their Original Form'. Does anyone have this and are able to tell me if this edition is ok to use in an exam? Or would I need to get the one that AB mention in the syllabus?

Ok, thanks, will have a look in a minute.

I'd say that unless it was stated that it was an arrangement then it is probably alright, but definitely check first. i'm a bit surprised it's grade 7, even though there's a few stretches and some tricky fingerings, I suppose i only think that because it's a mere page long. It's definitely a bit harder than it first appears. Lovely piece for sure.

I've checked it against the Piano Classics one and it looks mostly the same. For the exam I might just the edition mentioned in the syllabus, just to make sure.

The words ' In Their Original Form' suggest that it's probably okay, but as you say, you may wish to play on the safe side for an exam. Unless you could possibly go into a shop (maybe take a photocopy of your book so they can't accuse you of stealing it) and compare it to the recommended edition. Depends how 'poor student' ish you're feeling .

Really lovely piece, I'd recommend it!

Does anyone know if the repeats should be included - I know you wouldn't normally play repeats in the exams but it's a piece that I've seen written without repeats and (in my opinion) it significantly affects the structure if you leave them out.

In the edition I have there are no repeats, it's written out fully and I am sure on the CD the repeat is played so I presume it should be played in the exam. Although the first repeat of the G7 Beethoven is apparantly supposed to be played in the exam but it's not played on the CD.

I have three or four copies from different editions and they are all identical.
I know its a very slow piece but neverthess rather short unless you do the repeats. Does seem a bit easy for Grade 7 despite some stretches, most of which are arpeggioed

Don't underestimate Schumann's little masterpiece Traumerei...

It may not be pages and pages of notes to be typed, but the music demands careful preparation and tasteful musical expression. There are virtuoso pianists, who regularly tear into demandingly dense Lizst and Chopin etudes, who are terrified of being transparantly exposed by playing 'simple' Traumerei to an audience. Don't forget that this is polyphonic music; Alban Berg published an analysis of the work wherein he reckoned that Schumann is working with at least 6 voices which deserve to be brought out with the same skill as in a Bach fuga but then within romantic phrasing and suggestion, rubato, tone shading and proper use of pedal. It is easy to butcher this piece and just emphasize the soprano like a pop song or to fail to communicate the ethereal dreaminess. This is a piece where timing is everything; in fact many academic studies on musical timing and variance in performance use Traumerei as a prototypical case.

If there ever was a piece to record yourself playing and then compare your performance critically to several reference recordings to diagnose your own playing then this is one.

If ABRSM is testing musicianship by putting Traumerei on Grade 7 list then I think it is an appropriate choice. This one is jam packed allowing them to test multiple aspects in just a couple of minutes.

If you decide you need new scores, Henle has a great edition of Kinderscenen together with Album for the Young.

Don't think anyone was underestimating the piece, I am aware of the voicings and the importance of tone and dynamics. I have never taken a music exam, but i thought purely from a technical point of view and the fact it's no more than a page of music, that i did'nt think it would be Grade 7. That does'nt mean from an interpreting perspective i think it's easy, because it's not. Another thing which i read in the notes of the edition was that Roberts metronome marking was 100, Claras was 80, but that most pianists play it around 60.