Hi everyone

I have to choose one of the above and start learning it for my next lesson. I know it depends on abilities and personal choice but I just wanted to see what people's favourites are from these works and what you would choose.

there's a piece called Warum? (why) from the fantasy pieces, its one of my favourite Schumann pieces, and not too hard to learn. But i think that generally they're more difficult and longer than the Kinderszenen.

Thanks very much for replying Chopineze. I will have a look at Warum and also the Kinderszenen. I am quite slow at learning things so maybe I will choose the easier option as I am also learning Moonlight, the easier movements, if one can call them that.

A friend and I sight read our way (in my case very badly) through Kinderszenen and Album fur die Jungen on Monday night. They are harder than they look, but are mostly beautiful.

I have this idea that if I ever get to FRSM standard my specialist programme will be Schumman. I can dream!

I have plyed through all of Fantasiestucke, Kinderscenen, Davidbundlertanze, Carnival, and Papillons. But the Schumann I alwys return to is Waldscenen (9 pieces) - a little more diffcult than Kinderscenen, but not as hard as the others above. Nos 1 7 and 9 have all been previously set at Grade 8. No 3 is only about Grade 5 ish. So if your into Schumann I recommend these.
Also dont forget the straightforward Arabesque in C.

Yes the Waldszenen are beauties, I play a few of them too. The Prophetic Bird is a magical piece, very atmospheric, also Entry, Solitary flowers and Farewell. It is true that Kinderscenen pieces are harder than one might think, and so too is the second part of Album for the young.

Thank you all for your help. I today made the choice of Kinderszenen and am learning, "From Foreign Countries and People", the first one in the book. It is so beautiful.

Good choice to start with, it is a really nice piece.

Thanks for your support for Waldscenen. I particularly like the last one 'Abschied' (Farewell) which has a hidden meaning, as Schumann had just heard of the death of his friend Mendelssohn, and so wrote it like a 'Song without Words' And 'The Prophet Bird', very unusual for that period.