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Robert SchumannRobert SchumannRobert SchumannRobert SchumannRobert SchumannBorn: June 10, 1810Born: June 10, 1810Born: June 10, 1810Born: June 10, 1810Born: June 10, 1810Died: July 29, 1856Died: July 29, 1856Died: July 29, 1856Died: July 29, 1856Died: July 29, 1856

Robert Schumann’s father wasan author and book dealer inZwickau, the German townwhere Schumann was born.Robert grew up with books allaround him, so he fell in lovewith books and writing. Robertalso fell in love with music. As akid, he took piano, flute andcello lessons, and also startedcomposing.

When he was a teenager,Schumann still wasn’t surewhether he wanted to be awriter or a composer when hegrew up. But after heading offto the University of Leipzig tostudy law, he knew he didn’twant to be a lawyer. In Leipzig,Schumann took piano lessonswith a teacher named FriedrichWieck, whose star pupil was hisdaughter Clara. In spite of thefact that she was nine yearsyounger than he was, RobertSchumann and Clara Wieck fellin love. Clara’s father absolutelyrefused to let them get married.It took years — and a courtbattle with Clara’s father —

“The Happy Farmer” from Album for the Young

before Robert and Clara Schumanncould finally get married.

The whole year following theirwedding, Schumann was so in lovethat he couldn’t stop composing songs.That became known as Schumann’sYear of Song. Schumann then went offon a couple of other year-long binges.The next year, he worked on three outof his four numbered symphonies, andthe following year was Schumann’syear for chamber music — pieceswritten for small groups of instru-ments.

Even though a hand injury keptSchumann from becoming a concertpianist, there was still a famous pianistin the house — his wife Clara. Shegave the first performance of many ofhis pieces, including his pianoconcerto. When Robert wanted toteach his children how to play, hefound the music available to be eithertoo hard to too boring, so he composedhis own pieces for them and createdthe Album for the Young.

“The Happy Farmer”

Do you take piano lessons? If you have, you may recognise “The Happy Farmer”as one of the children’s pieces

from Robert Schuman’s “Album for the Young.” Schumann and his wife, Clara, had seven very good reasons

to write music for children. They were parents to three daughters and four sons. Their house was full of chil-

dren, laughter, and music.

The first pieces in this piano album were intended as a present for Schumann’s eldest daughter, Marie, on herseventh birthday. Each piece added a new skill. None of them was very long so that the young musician wouldbe successful quickly and not tire of practicing. Schumann also included his own teaching ideas such as “Don’tjust tinkle at the keys!” and “Play rhythmically!”

Schumann’s “Album for the Young” is divided into two parts. The first set of eighteen pieces are written foryoung children and the later pieces are for “more grown-up” players. Listen for the musical pattern in “TheHappy Farmer.” Why do you think the farmer sounds happy?

Robert Schumann

WGUC sincerely thanksThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater Foundation

for its sustaining support since theinception of

Classics for Kids®.

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GamesWe Play

Kids like to play games.Schumann knew this

when he wrote Album forthe Young.

Sometimes we play gamestogether on teams. Whenone team plays against

another team, we call thegame a sport. Can you

name the sports that eachof these children are

playing?

Write your answer on theline below each picture.

Decode the Hidden MessageAnswer the questions below. Then, fill in the correct

letter to decode the secret message.

1. Robert Schumann was a musician and an _____.

Z. Book dealer A. Actor M. Author

2. The strings on the piano are struck by ________.

U. Hammers K. Fingers L. Pumpkins

3. The piano keys are pushed down by

_____________. G. Toes S. Fingers

4. The _________ of the piano are stretched over the

sounding-board. I. Strings J. Pedals

5. The standard size piano has ______ keys.

V. 100 D. 999 C. 88

6. Robert Schumann’s eldest daughter’s name was

___________. I. Marie F. Rebecca T. Carrie

7. Robert and Clara Schumann had ________

daughters. D. 7 S. 3 R. 12

8. Robert Schumann wrote the Album for the

__________. R. Old W. Silly F. Young

9. There are ______ pieces for young children in the

“Album for the Young.” O. 10 C. 8 U.18

10. Schumann wrote these songs for his daughter’s

_____ birthday. N. Seventh A. Tenth O. Fourth

MusicalMusicalMusicalMusicalMusicalABCsABCsABCsABCsABCs

There are only 7There are only 7There are only 7There are only 7There are only 7letters in theletters in theletters in theletters in theletters in the

musical alphabet.musical alphabet.musical alphabet.musical alphabet.musical alphabet.After you reach GAfter you reach GAfter you reach GAfter you reach GAfter you reach G- you begin again- you begin again- you begin again- you begin again- you begin againat A.The higherat A.The higherat A.The higherat A.The higherat A.The higheryou go in theyou go in theyou go in theyou go in theyou go in the

staff, the higherstaff, the higherstaff, the higherstaff, the higherstaff, the higherthe note willthe note willthe note willthe note willthe note will

sound. Below is asound. Below is asound. Below is asound. Below is asound. Below is alist of letterslist of letterslist of letterslist of letterslist of letters

going up as if theygoing up as if theygoing up as if theygoing up as if theygoing up as if theywere on a staff.were on a staff.were on a staff.were on a staff.were on a staff.

AAAAAGGGGGFFFFFEEEEEDDDDDCCCCCBBBBBAAAAAGGGGG

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Some of the other pieces forchildren in the “Album for theYoung” are:

Soldier’s March

The Wild Horseman

Reaper’s Song

Do you know anyone who hasplayed these pieces on the piano?