Schumann “Träumerei” from Kinderszenen, Op.15 Tutorial

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This 52-minute video lesson explores an in-depth look at “Träumerei”, the seventh piece from Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen, Op.15. Areas of focus include shaping and voicing (and how to create variety with repeated sections/ideas), fingering suggestions, pedaling suggestions (and proper use of the una corda pedal), ideas for convincing rubato, developing a gentle touch, resolving phrases effectively, ideas for effective inner lines, performance tips, and many other techniques to help you become as efficient as possible in your practice sessions.
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[@Mofos_of_Metal]

This piece is a real treasure. When I was younger and first getting into piano I wanted to skip to the difficult virtuoso repertoire and wasted a lot of time fumbling through things before I was ready. Promoting the fact that there are musically rich pieces like this out there that are relatively easy to grasp technically is very important. There are many "children's pieces" that are actually very worthy concert repertoire, I love some of Kosenko's 24 Children's Pieces op.25 and Glière's 12 Pièces Enfantines Op​​​​​​​.​​​​​​​31 - especially #​​​​​​​7: Romance.

[@hotpink3459]

Thank you for showing the pedaling

[@samsilva3625]

That Horowitz performance, gosh!

[@pejmanaflaki3869]

Great job!

[@CB-ke9rs]

Exquisitely, hauntingly beautiful ❤

[@AliciaValdivia-r6x]

Thank you so much !!!

[@qazsedcft2162]

I was slightly dissapointed that you didn't talk about the tempo. Clara Schumann gave a tempo that's much faster than the tempo it's usually played at today and I feel there is some validity to that. Actually, Träumerei means "daydreaming" not "dreaming" and to me at least that changes how I look at it. I think your tempo is more moderate not like the extremely slow tempo that some pianists choose but I wish you had mentioned that as an interpretive choice.

[@RolandHuettmann]

I agree, the piece should move forward more, but keep it's delicacy. It has a rich voice, deep in the key bed. The translation of the word "Träumerei" to me is neither dreaming nor really day dreaming, but something in between, it can have subtle nuances. Well, Schumann gave names only later after the pieces already existed.

[@joshwrightpiano]

If you like a faster tempo, go for it. You don’t need my permission or suggestion to make a decision about the tempo you take haha. I made a conscious choice to take this a bit slower…that’s the tempo I’m convinced of for this piece, but that certainly doesn’t mean other tempi won’t be convincing. Good luck in your studies!

[@RolandHuettmann]

@@joshwrightpiano You are right. Everyone has his or her taste, and it even that changes during the day. My comment to a comment was not intended as a critical remark. Anyway, this piece can be difficult from a musical point of view and there are lots of different interpretations. I even do not think that this is a beginner's piece even if someone can play the notes.

[@joshwrightpiano]

@@RolandHuettmannno worries Roland. I was actually responding to the original commenter - sorry for any confusion there

[@RolandHuettmann]

@@joshwrightpiano We are here to enjoy your lessons and discuss technique and musicality and your insights and experiences on the musical path of life -- insights which are all highly appreciated. 💐🎶

[@luyin1961]

Great lesson, as always. Would love to hear more about your use of uni corda, as it has more to do with color than volume, and I always worry being musically/structurally incorrect. Also wonder what you of Horowitz and Cortot versions, and what elements are worth borrowing.

[@joshwrightpiano]

Thank you! As stated in the tutorial, I believe that una corda use should be used for color (not a volume lever) depending on the space you’re in and the brightness of the piano. It can help create unique textures and effects, but shouldn’t be used as a substitute for developing a softer touch

[@waggawaggaful]

I have an idea for a video. I’m not sure if you’ve covered this yet, but I’m thinking about incorporating diverse techniques into my daily practice instead of focusing too myopically on developing one technique. I’ve been hammering Schubert impromptu op.90 no.2 over and over again trying to get a smooth pearly sound. But I find if this is all I do during a practice session, my progress is super slow and I seem to get stuck. So I started going back and forth from the impromptu to the opening of the waldstein sonata which has completely different dynamics from anything in Schubert’s music. Over the next few weeks I’m going to experiment with practicing pieces with heavy chords and lots of staccato together with the pearly Schubert impromptu to see if the contrast in dynamics will give me more perspective and insight into the primary dynamic I’m trying to develop. I might throw in some practice with the Ravel toccata (tombeau de couperin) even though I’ve never touched ravel before and a toccata is way past my current playing level. But it’s basically the most opposite sound of what I’m trying to accomplish with Schubert, and I wonder what the contrast will unlock for my brain.

[@lisasexammusicoriginalcomp5861]

I'm trying to work out bar22 it's a massive stretch both hands I can only just manage an octave.

[@DeanHorak]

Love this piece. One of my favorites and one that I play regularly to keep it under my fingers. Here’s a recording I made almost 4 years ago… kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpu3eXqtds6MabMsi=72PmZ5MWLOsYpi4E

[@alanclarkeau]

I love the pace. I played it maybe 15 yrs ago for the exit from my Mother-in-law's funeral, with much the same pace. My copy of the music says "Moderato", but I've thought that was wrong, too fast- so I was glad to hear you confirming my instincts.

[@nylonsteel]

Melody reminds me of Shenandoah maybe Schumanns old world influence in the new world

[@IainInLondon]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Since your video, it's been in my head, so I've started learning it today.

[@crehenge2386]

At last❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊

[@GavinKing_AKA_plumpNation]

Thank you!

[@maxjohn6012]

Exceptionally useful video, Josh - thank you! I've always ignored this piece but have been meaning to learn it, this was very motivating :) I don't suppose you've done or would do a video on Rachmaninoff's D major prelude, op 23 no 4? Pretty please? It looks so deceptively simple on the paper but my hands just fall over each other and I'm struggling so much more than I expected to since discovering and falling head over heels in love with it.

[@joshwrightpiano]

I have a friend coming on soon who is going to do a guest tutorial on that piece and one other Rachmaninoff prelude :)

[@maxjohn6012]

@@joshwrightpiano Music to my ears :)

[@OleJ-DK]

Wonderfully and Peacefully played, thank you!

[@joshwrightpiano]

Thank you! I appreciate your kindness and support

[@volna9704]

“Träumerei” isn’t exactly “dreaming”… it’s a noun, the diminutive of “Traum” which means “dream”, and so it has and leads to a feeling to this that is light and sweet and dreamy and imaginative in a loose way, half-awake, even from the name itself, almost as if a daydream that is happening, as if you are imagining fairies between the leaves of this bush or that as you take a walk down sunspilt paths and the play of light and shadow through the foliage above makes everything seem like you were transported into some magical place… it most definitely has more of the “a dream of mine, something i imagine and want” quality than “a dream i had while sleeping”, but it’s still… a dream-like trance state you’re experiencing this Träumerei in, no? lost to the world around you, you sink into the sweetness and romance of a captivating, beautiful moment

[@outrun9354]

Traum piano 🤩

[@TheBionemesis]

I like the fact that you tell us to not lose interest in it haha

[@joshwrightpiano]

Haha many people do! When I watch some students or pianists play, it’s easy to just go through the motions