🎹 The Romantic Music Challenge
This challenge is about sharing the music you love!
Over five weeks, you’ll learn a short Romantic-era (or Romantic-style) piano piece, focusing on expression, color, and musical intention rather than speed or volume. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s connection — to the music, and to your own sound.
You can play along quietly on your own, or share your progress through words or video with the community. At the end, we’ll celebrate together with a February 13 Romantic Watch Party.
How It Works
Choose one short piece (or a short excerpt)
Romantic or lyric in spirit
Work on the same piece throughout the challenge
Suggested Repertoire (Beginner → Intermediate)
Beginner
Burgmüller – Arabesque, Ballade
Schumann – Melody (Album for the Young)
Tchaikovsky – Morning Prayer
Grieg – Arietta (Lyric Pieces)
Gurlitt – Romantic-style character pieces
Late Beginner / Early Intermediate
Chopin – Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No. 4
Mendelssohn – Songs Without Words (easier selections)
Schumann – Träumerei
Grieg – Lyric Pieces (various)
Clara Schumann – selected short works
Intermediate
Chopin – Nocturne in E minor (posth.)
Chopin – Waltz in A minor (posth.)
Mendelssohn – Songs Without Words (Op. 19, 30)
Fauré – Romance sans paroles
Brahms – Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 (excerpt)
Short excerpts are always welcome.
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72 replies
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I'd like to play the Nocturne in B-flat by Pederewski -- it's slow-ish and lyrical, about 4 minutes in duration. Thank you for organizing another nice challenge/event.
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This is so motivating. Better than studying alone!
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I think I might learn Scriabin's Op. 11 No. 11 for this one. :D
I was sad to miss out on the Beethoven challenge. December was a bear of a month; I barely had time to practice. But I have high hopes for January!
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When I read the line “This challenge about sharing the music you love”, I felt drawn to learn and play the Florence Price Sonata second movement. (It’s been on my list for a while) It’s not Romantic Era of course, but a very romantic piece I would say. I’ve noticed that we should keep it short for this challenge, so I will find a short and fitting excerpt to work on colors, expression and musical intention.
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I think I’ll learn my first Chopin: Prelude in A, opus 28 no. 7.
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I’d like to learn Chopin Preludes in E major and C# minor
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I'll play either Rachmaninoff Etude Tableau Op.33 #3 in c minor, the Etude Tableau op.33 #5 in d minor, or the Rachmaninoff prelude op.23 #6 in E Flat.
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I’m currently working on Chopin’s Nocturne, Op. 27, No. 2 in D-flat major. , could you please indicate the maximum excerpt length we should follow (e.g., less than 3 minutes or 4 minutes)?
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I'll play the most romantic piece that I can find.
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I am practicing Tchaikovsky Romance op 5 but if it’s too long I can do Faure Romance instead!
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I'd like to learn the famous Eighteenth Variation from Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini op. 43, in the piano solo transcription by Michael Voleridge.
It's a very, very romantic piece by the composer often called "the last Romantic". It's short (about three minutes long).
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Schumann Melody. I came in at level 3 from taking the quiz and this is rated as level 3, so I will give it a go and I like that there is a lesson to go with it. I put it in writing here, so more likely to consistently work on it. Schoeder's Greatest Hits album includes it, so it has gotta be a good one. thanks ya'll!
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I'm working on the Chopin e minor nocturne, Op 72. I might join in.
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Is this the correct place to discuss the challenges we encounter? Because I'm one page in and already dreading the experience of learning/memorizing a new piece. It's a process that I've never enjoyed. But I'm adopting a new way to look at it now: I try to see it as getting acquainted with the piece. Like when a romance begins I suppose 😅. I'll see if this works to make the process more palatable.