Robert now became greatly impressed by the genius of Franz Schubert.  He eagerly played everything the master had composed for the piano, both for two and four hands, and Schubert’s death during this year, filled him with profound grief.  The young musical friends with whom Robert had become intimate, while living in Leipsic, shared his enthusiasm about his hero of German song, and they desired to enlarge their knowledge of Schubert’s work.  They did more, for they decided to take one representative composition and practise together till they had reached the highest perfection.  The choice fell on the Trio in B flat major, Op. 99, whose beauties had greatly impressed them.  After much loving labor the performance was well nigh perfect.  Schumann arranged a musical party at which the Trio was played.  Besides students and friends, Wieck was invited and given the seat of honor.

This musical evening was the forerunner of many others.  Weekly meetings were held in Robert’s room, where much music was played and discussed.  The talk often turned to grand old Bach and his “Well-tempered Clavichord,” to which in those early days, he gave ardent study.

With all this music study and intercourse with musical friends there was very little time left for the study of law.  Yet he still kept up appearances by attending the lectures, and had intended for some months to enter the Heidelberg University.  This decision was put into execution in May 1829, when he started by coach for Heidelberg.

We find Robert Schumann at nineteen domiciled in the beautiful city of Heidelberg, and surrounded by a few musical friends, who were kindred spirits.  With a good piano in his room, the “life of flowers,” as he called it, began.  Almost daily they made delightful trips in a one-horse carriage into the suburbs.  For longer trips they went to Baden-Baden, Wurms, Spires and Mannheim.  Whenever Robert went with his friends he always carried a small “dumb piano” on which he industriously practised finger exercises, meanwhile joining in the conversation.  During the following August and September, Robert and two or three chosen companions made a delightful journey through Italy, the young man preparing himself by studying Latin, in which he became so fluent that he could translate poems from one language to the other.

The next winter Robert devoted himself to music more than ever—­“played the piano much,” as he says.  His skill as a pianist gradually became known in Heidelberg and he frequently played in private houses.  But he was not content with the regular study of the piano.  He wanted to get ahead faster and invented some sort of a device to render his fourth finger more firm and supple.  It did not have the desired effect however, but was the means in time of injuring his hands so that he never could attain the piano virtuosity he dreamed of.