When one reads "Youth Album," who does not think of similarly titled piano music compositions from past centuries: Tchaikovsky's "Youth Album," Aram Khachaturian's "Children's Album," and especially Robert Schumann's "Album for the Young." These collections of pieces not only reflect the individual style of their composers but also the musical language of their time. Schmitz continues this tradition by incorporating pieces from jazz, rock, blues, boogie-woogie, ragtime, or pop-romance, addressing the music styles of our present day. With technical difficulties ranging from very easy to challenging, the "Youth Album" is intended to be a companion for all piano players for many years.