This is a tender and expressive piece in C minor, in 2/4 time. To prevent it from sounding like 4/4 time, emphasize the lightness of the off-beats. Although many black keys appear, strive for a smooth performance to ensure an even touch when playing both black and white keys. To achieve this, instead of curving the fingers and playing the front edge of the white keys, feel the support from the center of the palm, extend the fingers, and play slightly deeper into the keys. For small children's hand sizes, this means the wrist will be approximately at the edge of the keyboard. Playing deeper into the keys requires more force for striking than playing the front, and you might hear exclamations like "It's heavy!" However, it is acceptable to produce a soft sound, but the aim is to strike the keys at that position. By doing so, your hand will not move back and forth (deeper and shallower) when playing black and white keys, and a smooth legato can be achieved. In sections such as measure 9, where two eighth notes are slurred, make the second note slightly shorter, taking care to ensure it does not merge with the subsequent note. As this section involves slightly more active movement, it is advisable to play it vividly with a quick and crisp touch.