Recently, I have assigned a few students to read about certain major composers. Most of the books are from the delightful series "Famous Children" by Ann Rachlin (Illustrated by Susan Hellard). Since the students are quite small, I am happy that they have at least read the books and write a few sentences about the composers. The first student to hand in the assignment is Yoko Liang. She is doing her grade 3 exam in August and will be working on her grade 5 pieces after that. She basically copied the main points from the book, but she did add a few of her comments at that end which I am very happy about! This is what she wrote:
Beethoven's Life
Beethoven was born in 1770. He lived with his father and mother and his two brothers, Kaspar and Nikola, in a baker's house at no.934 Rheingasse in Bonn. Ludwig went to school with his brothers. He hated his lessons. He studied French, Italian, and Latin, but his marks were very poor. Ludwig wasn't very good at math. For multiplication to find an answer to a question, he had to write and add them all together!. Kaspar and Nikola were very good at school, but when it came to music, no one was as brilliant as Ludwig.
Ludwig was so young when he began to play the clavier. He also learned the violin. His father, Johann was a singer and he gave Ludwig his first lessons but he was very strict. Ludwig was making excellent progress. Soon, the little boy was learning how to play the viola and the organ. Already he was a much better musician than his father! When Ludwig was seven years old, his father gave him his first concert. It took place on March 26, 1778.
When Ludwig was ten years old, Christian Gottlob Neefe became the Elector's new organist. This fine musician realized that Ludwig was a genius who needed a gentle, understanding teacher who would encourage him to compose. He will certainly become another Wolfgang Mozart if he continues as he has begun. When Ludwig was 16, Mr. Neefe decided that he should study with Mozart in Vienna. After a long journey, Beethoven arrived on April 7th, 1787. After a few days he met Mozart and played for him.
Ludwig van Beethoven became one of the world's most important composers. He wrote over 600 works, including 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 1 opera, 32 piano sonatas, and many string quartets, trios, and choral works. Beethoven composed many of these materpieces after he became deaf. Among his most famous pieces are "the Moonlight Sonata", the "Pastoral" symphony no.6, and "the Ode to Joy" from his Symphony no.9. He died in 1827. I think his music is great! I heard some of his songs and they sound great! It is sad he became deaf and couldn't hear his own music or the audience clapping.
I think the assignment is very well done and it covers a lot of areas from the book. Now Yoko, if you could look up more on Beethoven's life, his different stage of development and musical styles, that would be a good next project! Also, if you did listen to his works, make sure let me know which ones and what are your feelings and thoughts towards them. Great job Yoko!! Keep exploring different composers and different periods of piano music!!
