Beethoven

Beethoven is perhaps the best-known of the classical masters. His famously eccentric personality is always intriguing to kids. Consider teaching the following points:

• Composer Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in Germany, but he lived for many years in Austria.

• Beethoven gradually lost his hearing and eventually became deaf. That didn’t stop him, however, from composing some of his most impressive works—including his Ninth Symphony. This piece, which contains “The Ode to Joy,” is one of the most popular pieces in music history.

• Beethoven sometimes dipped his head in cold water to clear his mind before composing!

• Much of Beethoven’s work was written during the Classical Period. He also composed music in the style of the next musical era—the Romantic Period.

To learn more, visit Alberti Publishing.

Illustration by Heidi Cabrera

Time Periods

Kids Can Learn the Periods of Music

Learning the major periods of music gives students a solid framework to start with. As they learn more music facts, they place them into this framework and begin building a tight platform of music history.

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Harpsichord

Most kids say, "harpsi-WHAT?" Alberti Publishing explains harpsichords this way:

• A “harpsichord” looks like a small piano. The first harpsichord was created more than 600 years ago.

• The black and white keys on a harpsichord are often the opposite from the modern piano.

• Pianos use a hammer to strike the strings but a harpsichord uses a plectrum to pluck the strings. When you play a harpsichord, it doesn’t matter how hard you press the key, the sound is not louder or softer—it’s always the same!


Want to see more? visit Alberti Publishing.

Illustration by Heidi Cabrera

No Experience Necessary

Who Can Teach Music History?
Strange as it may seem, music history is not just for high-brow academics who ride segways.
Music history is for everyone. If you are a piano teacher, you know more about music than your student does, so share what you know.

The MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) has about 17,000 piano teacher members. Of those, fewer than 40% have a Bachelor's degree in piano. Though a degree translates into more education, teaching piano is clearly not restricted to musicians with the fancy initials after their name. And likewise, teaching music history is available to all as well.

How Do I Learn Music History?
The following are excellent resources for starters:

• The Great Pianists by Harold C Shonberg
• The Lives of the Great Composers by Harold C Shonberg
• Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys by David W. Barber
• Great Contemporary Pianists Speak for Themselves by Elyse Mach
• The Life and Death of Classical Music by Norman Lebrecht

The more you read, the more you will share with your students, so get started now!