Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Note to readers: We have studied most of the major composers from each musical era and discussed the eras on timelines as well noting the feel of the music, the kinds of harmonies, and listening to examples as well. We've learned about their basic lives, their styles, their special contribution and listened about them as well on "classicsforkids.com." We've honored our composers through art, listening, and often playing their music if I have pieces for the student's level of playing. Composers: Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Schubert, Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, Clara Schumann, Handel, Mozart, Hayden, Scott Joplin, jazz composers in including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Strayhorn...Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Bizet, Debussy, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Camille Saint-Seans, Puccini, Johann Strauss, Amy Beach, Black Women Composers, Women musicians in various eras, modern women pianists.......and many more. We spend a month on one or a group of composers and listen a little at each lesson which includes often the www.classicsforkids website program. At the end of the month the students turn in a portrait of the composer and tell me something they learned about the composer as well as complete an activity sheet which includes information on the composer and her or his featured music. We arrange a bulletin board of the composer and photo shoot it to place on the website. Then we move on to another the next month.