February 8, 2012

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Music for Children

There are so many genres of music. The fantastic part is that there is creativity and innovative sound at every turn. However, despite updated sounds, recording techniques, and new music, the truth remains that classical music is the inspiration for it all. Developing music theory is the brain child of the original artists like Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Mozart. There are many more countless others, but these are some of the leaders of classic music innovation.

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Music Design

The design of music is something that has been proven to be not just musical, but to be mathematically sound. It has been proven that children that listen to classical music have shown drastic improvements in their grades, test scores, and in their capability to process information. The other link that children have is that with language.

Some of have suggested that music works in conjunction with the language part of the brain, and that it stimulates the processing of the information developed during the formative years. The key is that the systematic function of the music design has provided a unique way for children to open a learning door.

Music Incorporated in the Beginning

When parents incorporate music into the normal part of their child’s lives, it has been shown to help cognitive development. The genres of music do create a diverse type of music to listen to, but nothing tops the original composers and true classical music. This means that children can have a rounded a variety of music to listen to while learning.

 

 

 

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A Beethoven Fact Sheet

Ask anyone who they know as a classical music composer and they will usually answer with Beethoven. Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most well-known classical composers of all times. Here’s a look at some facts surrounding a Beethoven’s life and some of his most well-known pieces.

  • Beethoven was born on December 17, 1770. He was born in the city of Bonn which at the time was considered part of the Holy Roman Empire. Today it would be considered Germany.
  • Beethoven moved to Vienna and effort to learn classical music and various instruments.it took only a matter of years for him to quickly gain a reputation as one of the best classical music composers of all time.
  • In the late 1790s Beethoven’s hearing began to deteriorate due to an inner ear problem. This caused him to become completely deaf. However, he did not let this disability prevent him from being able to compose and perform his various pieces. Beethoven is most known for laying his head on the top of the piano and listening to the various vibrations of the music. Some of Beethoven’s best music was composed after he lost his hearing.
  • Beethoven has been credited with bringing the classical and Romantic music to the western part of the world.  In his lifetime he composed over 32 sonatas, a various number of shorter pieces intended for the piano, and accompaniments for various instruments to play along next to the piano. Beethoven also composed nine complete symphony orchestra pieces in various long pieces that are not considered symphony pieces.
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Ludwig van Beethoven – A troubled genius

Portrait Ludwig van Beethoven when composing t...
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The most significant notes ever written were quite possibly the first four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – three short beats followed by one long. Some say they represented the heavy hand of Fate knocking on one’s door.

There’s no doubt that German born composer Ludwig van Beethoven suffered deeply for his art, and those around him suffered, too. He was known to be short-tempered, poorly groomed, and ill mannered. He talked to himself, he didn’t bathe, and he let his hair grow long and wild during a time when meticulous pigtails were the style for men’s hair.

The year his father began teaching him to play piano, Ludwig was so small he was unable to reach the keys. Johann was a tenor, and supplemented his income giving voice and violin lessons. Neighbors recall Ludwig crying at the piano, standing on the bench to better reach the keys. Johann was an abuser who rapped his knuckles and whipped him whenever he made mistakes. Some speculate it may have been a severe boxing blow to the ears that started Ludwig on the gradual road to his deafness. An autopsy showed a distended inner ear. Hair samples reveal toxic levels of lead, which may have played a role. We do know that he suffered from a severe form of tinnitus, a ringing of the ear, which made conversation difficult, and impaired his ability to perceive and appreciate music. His condition may explain why his later works were so heavy handed – it was the only way he could hear his own music.

Beethoven couldn’t hear his audience, either, and after a concert, had to be physically turned to see them standing and applauding.

Several failed attempts at romance led him to celibacy. He considered himself unattractive. He was scarred from smallpox, with a large head and protruding teeth which he polished, constantly, with his napkin. He was messy, had sloppy penmanship, and he loved macaroni and cheese. He liked strong coffee and made it himself – exactly 60 beans to the cup. He was certainly a character, if not the greatest composer who ever lived.

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Most Famous Classical Composers

There have been hundreds of classical composers and we have listened to their music. There many, though, that stand out. There are the famous ones we’ve all heard of or at least heard their music playing softly in the background. The memory of listening to these famous composers may not be vivid, but its there in the back of our minds. As we think about classical composers we ponder which ones were the most famous. Are the ones I have heard of the same ones others have? Who are the most famous classical composers?

We can all agree that one of the most famous classical composers was Ludwig Van Beethoven. We recognize his name as the composer of “Fur Elise”, a song heard by pianists around the world. We also recognize his “Ode to Joy” which is played by beginner musicians and sung by choirs everywhere. Beethoven was born in Bonn and eventually settled in Vienna. He had a hard time when he lost his hearing at age 28, but continued to compose despite this problem. Beethoven died in 1872.

Another person we can all agree on was one of the most famous composers is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. We recognize his name from “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”. Mozart was a child prodigy and began composing between the ages of five and six. He traveled a lot, creating a career of music throughout his life. Mozart died of an unknown illness in 1791.

We have all heard of Beethoven and Mozart, and probably all have heard of Johann Sebastian Bach also. Bach was a German composer who enjoyed making music for churches. He died in 1750.

Richard Wagner is another familiar name, along with Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Wagner is well known for his operas. Tchaikovsky is more well known for his ballets.

These classical composers are known to be a few of the most famous and well known today.

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