Ludwig van Beethoven was a famous German composer born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He had an alcoholic father who was his first music teacher and made him practice piano in tears as a child. Though he went to Vienna to study with Mozart, there is no record they ever met. Beethoven struggled with deafness later in life and was completely deaf by age 44, yet he continued composing and produced famous works including his 5th and 9th Symphonies. He died in 1827 at age 57 in Vienna, Austria.

1. Ludwig van Beethoven Birth Date: December 16, 1770 Death Date: March 26, 1827

2. Beethoven’s Family He was born in Bonn, Germany. He has Seven brothers and sisters, only two siblings survived infancy. Beethoven’s Mother died when he was 18. Beethoven’s Father suffered from alcoholism.

3. Did you know?

4. Beethoven’s First Music Teacher was His Father! Pictured to the left is Beethoven’s Father, Johann van Beethoven

5. Beethoven’s father made him stand at the keyboard in tears practicing.

6. Beethoven was helped in writing his first composition by Christian Neefe.

7. He was only nine when he wrote his first composition!

8. In 1787, at the age of 18, Beethoven made his first trip to Vienna, Austria.

9. Rumor had it that he was searching to study with Mozart, but no history of meeting or studying ever was recorded. Mozart Beethoven

10. After going to Vienna, Austria his mother passed and he returned to Bonn, Germany to care for his brothers.

11. Beethoven befriended the von Breuning Family where he learned German and Classical literature and started his career as an instructor of piano.

12. Beethoven also played Viola in the Court Orchestra to help support his family. There, he learned and played three of Mozart’s Operas.

13. Did You Know?

14. Beethoven was only 26 when he started having hearing problems!

15. After the premier of his Ninth Symphony, he turned around to see people clapping, but could not hear a sound.

16. In 1811, at the age of 31, he attempted and failed to perform Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor.” After this failed attempt, he never performed in public again.

17. In 1814, at the age of 44, Beethoven was almost totally deaf.

18. Beethoven and his friends used conversation books in the last ten years of his life. These books held mutual conversations about music, Beethoven’s thinking, and the ways in which he thought his music should be performed.

19. Some of Beethoven's Works Opus 80 "Choral Fantasy Turkish March Menuet in G Moonlight Sonata Symphony #9 Beethoven's #5 Symphony Fur Elise

20. Beethoven died on March 26, 1827 at the age of 57. The cause of death is unknown, but the impact that Beethoven made truly was an art in itself.