Talent Talk

Bach to school issue.....

Volume 6, Issue 1 Fall 2014

Editor-in-Chief Tracey Markham A Publication of the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas suzukimusicdallas.org

Welcome to all our new families who have just joined our Suzuki Family! We have updated our Parent Handbook, which you should all have received via email. There may be specific questions that you want to discuss. All questions about the method and your child’s studies are important and valid. Our Parent Education specialist, Ms. Donna Davis, is always available, and we have many parents who have been in the school for several years who can chat about issues. You should seek out these parents: they have a wealth of advice, as does our Admin. Asst, Ms. Tracey, who has been a parent in our school for over 14 yrs. SMID Congratulates… Dara Li, SMID composition student of Dr. Carl, has won the Texas Senior Division section of the Music Teachers National Association composition competition with “Bosques del Apaches”, her composition for orchestra, which was recently performed by the Austin Symphony. Dara’s composition now moves automatically into the MTNA senior division composition competition. We have some exciting new developments to enhance our Suzuki program. Mr. Tom White, piano and Mr. Ian Salmon, violin/viola have joined our Suzuki Faculty. In addition to these outstanding teachers we are pleased to announce our first ever Double Bass program at Suzuki and welcome Dr. Kate Jones. Please read all about her in this edition. Another most exciting and pioneering activity is that we will be adding Suzuki Organ Studies in the near future. Dr. Carl will be going off to Sweden to study with the world authority in teaching the Pipe (Church) organ to children. Please see his article also published in this edition. Achievement Week! In keeping abreast with the top Suzuki and Traditional music establishments in this country and abroad, we have added Achievement Week to our curriculum. This will occur the week of March 2nd - 7th, 2015 (not the 3rd week of February, as we have our Strings Workshop Feb 27th and 28th 2015) Save the Date for our Holiday Sing-A-Long on Dec 14th. SMID string students will accompany the parents singing holiday songs, with Dr. Bret at the piano Dr. Carl on the church organ. Nicolette Solomon Director and String Specialist Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas

On our cover… Johann Sebastian Bach – Born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany into a large and distinguished family of professional musicians. His mother and father died before Bach was 10. As an orphan, he moved in with his eldest brother, J.C. Bach, an organist and composer, under whose tutelage Bach studied organ music as well as the construction and maintenance of the organ. Bach’s first masterpiece was ‘Toccata and Fugue in D Minor’ (1702). Bach had 13 children with Anna Magdalena Wilcke; among them, composer Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach. He had seven children with Maria Barbara Bach, who was also his second cousin; among them, composers Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Friedemann Bach. Bach died July, 28, 1750 in Leipzig, Germany. Personal quote: I was obliged to work hard. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed just as well.

Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas Calendar of Events October 2014 9th - Thursday: Parent Training, Session 4,7:30 - 8:30 pm 11th - Saturday: Deadline for Fall Theory registration 11th - Saturday: NTSA Celebration Concert, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4401 NE- Loop 820, NRH TX 76180

25th - Saturday: Evening Concert, 6:00 pm ~ Concert Hall at SMID 26th - Sunday: Costume Piano Play-in 1:00 pm, 2:15 pm, 3:30 & 4:30 pm

November 2014 9th - Sunday: TMTA Fall Theory Exam 15th - Saturday: Evening Concert, 6:00 pm ~ Concert Hall at SMID 25th - 29th: Thanksgiving Break

December 2014 13th – Saturday: ADVANCED String Group playing at Latino Cultural Center 2600 Live Oak St. Dallas, Texas 75204 - time & details TBA

14th - Sunday: Annual SMID Holiday Sing-a-long, 5:30 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 7611 Park Lane, Dallas 75225-2028 21st - Monday: Holiday Break begins

January 2015 ~ Suzuki Classes resume, Monday, January 5th

An Exciting New Development at SMID: Classical Organ Studies The Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas is expanding the number of instruments it offers for study: we're adding the Classical Pipe Organ, often called the “King of Instruments.” This exciting development follows the introduction of a Classical Organ Teacher Training program following the principles of the Suzuki method, which has been pioneered and prepared in Sweden by organ expert Gunilla Rönnberg and approved and endorsed by the European Suzuki Association. Dr. Carl van Wyk, theory and composition teacher at SMID is a trained organist with more than 30 years of practical organ playing experience. He will be starting teacher training with Gunilla Rönnberg. A classical organ program such as this generates challenges but also possibilities. One challenge will be the acquisition of suitable instruments for teaching, practicing and performance. A pipe organ, the favorite instrument of J. S. Bach, would not be the best, or even a practical solution for our situation at SMID - a pipe organ would consume too much of our confined hall space. Furthermore, our present concert hall’s acoustics would render a pipe organ a severe disservice. – it is a well-known axiom that the most important stop on a pipe organ is an acoustically sympathetic room.

Above: The Pipe facade of the Arnstadt organ, an instrument that J. S. Bach helped to design. He served as organist here for several years, and many of his early masterpieces hail from this period in his career. Below: J. S. Bach at the console of the Arnstadt organ.

The solution lies with a digital organ. These instruments have made monumental strides in the past decade, embracing authentic organ sound, and with the adoption of solid-state electronics, they can be not only astonishingly realistic as a consequence of advanced modern sound-sampling techniques, but also durable. Three further benefits accrue: (1) digital organs require no periodic tuning expense; (2) practicing can be done through headphones, leaving the organ room, and the practicing environment quiet; (3) the sound output of the organ may be adjusted and sculpted to counteract poor room acoustics. Roland, a company well known for it’s superior digital keyboard instruments, in collaboration with the Rodgers company, one of the premiere American digital organ manufacturers, have produced an almost perfect solution, and at a comparatively economical price, an organ known as a C-330 or the slightly more expensive C-380. This instrument, notwithstanding its small footprint, is supremely capable, versatile and realistic. The Roland C-330 has classical roots – the organ that Bach played on in Arnstadt in his youth is its conceptual model and many sounds have been sampled from it. It has numerous additional pipe samples as well, many of which are typical of large French and/or American pipe organs. The sound of this instrument is exciting. In addition to the recital organ, we will be looking at the acquisition of a teaching instrument for our children. Practice and teaching instrument have been devised for younger students in the Swedish Suzuki organ program. This instrument includes an adjustment for the pedal board, two manuals and a collection of carefully chosen digitally sampled classical organ pipe stops embracing typical classical organ sounds. This basic setup will enable young students to prepare to eventually perform some of the marvelous repertoire available for a classical organist, some of the greatest works of such masters as J.S. Bach, and G.F. Handel, but, of course, they would, as could be expected, be commencing with our beloved Twinkle theme and variations and follow the Suzuki repertoire, the gateway to the great masterworks of the organ.

Below: (1) A Roland C-330 digital organ, and, (2) adjustable organ suitable for teaching children

Suzuki Featured Student Gillian Marren How long have you been playing the piano? Who is your Suzuki teacher?

I have been playing the piano for about 6 years. This is my third year at Suzuki, learning from Miss Anna-the best teacher ever! Why did you pick the piano for your instrument choice?

There are many reasons I picked the piano. 1) My mom told me to. 2)I've always been fond of it. 3) It is a beautiful instrument with a wide range of styles. What is your favorite thing about playing the piano?

My favorite thing about playing the piano would be getting to play the same note but at different octaves. Do you have other interests outside of learning to play the piano? If so, what are they?

I love singing and acting. In the summer, I was in The Little Mermaid. Most recently, I sang at my school's Talent Show. Mostly, I enjoy singing and harmonizing with my two sisters. I also started learning to play the cello in my middle school's Orchestra. I like playing soccer. But most of all, I love doing anything arts and crafts- like origami, rainbow loom, drawing. When you are listening to classical music, what composers do you like to listen to?

I like listening to Bach and Beethoven. Do you like other types of music as well? What kind?

I love all music but mostly I listen to pop and Broadway showtunes. I also like classical and jazz. I love any music that tells a story. Tell our readers about a special talent or interest that you have.

My special talent would be singing-it's all I do! Do you have any advice for a student that is starting to learn an instrument?

Always listen to your music. When you can hear it, you can play it.

Teacher Feature

Ian Salmon How did you become interested in classical music, specifically, the violin? When did you start playing? I began group lessons in first grade. My school had a great program which allowed students to study an instrument in primer grades. I actually wanted to play the clarinet at first! I think my parents were deterred by the squeaky sounds coming from our oboe playing neighbor. I’m sure that they still heard their fair share of squeaks.

Where did you attend college, and what degree did you earn? I attended Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. I must have gotten lost there, as I ended up staying for 6 years to pursue my masters. I earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and Education and Master of Music in Suzuki Pedagogy.

Were you Suzuki trained as a child? If so, where did you take lessons? I was not a Suzuki student. I began in a group-class program at my elementary school, but soon started taking private lessons. I also attended classes through the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division.

Which composer's music do you enjoy playing the most? Which do you enjoy hearing the most? I’ve always loved Beethoven. There is something about the extended musical lines, humor and experimentation in his chamber music that brings out the best in my playing. I’m always excited to play a late Quartet (Op. 132 is my favorite) or one of the Sonatas for Violin and Piano. My favorite piece is Bach’s Goldberg Variations. I’m also a huge fan of John Adams. I love his violin concerto and the operas Nixon in China and Doctor Atomic.

What intrigues you the most about the Suzuki method? Suzuki teachers are always thinking forward. In order for a student to reach greatness, the teacher must be allowed to construct a vision of each individual child. This requires freedom and support from all stakeholders. This is why I love attending the annual Suzuki Association of the Americas conferences. The SAA is such a strong community. I love how supportive and open-minded its members are. There are always new ideas being tested and shared. At the local level we have the North Texas Suzuki Association, another community dedicated to providing opportunities for the continuing education of the whole Suzuki triangle.

How long have you been familiar with the Suzuki method, and how did you come to be here? I first learned of the Suzuki Method in elementary school. My cousin in Chicago was a violin student at the Music Institute of Chicago, which has a fantastic Suzuki program. She came for a visit during the winter holiday and I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of listening to repertoire. She had much better intonation than I did. I found the Suzuki Method again in Ithaca. There was a fantastic community of musicians, each teaching with a vision of their students which transcended musical ability. I witnessed students at Ithaca Talent Education growing into good citizens, full of character and joy as they went off to top colleges. There are many ways to teach “taka-taka-stop-stop,” but too few ways to teach perseverance, rigor, confidence and vision. In 2010 I moved to Texas and began teaching in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Suzuki in the Schools program.

What career path would you have chosen had you not gone into music? That’s a tough question to answer. I’ve always had strong interests in computer engineering as well as economics. My brother and I used to write our own cheat codes for Nintendo games using Palm Pilot computers. I keep my computer skills sharp as the webmaster for the North Texas Suzuki Association.

Do you have hobbies outside of music? I read obsessively (non-fiction mostly), geek out on the latest tech gadgets and spend as much time as I can with my dog, Rhody. I’ve also recently began cycling.

What is your favorite place to vacation? Colorado - I took up skiing a few years ago and have fallen in love with the Rocky Mountains.

What is one piece of advice you would give to parents who are bringing their children to a music lesson for the first time? Answer the questions - "Why am I doing this for my child? What results do I hope to achieve through Suzuki education? How will I measure our progress?" Write your answers on a piece of paper and keep it in a visible place.

Teacher Feature

Kate Jones How did you become interested in classical music, specifically, the bass? When did you start playing?

My parents were both musicians, and my mother was a suzuki teacher. I started playing violin when I was two, and switched to the bass when I was 10. Where did you attend college, and what degree did you earn?

I earned my Bachelor of Music from Illinois Wesleyan University, Master of Music from Cleveland Institute of Music, and DMA from University of North Texas. Were you Suzuki trained as a child? If so, where did you take lessons?

Yes, my mother was a suzuki teacher. Which composer's music do you enjoy playing the most? Which do you enjoy hearing the most?

I love to play Beethoven symphonies, and love to listen to Arvo Part. What intrigues you the most about the Suzuki method?

The possibility for every child to learn. How long have you been familiar with the Suzuki method, and how did you come to be here?

I've been around the suzuki method my whole life. I'm not really sure about the second question--here as in Texas? I moved to the notrh texas area for school. What career path would you have chosen had you not gone into music? Do you have hobbies outside of music?

I'm not sure. Maybe law? I love to ride my bike and spend time with my hedgehog Luna. What is your favorite place to vacation?

I love spending time in other countries and soaking up other cultures. What is one piece of advice you would give to parents who are bringing their children to a music lesson for the first time?

Notice how the teacher interacts with the student, and remember that all students are on their own timeline. Try not to compare your child with the student in the lesson.

Teacher Feature

Tom White How did you become interested in classical music, specifically, the piano? When did you start playing?

My  obsession  with  classical  music  began  when  I  was  in  the  4th  grade.  The  school  music  teacher started  showing  us  slideshows  of  the  lives  of  the  great  composers.  Each  show  featured  the  composer’s  most   famous  and  familiarworks.  That  Christmas,  my  parents  bought  me  my  first  recording,  Beethoven’s  5th  Symphony.  At  the  time  I   had  no  idea  what  a  symphony  was  or  what  an  orchestra  was,  but  I  listened  to  that  cassette  tape  over  and  over  again.  Over   the  next  25  years,  I  listened  to  everything  I  could  get  my  hands  on,  and  till  this  day,  I  still  find  wonderful  pieces  that  I’ve   never  heard  before.     Where did you attend college, and what degree did you earn? I  started  playing  when  I  was  twelve  after  hearing  one  of  my  best  friends  play  one  of  the  Bach  Minuets  on  his  piano.  It  dawned   on  me  that  I  could  be  making  music  rather  than  just  listening  to  it.

Were you Suzuki trained as a child? If so, where did you take lessons?

I  was  not  Suzuki  trained.  My  first  teacher  was  a  great  inspiration  for  me.  He  introduced  me  to  the  vastness  of  the  piano   repertoire  and  instilled  a  sense  of  respect  for  not  only  making  music,  but  studying  it  as  well..  I  still  visit  him  every  time  I  go   home  to  Pennsylvania.

Which composer's music do you enjoy playing the most? Which do you enjoy hearing the most?

After  high  school,  I  got  my  undergraduate  music  degree  at  Penn  State  University.  I  did  my  masters  degree  in  Piano   Performance  at  the  University  of  Northern  Colorado  which  led  me  to  the  University  of  Oklahoma  where  I  am  finishing  my   doctoral  degree.

What intrigues you the most about the Suzuki method?

I  love  playing  Beethoven.  You  get  a  sense  when  playing  his  music  that  he  really  knew  his  way  around  the  keyboard.  While  his   pieces  can  be  extremely  challenging,  there’s  always  a  sense  of  comfort  in  how  it  all  fits  together.  Beethoven  never  wastes  a   note,  everything  has  a  sort  of  organic  growth  in  his  compositions.  

How long have you been familiar with the Suzuki method, and how did you come to be here?

I  am  intrigued  at  how  the  Suzuki  method  establishes  a  student’s  technique  from  the  first  lesson.  I  feel  this  prepares  students   to  play  advanced  repertoire  at  an  earlier  stage  when  compared  to  other  piano  methods. I  heard  about  Suzuki  when  I  took  my  first  pedagogy  classes  at  Penn  State.  I  became  really  interested  in  Suzuki  piano  after   hearing  Mary  Craig  Powell  speak  at  a  piano  seminar  in  Oklahoma  a  few  years  ago.

What career path would you have chosen had you not gone into music? Do you have hobbies outside of music?

I  can’t  imagine  what  career  path  I  would  have  chosen  if  I  had  not  done  music.  I  just  can’t  imagine  myself  doing  anything  else.   I  love  astronomy  and  spend  a  lot  of  my  free  time  watching  YouTube  videos  about  quantum  physics  or  Carl  Sagan’s  Cosmos.

What is your favorite place to vacation?

My  favorite  place  to  be  is  Colorado  in  the  summer  time.  When  I  lived  in  Colorado,  I  would  spend  every  summer  weekend   hiking  and  climbing  every  mountain  I  could.  I  also  wouldn’t  mind  traveling  to  Europe  again.

What is one piece of advice you would give to parents who are bringing their children to a music lesson for the first time?

My  advice  to  new  parents  would  be  to  have  a  great  deal  of  patience  in  the  beginning  and  try  as  much  as  possible  to  make   practicing  at  home  into  a  fun  game.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GENEROUS DONORS! LeAnn  Binford Jennifer  Wong Julie  Nickols Michelle  York Dat  Vivienne  Bui Anonymous  Gift Christine    Stiles Bret  Serrin Grace  Novacheck Warren&  Pamela  Chiu Carey  Marin Christopher  Chun Abhijit  Railkar Arjun  Puri Bate  Bate Nicolette  Solomon Carey  Cribbs Carl  Van  Wyk Malcolm  Learner May  Jianxun  Shan Don  &Rose  Chu Donna  Davis Margaret  Dai Laura  Learner Kina  Khatri  Janet  Davis

Michelle  Barker Anne  &  Mark  Trivette Stephen  Engro  Kimberly  Dallman Bill  Boyd  Lori  Knight Jenny  Sanchez Susan  Davis-­‐Gillis Wendy  Banul Tracey  &  Dean  Markham Elaine  Grubbs Holland  Gary Craig  and  Tammy  Schill Alicia  McGlinchey John  and  Kristin  Gram Capp  Crofford Whitney  Haggard Seshagiri  Madhavapeddy       &  Victoria  Gylys Sandra  Fennell Christina  Betanzos Sarah  Gahm Darren  McHenry Soussan  Naghavi Surnjani  Djoko Nina  and  Jayna  Dave

Alumni Corner Making a Difference… by Crista Guthrie

“Being HUMBLE means recognizing we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE WE CAN MAKE in the lives of others.” Gordon B. Hinckley This is one of my favorite quotes. Being a musician can be a very humbling experience, but as I continue to ponder on these words and learn to apply them more and more to my music, and to my life in general, it has made all the difference in the world. It wasn’t until I started working hard as a violin performance major at Brigham Young University in Rexburg, ID, that I realized this is what Suzuki (and my Mom) was trying to teach me all along. Another favorite quote, which I believe describes me well, is a quote from Dr. Suzuki: “Every child can.” In fact I think I am living proof of “Every child can” when one is taught via the Suzuki Method at a really great music school like Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas (SMID.) I am now a sophomore at BYU-I, and have already had so many amazing music experiences. I believe many of these experiences came to be because of who I became as a person, not because I was a natural born gifted musician. I truly believe much of my current ability to work hard, never give up, believe in myself, not compare myself to others, just do my own personal best, realize that improvement comes from slow and steady hard work… came from what I learned at SMID. And not just for music, but for school and for my life “These are a few of my favorite things…” about SMID! The Best of Friends: My SMID friends were among my very best of friends, and they still are! Yet we are all so different. Some currently attend big name music institutes like Julliard, Eastman School of Music, Rice University, etc. Others showed amazing talent plus ability to work hard even at an extremely young age (often called “Prodigies” by some). Some of my SMID friends chose not to continue with a music degree at all when they moved to the “University” level of life, but they continue to play their instruments just because they can, and they enjoy it. Personally, I believe I fall into the category of just a “normal” sort of well-rounded kid who focused as much (if not more) on having fun with my music (and with life in general) as I did on “competing” or being “better” than others. My SMID friends made me feel like I was really cool, really fun, really special… and we ALL still feel the same way about each other. “FANTASTIC” teachers: Nicolette Solomon was actually my 6th private Suzuki teacher and I was very excited to begin studying with her when I was 10 years old. She almost always described my playing as “FANTASTIC.” (I think that was and still is her favorite word.) But there were times when she also was a little less enthusiastic with me and so blessed me instead with (much deserved) lectures on the benefits of slow and quality practicing and hard work.) She usually made me feel like I was among the best of the best. This helped a lot during all those solo concerts, and group and orchestra concerts, and competitions, some of which started… yep, when I was still “almost 4.” I was not afraid to “perform” in front of people until I got older and learned that there was such a thing as performance anxiety. But Nicolette was even better then at letting me know how “Fantastic” I was. She was and still is my true confidence builder! It helped me so much when she called me and texted me late at night before some of my most nerve-racking college auditions. Overcoming Stress: I don’t think any of us really loved the stress of Competitions, but what was so cool was, even though I rarely took home big trophies or even certificates of Honorable Mention, our SMID faculty and parents and friends always worked hard to cheer on every single one of us? I don’t think I would have ever wanted to be in a competition if it weren’t for all our SMID cheerleaders. All that cheering was on on-going thing at SMID: during “Home concerts” (before we had a school big enough to hold recitals at SMID, we would go to different people’s homes); during practice recitals (where we got to be a practice audience and practice “judges” giving our own critique’s to our fellow student colleagues re what we really liked and where we thought they could improve). This support came to be a big stress reliever! And I love that we all still celebrate each other’s achievements and cheer each other on as we keep in touch via social media even though we are many thousands of miles apart. Dr. Carl, Genius of Music Theory and Composition: Because my sports schedule in middle/high school was so packed, I had to do many make up lessons in order to prepare to take the written and aural theory exams as part of my college auditions. I also spent a good part of the summer prior to my Freshman year of college trying to catch up on theory. I realized how important music theory is, and how it truly applies to what I play. THANK YOU, Dr. Carl!!! And it was Dr. Carls’s composition lessons that really got me thinking about actually wanting to do something with music in college. I love composition! Performance Coaching: Thank goodness for amazing coaches like Jonathan Tsay and Brett Serrin who spent countless hours not just accompanying us, but teaching us how to lead! This is where I learned that “breathing” not only gives me life, it also helps me better bring my music to life! I continue to get better and better at the things I learned from them… especially while leading my Baroque Chamber Ensemble, and also being the Concertmaster of the orchestra this year!!

Alumni Corner

Crista Guthrie

Suzuki Moms and Dads: My Mom still claims that being a Suzuki Mom made her a better mom in general. I was blessed to be surrounded by so many other Suzuki parents both at SMID and at summer music institutes. This is my second year after graduating from SMID, and I still think of all of my best friends and their parents there as my family. I believe the #1 parent perseverance award goes to Dean Markham (Dad of my awesome Viola friend, Bella, now at Julliard)… Dean really knew how to make me shine in the recordings he made of me for my college auditions; after spending countless hours recording (and re-recording, and wiping my tears though much of it.) I love you, Dean! Take a look now at some of the cool experiences I’ve had in the last year or two since I graduated from SMID. They may not appear super huge, but through many experiences like these, I continue to see how important it is to build on that foundation of humble confidence I learned while at SMID. I continue to learn that it is important really market myself and to make lots of positive connections most of all to hold strong to my purpose. Here I am, just a normal kid who likes to have fun, be goofy, but most all make others smile from their heart because they love my music. I really want to make a positive difference in the lives of others through my music. Thank you, SMID for your on-going and loving support. You made a difference in my life!

A few of my Amazing Experiences and Opportunities since growing up as a SMID Kid! o I am currently the Concertmaster this year, my Sophomore year at BYU-I o Got to perform (twice now!) with William Joseph, contemporary Concert Pianist and amazing composer; and once with Jenny Oaks Baker (solo concert violinist) o Just because I asked, William Joseph gave me a four hour private composition lesson the day after my first performance with him. This is the guy who was/is coached by David Foster, producer for Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Michael Buble and many more. o I won a competition to perform as the violinist with a band opening for Carrie Underwood at the “Stadium of Fire” 4th of July Concert in Provo, UT this past July, in front of over 50 thousand people. o Toured all over Eastern Canada for two weeks with the Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra of BYU-I during April of last year o I was showcased and asked to perform Paganini’s 24th Caprice during a live talk radio interview about Paganini, during my Freshman year at BYU-I o I was photographed with my violin and chosen to appear on my college music department’s brochure and also life-size display banner for marketing at college fairs o After submitting my college applications during high school, I was accepted to every college to which I applied, offered full four year scholarships for music at two of my top choices of Universities, and partial scholarships at several others. (BYUProvo, BYU-Idaho, U of N TX, UT-Austin, TCU, Baylor, and Utah State University were among my top choices of Universities) (and no I have never been a straight A student) o Received amazing college letters of recommendation from teachers and clergy, many of whom still “cheer me on” because they have always loved my music, but most of all my love for music as it touches their hearts and souls

Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer of instrumental music, especially symphonic and chamber music. Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn on December 16, 1770 and baptized on December 17. He moved to Vienna in his early twenties and studied with Joseph Haydn. He began losing his hearing in the late 1790s, but continued to compose, conduct and perform even after he lost his hearing completely. He died in Vienna on March 26, 1827. Photo: Rischgitz/Stringer / Getty Images

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