| Ludwig Von Beethoven is beloved throughout the | | | | complete awe. His keyboard playing ability fused with |
| world and for centuries as one of our finest | | | | his genius in composition generated impromptu |
| composers of classical music. In fact, students of | | | | variations on a theme that must have seemed |
| many different genres of music have studied his | | | | otherworldly at the time. |
| writings to get a glimpse of his musical genius for | | | | Beethoven needed more and he sought the guidance |
| inspiration. And not just classical, I'm referring to jazz, | | | | of one of his famous contemporaries, Mozart, in |
| fusion, rock, latin, etc. students before they left the | | | | Vienna. In 1787 Mozart found time to listen to him |
| classical scene to explore their individual areas of | | | | although at that time he was completely absorbed by |
| expression. | | | | his work on the composition of Don Juan. The |
| So, the question arises, do geniuses need lessons or | | | | not-yet mature Ludwig brilliantly improvised on a |
| are they simply born with innate ability to play any | | | | theme suggested by Mozart, astonishing his entire |
| instrument and express themselves freely, almost | | | | audience. After having listened to him, Mozart said: " |
| from birth? Well, history shows us that there have | | | | watch out for that boy. One day he will give the |
| been a select few people who didn't need much | | | | world something to talk about". Beethoven then |
| tutoring before being able to recite, note for note, | | | | began taking lessons with Mozart, and later on |
| nearly any tune they wanted. Some even could play | | | | studied with Haydn. |
| the piano with both hands competently, but these | | | | History shows us that Beethoven's facility on the |
| are the extremely rare exceptions. The rest of us | | | | keyboard was every bit as developed as his creative |
| (as well as the geniuses) needed lessons. | | | | compositions would later be revered. But, without |
| Beethoven gave his first performance at age 8 on | | | | intensive training and hours of practice even |
| the harpsichord but this was under duress from his | | | | Beethoven's genius would have faltered, and the |
| father who exerted great pressure on his young son | | | | world might not have benefited from the volumes of |
| to develop quickly. | | | | pieces he wrote. |
| At the age of 16, Ludwig already had somewhat of a | | | | Think about that the next time you hear one of |
| reputation in Bonn, the city he was born in. He taught | | | | Beethoven's nine symphonies or the sonata in C |
| music lessons and held concerts at aristocratic | | | | sharp, opus 27, number 2, better known as "The |
| residences, as well as at court. His fervent | | | | Moonlight Sonata. |
| harpsichord improvisations held his audience in | | | | |