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Ludwig van Beethoven fact sheet for kids

A free printable fact sheet about Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 to 1827): quick facts, a short life story, three pieces to hear, and room to write and draw.

Ages 6 and up1 pageFree to print for home and classroom use

Ludwig van Beethoven lived from 1770 to 1827. Beethoven moved to Vienna as a young man and became a famous pianist. He began to lose his hearing in his late twenties. He wrote nine symphonies.

How to use this sheet

Read the story at the top out loud. Then play the first piece on the list. The line under each title says what to listen for. Tick the box when the piece ends.

Play the other two pieces on other days. One piece at a time is enough. At the end of the week, the child writes what they heard and draws a picture. Search the composer's name and the title on any streaming service or at a library.

For more on the life and the music, read our guide: Beethoven for kids.

Only the sheet below prints. It fits letter and A4 paper. For a clean page, turn off headers and footers in the print window.

Composer fact sheet

Ludwig van Beethoven

1770 to 1827 · Germany · Classical era

Quick facts

Born: 1770, Bonn, Germany

Died: 1827, Vienna, Austria

Played: Piano

Era: Classical, about 1750 to 1820

The story in short

Beethoven moved to Vienna as a young man and became a famous pianist. He began to lose his hearing in his late twenties. He wrote nine symphonies.

A fact to remember

He lost most of his hearing and kept writing music.

Listen to these

  • Symphony No. 5, first movement

    Four notes, three short and one long, start it all.

  • Für Elise

    A gentle piano tune that keeps coming back.

  • Ode to Joy, from Symphony No. 9

    A simple tune that moves by steps. A choir joins the orchestra.

What I heard

Draw the music

Ludwig van Beethoven fact sheetkidsclassicalmusic.com