Benjamin Britten fact sheet for kids
A free printable fact sheet about Benjamin Britten (1913 to 1976): quick facts, a short life story, three pieces to hear, and room to write and draw.
Benjamin Britten lived from 1913 to 1976. Britten grew up by the sea and wrote music as a small boy. He wrote operas and many pieces for children to sing and play. His guide to the orchestra uses a tune by Henry Purcell.
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: Britten 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
Benjamin Britten
1913 to 1976 · England · Modern era
Quick facts
Born: 1913, Lowestoft, England
Died: 1976, Aldeburgh, England
Played: Piano and viola
Era: Modern, about 1900 to 2000
The story in short
Britten grew up by the sea and wrote music as a small boy. He wrote operas and many pieces for children to sing and play. His guide to the orchestra uses a tune by Henry Purcell.
A fact to remember
He wrote The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra to show each instrument family in turn.
Listen to these
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
Each family plays the tune alone, then each instrument gets a turn.
Playful Pizzicato, from Simple Symphony
The players pluck the strings and never use the bow.
This Little Babe, from A Ceremony of Carols
Voices chase each other over a harp.
What I heard
Draw the music
Benjamin Britten fact sheetkidsclassicalmusic.com
Goes well with
- Britten for kids: the full guide for parents
- All 24 composer fact sheets
- Composer timeline
- Composer study notebook page
More printables
Listening journal page
One page to fill in after any piece: what you heard, how fast it was, and a box to draw in.
Instrument families listening chart
The four families of the orchestra on one page, with a box to tick each time you hear one.
Composer study notebook page
A blank notebook page that works for any composer. Good for a homeschool music binder.
Composer timeline to print
24 composers on one page, from Vivaldi to Britten, grouped by era.
Composer cards to cut out
24 cards with a name, years, country, and one piece each. Sort them, match them, or put them in order.
Weekly practice chart
Seven days, six practice tasks, and a box to tick for each one.