Gustav Holst fact sheet for kids
A free printable fact sheet about Gustav Holst (1874 to 1934): quick facts, a short life story, three pieces to hear, and room to write and draw.
Gustav Holst lived from 1874 to 1934. Holst played the trombone and taught music at a girls' school in London. He wrote much of his music on weekends and holidays. The Planets made him famous.
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: Holst 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
Gustav Holst
1874 to 1934 · England · Modern era
Quick facts
Born: 1874, Cheltenham, England
Died: 1934, London, England
Played: Trombone and piano
Era: Modern, about 1900 to 2000
The story in short
Holst played the trombone and taught music at a girls' school in London. He wrote much of his music on weekends and holidays. The Planets made him famous.
A fact to remember
He wrote The Planets, with one piece for each of seven planets.
Listen to these
Jupiter, from The Planets
A happy, bouncing start and a grand tune in the middle.
Mars, from The Planets
A marching rhythm with five beats drives the whole piece.
St. Paul's Suite, first movement
A quick jig for strings, written for his students.
What I heard
Draw the music
Gustav Holst fact sheetkidsclassicalmusic.com
Goes well with
- Holst for kids: the full guide for parents
- All 24 composer fact sheets
- Composer timeline
- Composer study notebook page
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