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Camille Saint-Saëns fact sheet for kids

A free printable fact sheet about Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 to 1921): 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

Camille Saint-Saëns lived from 1835 to 1921. Saint-Saëns gave a piano concert at age ten. He played the organ at a large church in Paris. He wrote symphonies, operas, and a musical zoo.

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: Saint-Saëns 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

Camille Saint-Saëns

1835 to 1921 · France · Romantic era

Quick facts

Born: 1835, Paris, France

Died: 1921, Algiers, Algeria

Played: Piano and organ

Era: Romantic, about 1820 to 1900

The story in short

Saint-Saëns gave a piano concert at age ten. He played the organ at a large church in Paris. He wrote symphonies, operas, and a musical zoo.

A fact to remember

He wrote Carnival of the Animals as a joke for his friends.

Listen to these

  • The Swan, from Carnival of the Animals

    A cello sings while two pianos ripple like water.

  • Aquarium, from Carnival of the Animals

    Shimmering notes sound like light under water.

  • Danse macabre

    A clock strikes twelve, and skeletons dance to a violin.

What I heard

Draw the music

Camille Saint-Saëns fact sheetkidsclassicalmusic.com