Download Ludwig van Beethoven

All about Music: Beethoven
Module
Entertainment and Leisure
Unit:
Appreciation of Music
Programme outline
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He wrote some famous
symphonies such as Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 9. Unluckily, he went
totally deaf at around the age of 45. But he did not give up writing music. He was a
great composer! Mr Kent, the teacher who forms the school drama club, looks for
pupils to play the role of Beethoven in a play. Joshua is very interested. His classmate
Milly goes with him to the library to read books about Beethoven. They also listen to
his music. Joshua wants to play the role of Beethoven very much. He goes to see Mr
Kent finally. Does he get the role?
Key Stage 2 Learning Targets
To develop an ever-improving capability to use English
~ to identify ideas in simple spoken and written texts, form opinions and express
them (K.S.c)
~ to respond to characters and events in imaginative and other narrative texts through
oral, written and performative means such as describing one’s feelings towards
characters and events (E.S.b)
Communicative Functions
1. Give a simple description of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven in terms
of name, nationality, occupation, personal characteristics, habits and abilities, etc.
2. Draw others’ attention to Beethoven’s music and describe his work briefly
3. Develop an interest in listening to and talking about classical music
Suggested Activities
1. Print out the picture of Beethoven (Full name: Ludwig van Beethoven) in
COPYMASTER 1. Tell pupils that Beethoven’s music is often played on the radio,
in movies and in concerts.
2. Introduce briefly the programme and the main characters: Beethoven, Joshua and
Milly.
3. Distribute COPYMASTER 2 to class. Remind them that they have to fill in the
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missing information about Beethoven in the worksheet after watching the
programme.
4. Watch the programme together.
5. Draw pupils’ attention to Joshua and Milly’s conversation about Beethoven’s life,
e.g., “Beethoven was a famous German composer.”, “He died in 1827.”, “He was
born in 1770.”, etc.
6. Explain to pupils that they can find the names of Beethoven’s symphonies and
other music pieces at the bottom of the screen while the music is played. Also, ask
pupils to listen to the way Joshua and Milly talk about Beethoven’s music, such as
‘The rhythm is strong. It sounds very powerful!’ for Symphony No.5, ‘I like the
singing at the end. It’s full of joy!’ for Symphony No. 9, etc.
7. After watching, ask pupils to fill in the blanks in COPYMASTER 2 with the
words given.
Answers:
Beethoven was a famous German composer and pianist. He wrote music. He was
born in Germany in 1770. He learnt music and became very famous. Beethoven
began to lose his hearing at around 30 years old. He was rude to others. He lost
many friends. When he was writing Symphony No.9, he was totally deaf. But
Beethoven never gave up writing music. The audience still loved his work. What a
great composer! He died in 1827.
8. In COPYMASTER 3, pupils can find the names of Beethoven’s famous
symphonies and other music pieces chosen for the programme. They are:
Symphony No.3
Symphony No.5, “Fate”
Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”
Symphony No.9
Moonlight Sonata
Für Elise (For Elise)
Pupils can borrow CDs from the public library or listen to the radio if they like
classical music. There are also books about Beethoven’s life. Share with the class
how they feel about his music and life. After that, teachers can have the pupils do a
short play on Beethoven’s life with someone as the narrator. This is particularly
useful for pupils to share the information they get from books or the programme,
and to make use of the language they learnt to describe Beethoven’s music.
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COPYMASTER 1
All about Music: Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
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COPYMASTER 2
All about Music: Beethoven
Complete the sentences. Choose and write.
British
books
songs
nice
1770
rich
famous
15
30
rude
American
music
deaf
1900
1827
German
1970
blind
{ Ludwig van Beethoven }
Beethoven was a famous ___________________ composer and
pianist. He wrote ___________________. He was born in Germany in
___________________. He learnt music and became very
___________________.
Beethoven began to lose his hearing at around ___________________
years old. He was ___________________ to others. He lost many
friends. When he was writing Symphony No.9, he was totally
______________. But Beethoven never gave up writing music. The
audience still loved his music. What a great composer! He died in
___________________.
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COPYMASTER 3
All about Music: Beethoven
Do you like Beethoven’s music?
Symphony No.3
Symphony No.5, “Fate”
Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”’
Symphony No.9
Moonlight Sonata
Für Elise (For Elise)
What do you think about Beethoven? How do you feel about his music?
Tell your friends.
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