1. When Beethoven was a small boy, his father wanted him to be just like Mozart.

2. His father made him practice for hours and hours. Sometimes he was made to practice all night.

3. When he would miss notes, his father would beat him.

4. It was around the age of 17 when Beethoven enjoyed one of his happiest moments: He played for Mozart, his father’s hero.

5. Mozart advised everyone to keep an eye on the young Beethoven, he would be famous one day. He was right.

6. It was also around this time, Beethoven experienced one of his saddest moments: his mother died. He and his 2 little brothers were left alone with their bully of a father.

7. Beethoven also noticed he was losing something as important to himself as his mother: his hearing. He was slowly going deaf.

8. He hid his deafness by pretending to be unfriendly so he wouldn’t have to work to hear people talking to him. That way, he kept it a secret as long as he could. It could ruin his career.

9. Beethoven became a great pianist and composer. His music was very famous. His 2 brothers, Johann and Kaspar had gotten married and had families. Ludwig had not.

10. When his brother Kaspar died, Beethoven went to his house and took Kaspar’s son Karl away from his mother. He wanted to make a piano player out of him. He did it the only way he knew: his father’s!

11. Karl didn’t want to be a musician. He wanted to be a soldier. He ran away many times. Beethoven would show up and take him home.

12. Karl made his point when he shot himself. He didn’t die, but Beethoven got the message. He took Karl back home. Karl became the soldier he wanted to be.

13. Beethoven continued composing until his death at age 57. Most history books list the cause of death as a stomach ailment. History may need to be rewritten, however.