Hey Kids, Meet Frederic Chopin!
from the Hey Kid's Meet the Composer Index

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Polish Romantic Era Composer

Frederic Chopin was born on March 1, 1810 in Poland. His father was French and his mother was Polish. In his future the music of both of these nations would influence his compositions. Some of his works for piano are called mazurkas and polonaises, which are polish dances.

As a child he showed an intelligence that allowed him to absorb everything. As he grew older, so did his abilities in observation, drawing, and his uncommon ability in imitate what he observed.

Frederic's first professional piano teacher was the respected Wojciech Zywny. Chopin was devoted to the piano and his skills soon surpassed those of his teacher. At the age of seven, his public performances began to prompt comparisons to Mozart as a child and to Chopin's contemporary, Beethoven.

No other composer could play the piano like Chopin did with his special way of expressing tenderness, happiness and boldness.

Chopin's love of Poland is captured in a small silver box filled with Polish earth which he carried with him when he left Poland at the age of 21, never to return. The silver box was buried with him when he died in Paris on October 17. 1849 at the age of 38.

Homeschool Music Curriculum

Create a Writing Assignment
Write a few paragraphs on Frederic Chopin that include facts about his life, music and culture. Then allow your child to be creative in their response to the YouTube Video clip.

Watch a YouTube Video
Watch a YouTube video of Frederic Chopin's Polonaise Op. 53, "Heroique".

Play Chopin's Music
Give your kids a hands-on music making experience. Ask your child's music teacher about including the study of one of the following pieces of free printable sheet music in their music lesson.

Funeral March for Intermediate/Level 3 Piano Solo
Polonaise Op. 53 (Heroic) for Intermediate/Level 5 Piano Solo

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