Hey Kids, Meet Gioachino Antonio Rossini!
from the Hey Kid's, Meet the Composer Index

Gioachino Antonio Rossini (1792-1868) Italian Romantic Era Composer

Gioachino Antonio Rossini was born into a family of musicians in Pesaro, Italy on February 29, 1792. Gioachino's parents began his musical training at a young age. At the age of six, he was playing the triangle in his father's band.

Antonio's father made a bad choice and had to go to jail. His mother, as a result, decided to move to Bologna to support her family as an opera singer. As a child, Antonio performed as an apprentice opera performer and later entered the Conservatory of Bolonga to study cello and composition. Because he was so taken by the music of Mozart his classmates referred to him as "the little German."

By the early 1820's Rossini had been appointed the Director of the San Carlo Theater in Naples. During his 19 years in this position, he wrote 36 operas that are full of humor and beautiful melodies. Then suddenly he stopped writing music. For the next 40 years of his life he did not compose at all.

Rossini died on November 13, 1868. His most successful and best known works include his operas The Barber of Seville completed at the age of 18, and William Tell, his final opera.

Homeschool Lesson Plans

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

Overture to William Tell for Easy/Level 2 Piano Solo

Create a Writing Assignment
Write a few paragraphs on Gioachino Antonio Rossini that includes 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 Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) conducting Rossini's William Tell Overture.

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