Franz Joseph Haydn | Homeschool Music Lesson Plans
from the Hey Kid's Meet the Composer Index

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Austrian Classical Era Composer Preview and Print Preview and print this free printable composer biography by clicking on the green button.

Biography
Franz Joseph Haydn was born in the Austrian village of Rohrau. His childhood was an extremely musical one, singing together frequently as a family and with neighbors. At a very early age his parents, Mathias and Maria, recognized their son's musical talent and accepted an offer to allow schoolmaster and choirmaster Johann Matthias Franck to train young Franz as a musician. Read more...

Create a Writing Assignment
Write a few paragraphs on Franz Joseph Haydn that includes facts about his life, music and culture. Then allow your child to be creative in their response to the YouTube Video clips. The following questions will help to guide their critique.

1) Haydn is known for his sense of humor, and the "Surprise" Symphony includes the funniest joke of all. See if you can identify the "Surprise". (The "Surprise" is a unexpected loud chord in the theme of second movement after a very quiet opening (0:00-0:35 sec). Haydn thought it would be funny to put the audience to sleep, only to startle them with a "surprising" sound!)

2) Compare Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony 2nd Mvt. to Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.2. Which musical score is more complex? Why? (The music of the Classical Era (1750-1820) is characterized by simple, clearly defined melodies with accompaniment, whereas the earlier Baroque Era (1600-1750) is characterized by a complex weaving of melodic lines and elaborate ornamentation.)

Print a Worksheet
Learn about Franz Joseph Haydn with a free printable worksheet.

Franz Joseph Haydn Word Search

Print a Listening Map
Follow the music or Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony Mvt. 2 with a free printable listening map. If you want to kick the fun into high gear, try out the lesson plan that accompanies the listening map.

"Surprise" Symphony Listening Map
"Surprise" Symphony Lesson Plan

Play Haydn's Music
Give your kids a hands-on music making experience. Ask your child's music teacher about including the study of Haydn's Surprise Symphony for Easy/Level 2 Piano Solo in their music lesson.

Surprise Symphony for Easy/Level 2 Piano Solo

Download a New Ringtone
Download Franz Joseph Haydn's "Surprise Symphony" as your cell phone's new ringtone. Ask your kids who the composer is, or facts about the composer, when the phone rings. You may find yourself asking, "Is that my phone" often because you don't remember the ringtone, but your kids will be enriched.

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