Hey Kids, Meet Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky | Composer Biography

from the Hey Kid's Meet the Composer Index



Hey Kids, Meet Tchaikovsky

Peter (Pyotr) Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Russian Romantic Era Composer

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in 1840 in present-day Udmurtia, Russia. His father was a Ukrainian mining engineer. Peter began piano lessons at the age of five, and within three years he could read music as well as his teacher.

In 1850, Peter's father was appointed as the Director of the St. Petersburg Technological Institute. It was there that Peter received his education at the School of Jurisprudence. The only music instruction he received was piano lessons from a piano manufacturer who occasionally made visits to the school. He also attended the opera and theater with his classmates. It was the works of Rossini, Bellini, Verdi and Mozart that he enjoyed the most.

Peter's mother died in 1854, which brought him much sorrow. He responded by turning to music. It was at this time that he made his first serious efforts as a composer, writing a waltz in her memory.

In 1855, Peter's father asked a well-known German piano teacher to encourage his son's interest in music. However, when Peter's father asked about his son's musical potential, his teacher wrote that nothing indicated he would be a fine composer or performer. His father asked Peter to complete his course of study and then pursue a post in the Ministry of Justice. He did as he was asked, though his interest in music never left him.

In 1861, Tchaikovsky heard about classes being offered by the Russian Musical Society. He promptly began his studies. In the following year, Tchaikovsky followed his teacher to the St. Petersburg Conservatory where he accepted a post. It was at the conservatory that he met and studied with Anton Rubinstein, director and founder of the Conservatory. Rubinstein was impressed with Tchaikovsky's talent.

In 1869 Tchaikovsky composed his first recognized masterpiece, the Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy. Tchaikovsky was deeply inspired by Shakespeare's writing, and in later years composed other works for The Tempest and Hamlet.

On November 6, 1893 Tchaikovsky died in St. Petersburg from cholera. His compositions are some of the greatest works of the Romantic Era, including the 1812 Overture, Marche Slave, and The Nutcracker, which has become a Christmas season favorite.


Watch a Video

Watch a performance of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland.




Print Related Resources for Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky


Piano Books for Kids

Tchaikovsky | Meet the Composer Series Piano Book, Vol. 3


Beginner and Easy Piano Sheet Music

Sleeping Beauty Waltz Beginner Piano Sheet Music/Level 1
Sleeping Beauty Waltz Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 2
Swan Lake (Solo) Beginner Piano Sheet Music/Level 1
Swan Lake (Duet) Beginner Piano Sheet Music/Level 2
Beriozka (The Birch Tree) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 2 (Fourth Symphony Theme)
March Slav Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 2
Trepak (Nutcracker) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 2
Arabian Dance (Nutcracker) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 3
Romeo and Juliet (Love Theme) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 3
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 4
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 4 - Play and Learn™
Swan Lake (Theme) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 4
Swan Lake (Theme) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 4 - Play and Learn™ Edition
Chinese Dance (Nutcracker) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 5
Dance of the Reeds (Nutcracker) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 5
Theme from 1812 Overture Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 5
March (Nutcracker) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 5
Waltz of the Flowers (Nutcracker) Easy Piano Sheet Music/Level 5


Beginner and Easy Guitar Sheet Music

Trepak (The Nutcracker) for Guitar Solo (Notation and Tab)


Hey Kids, Meet the Composer Worksheets and Games (Famous Composers)

Tchaikovsky | Composer of the Month Lesson Bundle
Tchaikovsky | Bulletin Board Poster Pack
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky | Word Search Worksheet
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky | Coloring Page
Meet the Composer Job Application Worksheet
Nutcracker FunLib™ (Tchaikovsky) | Story and Worksheet
Nutcracker Venn Diagram (Tchaikovsky) | Worksheet
Trepak (The Nutcracker) | Music Listening Map
The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets
Beethoven at Bat™ | Music Composer Board Game (Digital Print)