January 27, 1756 was a very big day for music! On this day, Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart was born…..you might know him as just “Mozart”. I thought being saddled with two middle names was inconvenient but Mozart definitely has me beat! It is so fitting to celebrate his birthday right now as we focus and composing for both our Piano Olympics and the upcoming MYC Composition festival. I love sharing with my little students how he began composing at age 5! So, many of them look at me with huge eyes and say, “I’m FIVE!!!”

In his very short life (he died at 35–younger than I am now!), he composed over 600 works of music and is one of the most popular composer from the Classical era. He was a master of improvisation and a “rock star” among the royalty and people of his day with a lifestyle to match! Sorry, Bieber, you’ve not exactly been innovative with your crazy antics! 😉 A favorite of his piano pieces is Twelve Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman”, K. 265/300e….the french folksong melody that we all know as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”.

So, grab a cupcake, pick out Twinkle Twinkle on your piano (or iPhone/iPad keyboard) and celebrate one of the greats today. Just, please, don’t egg your neighbor’s house!