Beethoven Term Paper Believed to have been born on December 16, 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. Born to Johann van Beethoven, musician from Bonn and Maria Magdalena Keverich. From an early age, Beethoven was interested in music, which his father taught him day and night. It is assumed that Beethoven's father was a harsh instructor, forcing Beethoven to often play the piano with tears in his eyes. However, Beethoven also had other teachers. Gilles van den Eeden, Tobias Friedrich Pfeiffer who taught Beethoven the piano and Franz Rovantini who trained him on the violin. Everyone who saw Beethoven's musical talent from a young age. Beethoven's father, aware of young Mozart's success, also attempted to exploit his son as a child prodigy. Beethoven gave his first public performance at the age of seven. At the age of 12, Beethoven published his first composition. He then began working with renowned musician Gottlob Neefe. A year later, Neefe wrote in a music magazine: "If he (Beethoven) continues like this, he will, without ...