Are you raising a Mozart? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the world’s greatest child prodigies of all time. Even today, his childhood remains a fascinating chapter in the story of a genius who would go on to change the course of music history. His parents, especially his father, deserve much credit.
Born in 1756, he was the youngest of seven siblings, though only he and his sister survived past infancy.
As a very young child, Mozart showed extraordinary musical abilities. At the age of 3, he was showing an interest in music and began playing the harpsichord.
By the age of 5, he was playing the keyboard and violin, composing his own music and performing for European royalty.
He wrote his first symphony at age 8, and went on to write more than 600 pieces of music.
Babies can hear sounds before they are born, starting around 18 weeks into a pregnancy. They can hear their mother’s heartbeat, digestive system and voice, as well as the voices of other family members. Children start making sounds and playing with them at different ages, depending on their developmental stage.
Whatever Mozart heard in every stage of his development, he translated into musical genius. His father, Leopold Mozart, was a prominent composer and musician, and he recognized the uniqueness of his son’s talent and began to educate him rigorously in music theory and performance.
A lesson to us: encourage our children’s interests and gifts wherever they lead.
