Mozart Topic Guide for Teachers

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is widely considered to be one of the greatest composers who has ever lived. He began his career as a musical prodigy, performing for royalty around Europe. He started composing aged just 5 years old! During his lifetime he wrote different forms of music, including operas and symphonies. Mozart’s music is often used in TV shows, films and even video games.

Teach your children about Mozart using our handy topic guide!



Teaching Ideas

This resource from the BBC contains all you need to teach a unit of work on Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4 (3rd movement).
Use these resources from Michael Morpurgo to study his book The Mozart Question.
Use this resource pack from National Geographic Kids to support children as they discuss their opinions of Mozart’s music.
Play a piece of Mozart’s music and ask children to draw what it makes them think of or feel.
Use the ideas in this lesson plan to compare the lives of Mozart and Beethoven.

i

Resources

Our Mozart fact cards can be used for research, quizzing, or as a reading activity.
Use our Mozart banner on your display board.
This biography of Mozart has an accompanying word search.



Mozart Facts

Mozart’s full name was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart.
Mozart had an amazing memory for music and could write down a piece from memory after hearing it just once.
Mozart’s older sister, Nannerl, was just as talented as he was and toured Europe with him until he was eighteen.
Although he was very talented and famous, Mozart found it difficult to get work and was often short of money.
Mozart composed over 600 works, before his death at the age of 35.



Videos

The Marriage of Figaro

This amazing visualisation of the music will help children to recognise the structure of the piece.

Running time: 4:41

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik

A recording of this famous piece of music by Mozart.

Running time: 5:48

Mozart Symphony No.40

A short video of an orchestra performing Symphony No. 40

Running time: 3:06

Mozart vs Beethoven Rap Battle

This fun video features Mozart vs Beethoven in a rap battle!

Running time: 2:43



Books

The Mozart Question

A moving story about the power of music suitable for older children.

Mozart Finds a Melody

Mozart’s pet starling gives him an idea for a new piano concerto, but escapes before he can write down the notes!

Moonlight on the Magic Flute

Jack and Annie visit 18th-century Austria, to help Mozart.

Mozart's Wig

Digby and Hannah find Mozart’s wig on a market stall, and learn about his life.

Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

Older children will enjoy this detailed biography of Mozart.

My Amazing Mozart Music Book

This biography for younger children includes sound chips with excerpts from his music.

Why Beethoven Threw the Stew: And Lots More Stories About the Lives of Great Composers

Learn about the life of Mozart, and five other classical composers, in this terrific book.



Links

This site has lots of links to performances of Mozart’s music, as well as biographical information.
Visit the Kiddle Mozart page for lots of biographical details, perfect for researching his life.
This super activity from Inside the Orchestra allows the user to select which instruments are playing, so that the children can understand how they all work together in Rondo all Turca from Piano Sonata no. 11.
This interactive activity and quiz about Mozart’s life is suitable for children to use independently.