Beethoven is one of the most well-known and respected composers of the world today. He is a household name after writing many pieces for the piano and violin. He achieved greatness through patience and skill.
             It all started on December 16, 1770, in Bonn, Germany, Ludwig Van Beethoven was born. The next day he was baptized into Christianity. He was the oldest of three kids, with his brothers Casper and Nikolaus. His mother, a former chambermaid, was Maria, Magdalena. His Father, Johann van Beethoven, played the piano and violin just well enough to give lessons. As a young man, he worked at the elector's singing soprano and tenor. That and the income from his voice lessons was his salary.
             Johann wanted his eldest son to be a prodigy like Mozart and started lessons very young. He appointed himself a teacher for the young boy and forced him to practice piano for hours at a time. Johann was an alcoholic, and it is said that he would drag poor Ludwig out of his bed at all hours of the night to play for his pub friends. Although Ludwig had to deal with all these afflictions, he still managed to take a liking to music, making up his tunes in his spare time.
             After some time, Johann seemed to realize Ludwig required a professional teacher. He secured to help of Christian Gottlob Neefe.
             Neefe taught Beethoven the organ use and had also gotten Ludwig his first jobs. Neefe gave him opportunities to gain responsibility and respect and helped him be exposed to all the great operas and music of the time.
             Beethoven performed his first public concert at the age of eight. He was considered a keyboard prodigy, much to the joy of his father. From then on, he could often be found practicing at the piano or violin. At age eleven, Beethoven left school to work on becoming a great musician. He worked his way up to a court musician with much pride.
             Because his mother was gravely ill and his father was constantly under the influence of a...