The Classical period

This resource looks at using composing, performing, research and listening to provide students with an understanding of structures and compositional techniques of the Classical period, with Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik as starting points.

Though short, the Classical period gave us a great number of pieces that are instantly recognisable to many people. That in itself tells us that those Classical composers must have been on to something good! It was a period of great change musically, and tapping into what our students already know, however superficially at first, can give us a way in to an understanding of the work of some of the great musical geniuses of the day.