Ludwig van Beethoven started playing the keyboard very early, at age 5. His first instructor was his own father, but his most influential early teacher was Christian Gottlob Neefe. At that time piano was not yet fully developed and most probably Beethoven started his pianist life on a harpsichord.
Beethoven was born into a musician family. His grandfather (also called Ludwig) was a very talented singer, who later became the Kapellmeister (head of music) in Bonn. His son Johann was a mediocre musician, yet also made his living from music. The third generation, “our” Ludwig van Beethoven, inherited the talents from his grandfather and became to be one of the most important musician ever.
In such a family it is natural to pass on the love of music and starting musical education in an early age. Ludwig started playing the keyboard around age 5, with his father as his teacher. Neighbors remembered the young boy standing on a footstool to reach the keys… The classes with his father were severe and frequently brutal. Every little mistake had to be punished. Often late night he returned home drunk, woke the boy and made him practice. Despite the hardship Beethoven loved music and keyboard, especially improvisation was his main interest.
Apart from keyboard, Beethoven also learned to play the organ, viola and violin.
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The talent of the boy was evident from start. His father envisioned a famous future for himself and decided to make Ludwig the second Mozart. He lied about the boy’s age at his first public concert in 1778 (at age 8), selling him as a 6 years old. The comparison with Mozart never worked, despite the obvious talent he was not a Wunderkind and his real powers were hidden until his twenties.
His most important music teacher before Vienna and Haydn was Christian Gottlob Neefe. He came to Bonn (he was born in Saxony) to be the organist at the Court. From a historical perspective his most important role was his intellectual and musical influence on young Beethoven. Not only did he teach him keyboard and music, but also history, philosophy and the ideas of the French Revolution.
During Beethoven’s lifetime piano underwent some major improvements. In fact, most probably in his early age he did not play the piano, but rather a harpsichord. In this instrument the strings are not hit by a hammer, but rather plucked resulting a limited dynamic audio range.
