music2me Beethoven kennenlernen

Music2me has created an unconventional, German-language music book to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, combining the concept of traditional sheet music with the didactic methods of the digital age. The online platform music2me is designed to combine the advantages of tried-and-tested educational materials with the opportunities offered by a modern approach to music education: Each book comes with an activation code for free access to the Beethoven module of the music2me piano course. Christopher Miltenberger, professor of Practical Piano Playing at the university of music (Hochschule für Musik) in Mainz, who was specially engaged for this project, explains and introduces the composer's compositions in 15 online lessons with over nine hours of video material, offering users invaluable advice on piano playing.

The book is intended for beginners with about one year of experience, but also for more advanced piano players. The first piece is a beginner's version of the Ode to Joy, but the difficulty level goes all the way up to demanding works such as the first movement of the Sonata op. 49 No. 2 in G major. While the Ode to Joy corresponds roughly to the level of difficulty encountered in the first year of lessons, the Sonata in G major poses a challenge not to be underestimated, even for experienced piano players. Thanks to the in-depth background information and tips on how to practice the pieces, though, even the more difficult lessons are immensely valuable for musicians who have only recently started playing the piano, considering all the professional advice on piano playing and on Beethoven's music itself on offer – even if learners don't actually play the pieces themselves.