Frédéric François Chopin was a brilliant musician who made an incredible impact not only on the Romantic Era (19th century), which is when he composed his works but also on countless musicians to come. He was a beloved Polish composer and pianist who, during his short 39-year life, was able to rise to become a cultural icon in music history. His main focuses in music were the melody, harmony, and specific piano techniques that were prominent during the Romantic period. His skill on the piano and his heart-felt pieces forever revolutionized the use of the piano for solo, musical pieces. Chopin was born in a small town near Warsaw, Poland named Zelazowa Wola on March 1, 1810. He was born into a middle-class family which allowed him to be able to have the ability to have access to music at an early age. His mother was a key figure in his life when it came to music. She encouraged him to seek out a musical instrument when he was young. He started playing the piano very early in life, around the age of six, and it soon became clear to his family that he had a natural talent for it. He went on to study the piano and take piano lessons, per his family’s suggestion, soon after his talent was discovered. At the age of seven, he had composed his first …show more content…
There, he studied closed under a Polish composer named Josef Elsner for three years before leaving the conservatory to compose and travel around Europe. During his travels, he made his way through Poland, Germany, Austria, and France performing and sharing his works. Chopin was a rather reserved musician when it came to where he played his music and found comfort in playing for small, family and social gatherings in private venues such as salons, chambers, other private home locations. He played in large, public venues when needed, but he preferred intimate locations with friends and