Aaron Copland was an American composer born in 1900 in Brooklyn, New York. He studied music theory in high school and decided to become a composer by age 15. In his early 20s, he traveled to France where he sold his first composition. By the 1930s, Copland had become a popular and influential composer and leader in the American classical music community. Throughout his career, Copland received many awards and honorary degrees for his work promoting American classical music both in the US and abroad. He continued composing into his 70s before retiring, but still conducted into his 80s. Copland's most famous piece was "Hoe Down," inspired by old western music.
2. AARON’S CHILDHOOD
• Copland was born November 14, 1900 in
Brooklyn, New York. He lived in the state of
New York most of his life.
• Aaron was a child of Jewish immigrants and
they lived above the department store his family
owned.
• While attending Boys’ High School he began to
study music theory beginning in 1917.
3. AARON’S CHILDHOOD-Continued
This photo is an undated photo of Copland as a
youngster. Copland's sisters showed him how to
play piano when he was 11 years old and by the age
15 he decided to become a composer.
4. AARON AS AN ADULT
• At age 20,Copeland travelled to
Fontainebleau, France . He attended the summer
school of Music for American Students. In
France, he sold his first composition to Durand and
Sons.
• By the mid 1930s Copland had become not only one
of the most popular composers in the country, but a
leader of the community of American classical
musicians.
5. AARON AS AN ADULT - Continued
• When Aaron was older he only went to
concerts he really liked –mostly contemporary.
• He had a Great Dane named Nadia and a cat
named Helen.
• Aaron travelled the world to try and raise the
importance of American music and to make it
more popular at home.
6. AARON AS AN ADULT - Continued
• A rare photo of Copland from 1933. At this
age he began to focus his attention on
American classical music.
7. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
AARON COPLAND
• He received many awards, including the Pulitzer
Prize and an Academy Award.
• He taught at The New School for Social Research at
Harvard University.
• He received 30 honorary degrees during his career.
• He did not like Jell-O because the wobbly gelatin
made him nervous.
• Aaron Copland was a night time person and did his
real composing from about 8PM to midnight or later.
8. AARON IN HIS OLD AGE
• After 1970 Aaron Copland stopped composing but he
continued to conduct and lecture through the mid
1980’s.
• In his older years he took walks in the woods and
worked in his garden for his physical activity.
• In 1983 at age 83 Copland conducted his last
symphony.
• On December 2,1990 at age 90 Aaron Copland died
in North Tarrytown, New York.
9. WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DID AARON
COLPAND COMPOSE?
• Aaron composed exciting music and crazy music.
Hoe Down was crazy because of the pitch that went
high and low.
• He was a very popular music composer and pianist.
He was popular because of his simple
compositions, compared to the other composers of the
time who were complicated.
• Hoe down was his most famous piece of music and it
was based on the old west.
