Page 29 - DK Life Stories Albert Einstein by AELC

MUSICALLY MINDED

Albert’s mother, Pauline, passed her love of music
to her son and taught him how to play both the
piano and violin. As a teenager his interest in
the violin greatly intensified, and he developed a
love for classical music. He once wrote to a friend
that Mozart’s music was, “so pure that it seemed to have
been ever-present in the universe, waiting to be discovered
by the master.” As an adult, he would often play in public.
Unfortunately, no recordings of any of these performances
are known to exist.

Instead, he often studied the notes taken in class

by friends. One of the main reasons Albert
rebelled was because he still had a deep dislike

for authority, and several of his professors were
quite strict and inflexible.

Albert also didn’t like the way certain
mathematical and scientific subjects were

taught. Again, it was a case of him believing
he knew more than his teachers. He knew this

would make him unpopular with his instructors,
but he was not willing to bend.

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