Expert: David Froom - 5/12/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a piece of music that I know is a Beethoven symphony and I need to know which one. Can you help me?  Can I send you the mp3 file?

ANSWER: I really can't help with this kind of homework question.  I'm sure your teacher has given you adequate information to solve this problem.  Simply asking someone who knows the answer to tell it to you isn't really learning how to use what your teacher has given you.

If your teacher can send a note to me saying it is OK for me to tell you the answer to your question, I'd be happy to help.  I'm pretty certain that your teacher also could simply tell you the answer.

The point of homework is for you to learn to use the tools given to you by your teacher.

You are on the right track with the composer, but beyond that, go back and get more information from your textbook, or ask your teacher for more help.

David Froom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The homework is not to know what piece it is it is to analyze the piece and gather as much information as you can about it.  I do not have class anymore and have to email the homework so I cannot ask the teacher and there is no book. I wanted to try and see some of the historical information about the piece.  I thought the purpose of this site was to help people with their homework when they were stuck, similar to a tutor.  Since the teacher is not looking for the answer I asked you, I can't see why this is an issue. Further, he did not give us any tools for figuring out which Beethoven piece it is, since that is not the question we were asked.

Answer
The purpose of the site is to help with questions.  With regard to homework, it is to help, but not to simply give answers.  A tutor teaches, but doesn't simply "do the homework."

I needed to check.

Since the information you ask for is not specifically the homework itself, but might be helpful in completing the homework, I can tell you that the piece you sent was:

Piano Sonata, Opus 28, first movement

The composer was indeed Beethoven.