author
Thomas Tapper
1864–1958
A lifelong music teacher and writer, he had a gift for making classical music feel welcoming to young readers. His best-known books introduce famous composers through lively, child-friendly stories that still feel approachable today.
10 Audiobooks
Franz Schubert : The Story of the Boy Who Wrote Beautiful Songs
by Thomas Tapper
Wagner : The Story of the Boy Who Wrote Little Plays
by Thomas Tapper
Beethoven : The story of a little boy who was forced to practice
by Thomas Tapper
Music Talks with Children
by Thomas Tapper
Verdi : The Story of the Little Boy who Loved the Hand Organ
by Thomas Tapper
Handel : The Story of a Little Boy who Practiced in an Attic
by Thomas Tapper
Chopin : The Story of the Boy Who Made Beautiful Melodies
by Thomas Tapper
About the author
Born in Canton, Massachusetts, in 1864, Thomas Tapper built a wide-ranging career as a musician, composer, lecturer, teacher, editor, and author. He studied music in the United States and Europe, and his work later included teaching at New York University and lecturing at the Institute of Musical Art in New York.
Tapper is especially remembered for writing books about music for children and young adults. His best-known work is the Child's Own Book of Great Musicians series, which presents composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Handel through short, engaging stories designed to spark curiosity rather than overwhelm new readers.
That mix of musical knowledge and plain, friendly storytelling helped make his books lasting introductions to classical music. He died in White Plains, New York, in 1958, leaving behind a body of work aimed at helping young audiences listen more closely and enjoy music more deeply.