The development of music in the pre-classical period is divided into the medieval period, the Renaissance period, the Baroque period and the Romantic period.

1. The Middle Ages (5th century to 14th century AD)

The most important music in the Middle Ages was religious music, and secular folk music was not taken seriously. Although the church's influence on music has its negative side, it also has a positive side: the emphasis on music and the investment of manpower and material resources all promoted the development of European music in the Middle Ages.

2. Renaissance (1450-1600)

During the Renaissance, changes in the field of music followed those in literature, painting and other fields. On the one hand, the music of the Renaissance has an obvious secular tendency, on the other hand, it still maintains a close connection with religion.

3. Baroque period (1600-1750)

Baroque is Portuguese. It originally refers to irregular or deformed pearls. If it is extended, it has a weird, Exaggerated meaning. They used the word Baroque to represent the artistic style, including music, of this period.

4. Romantic Music Period (1820-1900)

Throughout the 19th century, Europe was enveloped in a huge trend of Romanticism. Although the Romantic period continued many musical forms that had been used in the classical period, the music was freer in content.

Music characteristics of the classical period:

1. The pursuit of harmony and unity between man and nature. Gentleness, depth, emptiness and tranquility enter eternity from the depths, infiltrating the human soul.

2. The classical period piano works are characterized by optimistic, clear, smooth and graceful style, as well as concise harmony and rigorous musical structure. The suites have clear layers, diverse techniques, rich changes and sharp contrasts, etc. Creative skills are all worth learning.

3. The melody pursues a beautiful and moving temperament, tends to have a square structure, and is more closely related to folk songs and dances.

4. The technique of developing rich musical ideas from short motives has flourished, and the contrasting changes in themes in the movements have replaced the development of a single Baroque theme.

5. The main musical genres are sonatas, concertos, symphonies and quartets. In addition to the duology, trilogy and variation forms, the common musical forms are the sonata form which is the most fully developed.

6. In the works of the classical music school, attention is paid to the unity of form and the strictness of structure, and the balance between content and form is pursued.