Carl Czerny was an Austrian composer, pianist, and teacher born on February 21, 1791, in Vienna. He is best known for his piano studies and exercises, which are widely used by piano students and teachers. Czerny studied under the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven and later became a prominent figure in the music education of his time. Throughout his life, Czerny composed over 1,000 works, including concertos, sonatas, and chamber music. His most notable contributions are his piano method books, such as the "School of Velocity" and "The Art of Finger Dexterity," which focus on developing technical skills for pianists. Czerny passed away on July 15, 1857, in Vienna.