"Why Beethoven?" The answer is simply that it is funnier that way. -Schulz

The tortured artist of the Peanuts gang, Schroeder lives in a hunched over world. He is a devout follower and enthusiast of all things Beethoven, who is, in his opinion, the greatest. He is constantly hounded by Lucy, who wants to be the love of Schroeder's life. She might succeed, were it not for the call of the keys. In the strip, Schroeder is often drawn with "authentic...musical scores," a wink from Schulz who thought the audience might enjoy trying to discern what piece the boy was playing. Schroeder can always be found playing his piano, often with Snoopy dancing away on top of it, and sometimes playing the violin.