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It's a strange fact, but it's true. THe "how to's", and "what nots" ---our "motoral skills" of playing the piano are a simple set of principles that could be "put on a postcard." *
THE MYSTERY OF "TALENT".
The Dilemna of the Child Prodigy.
The fact there are child prodigies who master the piano and other instruments is evidence of this mysterious thing we call talent. True, they have a gift we call talent. In my opinion, that gift is recognizable by the ability to hear and retain pitches in tune (such as being able to sing in tune) and a definitive sense of rhythm, these two factors. One alone is not enough.
But moreso than their gift of talent, child prodigies are often handpicked and given a circle of the BEST TEACHERS THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER, and like all children are capable of, quickly grasp these SIMPLE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS, the RIGHT ones, and neatly by-passes years of frustration a more typical American youngster suffers with unknowing or inadequate music teachers.
YOU CAN BE SURE this child will not get to run outside and play as much as the other children!!!!
The child finds gratification in the attention he or she recieves, and without question the joy of the music, but without doubt they spend hours and hours memorizing and practicing.
On the other hand, in mainland China and other Asiatic nations, the governments have deliberately initiated programs for excellence in the arts beginning at the youngest ages, and these programs such as China's NAFA (National Academy of Fine Arts). Their funding is doubtless, moreso a political scheme of these regimes, in an effort to sugarcoat their image in the greater world-view.
These "prodigy camps" in Russia and the Orient can be excruciating and gruelling, and also heartbreaking for the children who are dismissed, and for the ones who survive we can only stand in admiration. They are literally whipped with a long reed when they make mistakes.
Among these are examples such as Yang Yang, and currently 13 year old Peng Peng Gong,
whose performance of Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto, in New York CIty with the Julliard Symphony Orchestra, was absolutely stunning.**
In the case of these children their success is not a matter of luck or family wealth, it may have been an opportunity to escape the rice fields or the garment factories that clothe Americans, "made in China".
Nevertheless true as it is, without a gift or a "knack" for one thing or another, we will never be good at the thing we may feel we would like to be able to do. Oftentimes that "GIFT" is expressed in interest and desire.
Many prodigies quit in early adulthood, while the ones that continue their career, also continue to grow in maturity and expression. Efgeny Kissin, the (still young) Russian master, is a current example.
Many of the rest of us, whether gifted or not, develop habits, and bad habits unknowing, on our own, or from teachers who are good musicians but may not know important fundamentals of pianism.
The scenario of the declining standards of music education and the arts in the USA over several decades has created an aura of mystery over the simple principles of piano mastery that take our good teachers years to instill and correct in piano students in America especially, today.
..."I would rather impress at 50, than at 5"...
---Michael Davis
World famous violinist and concertmaster, (and child prodigy) faculty, Ohio State University School of Music
. . . . . . continue--->
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---------* quote, reknown Dutch pianist, Tjako Van Schie
-------------** Along with the "Rach III" , among the most demanding masterpieces of piano literature
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