Chloe Chua is probably not a prodigy, at least not anymore. She practices 5 hours a day. Her outstanding talent is her understanding of music and her seeming lack of nervousness but she has to practice a lot. She also has a great sense of humour and plays videogames in her free time. I think she has had a healthy upbringing. She chose herself to become a solo violinist. Her parents didn’t push her.
Prodigies are those who accomplish a lot early in life, that is not only dedication but also gifted talent, not everyone can do that by only working hard. Later in life you will see less difference between prodigies and those who practice a lot.
Great video! I would add that prodigies are not just kids who can be trained to play the hardest pieces at a young age, but also kids that demonstrate a musical maturity beyond their age. If you close your eyes and they sound like they are 30, where in reality they are 10, that's a prodigy to me!
I think that stretches the definition of prodigy. As long as one has exceptional talents, that person is a prodigy. These can be technical or interpretative talents. There should be no restriction in that regard.
@@haomingli6175 good point! I still think as some famous violin teacher used to say "you could teach a monkey to play violin". As in, the technique can be taught, it's challenging and demanding, but the maturity of the player is something that is very hard to teach. But you are right in some way, those kids are impressive! :)
No such thing. They are all circus. They play thousands of hours and when they are older realize they are not musicians and never learned to ride a bike or kick a ball.
...man..... i just turned 14 and got my violin. I sometimes feel like trash when i watch younger people play better than me, but it also makes me want to practice more..
Remember to practice scales and exercises. My teacher got me started in sevcik op.1 at the start of suzuki book 2. Also remember to focus not just on playing everything correctly, but playing it musically
I feel like I have quite the opposite experience of the child prodigy. I didn't start taking viola lessons until I was around 15, and it was really hard seeing everyone else my age play way better. It was really hard, frustrating work, but I'm going to music school now. It would have been so much easier if I had started earlier, but I'm honestly grateful that I was able to discover my passion by myself and use that as motivation, and that I can see how far I've come.
Pretty simmilar with me. I started playing classical music on guitar at the age of 14-15 (now I'm 17) and I discovered that clasical music, music theory is my big passion. I never had a chance go to to the music school or play any instrument that I really would want to play like violin or cello (I started playing guitar because of my parents who still want me to quit classical music and play modern songs) but I said to myself, that I'm not gonna leave those dreams and I try to learn and practise as much as I can :3 Good luck in music !
Having taught people of all ages, sometimes there are benefits to starting a little later. As you're older, you usually things more and is able to pick up a lot faster than someone younger. Of course you're not as conditioned as a learner who started young. But then you would also have spent time doing other things and learning other skills that would've helped you further down the road in some other ways... So don't despair!
These artists were so lucky to have the opportunity to use their talent and develop their skills and most importantly show them to the world. Some prodigies have never been, are not and will never be seen simply because of where they're born in and their originality.
@@juliejules7780 oh come on, many musicians grew up in poor households in the past and had to teach rich kids for the majority of time to make money instead of making great music themselves. Or they needed to compose pieces that suited the rich audience instead of something truly good and original that no one would understand back then ...
@@rebeccaclark2614 In the past , 200 years ago, not now. You now must be able to afford extensive lessons, good instruments and compete in competitions that take hundreds of $$ to get to and enter. All this requires being privileged or at least having someone recognize you as a prodigy and take you under their wing. Those who have to be teachers as you’re seemingly indicating, will not be recognized as the musicians they could have been had they been in the other side of the equation. Money and circumstance absolutely plays a big part in developing and maintaining a career, prodigy or not.
It does NOT surprise me IN THE SLIGHTEST!!!!!!! NOT ONLY is she a COMPLETE JOY to listen to, she comes across as one of THE LOVELIEST people you could EVER meet!!!!!!! I emailed her asking if she was planning a tour of Scotland and got a LOVELY (albeit disappointing) reply saying unfortunately not, but she would love to as it's such a beautiful place. I wish her the VERY BEST of luck for the future, NOT just because she IS EXCEPTIONALLY talented, but also because of her personality!!!!!! She has NOT allowed fame to change her ONE IOTA!!!!!!!!! Julie Gill, Glasgow, Scotland.
@@juliegill6278 ikrrrr her Mozart never fails to bring smile to my face.🥹🥹🥹 I drew some portrait for her, she saw it and appreciated it 😭✨🫶🏻. (You emailed her and she responded??!?!???!)omgggggg
I started violin a year ago. Seeing all of these like 5 year olds being able to play pieces that I could never kinda makes me want to give up but it I just try to make sure I practice. I'm going into grade 2 hopefully in the Summer.
Don’t give up! It’s really worth it. The violin isn’t just about mastering pieces, it masters you. The amount of patience, discipline, self control you learn through your instrument will produce lasting fruits in the future:)
grade 2 is still very young. I think people overvalue starting playing very very young. Just put in the practice, and enjoy playing and getting better at what you do. You do not need to be a prodigy to become a superb musician - what you need is to put in the time, and not give up.
There is no such a thing as a prodigy. Most of those kids start very young at 3-5 years old and practice every day at least 4 hours to 7 hours per day. One thing I have noticed is that most of those "prodigies" have the resources to pay for daily violin lessons and/or have parents or closed relatives with musical backgrounds. Most have one or both parents who play the violin or piano or any other instrument. For instance, Mozart's father was not only a music teacher, he was a musician who played the violin, and the piano. he was also a composer. The same thing with Bach, most of his family were recognized musicians and composers. Most recently, Chloe Chua 's mother is a music teacher. Don't get me wrong they were the best of the best and talented and worked hard and practiced and practiced for hours, but they had the influence, the help at their finger tips, and a good marketing. That's it. I can give them the credit, but not the merit as prodigies.
I'm not sure about everything you wrote; I was called a prodigy and got by with practicing very little because I could just sit down and sight-read Beethoven piano sonatas at 14. I didn't work very hard because my "no effort" was already head and shoulders above anyone else, and my interpretations were always very mature. Like he said in the video, a lot of prodigies realize they hit a point where it's no longer easy, they have to do the work to advance, and so they give up. Luckily I didn't (I got my doctorate in music), but I definitely burned out and got bored in high school until I realized I had to be serious. The young prodigies you talk about are the ones who practice hours and hours. They're the ones who win competitions and get the recognition, because it doesn't just take natural talent or hard work, it takes both for them to get ahead.
With THAT remark you have you PROVEN BEYOND ANY SHADOW OF A DOUBT that you could NOT BE MORE IGNORANT IF YOU TRIED, AND THAT YOU do NOT HAVE ANY CLUE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!! Julie Gill, Glasgow, Scotland
@juliegill6278 I am not ignorant, and I know what I am talking about. That you don't accept it or have your own opinion is your problem. And I don't care. 🤷♀️
I’m an orchestra director for middle and high school and there is much truth to what irisrivas6603 is saying. And it’s an unpopular and uncomfortable opinion. And I’ll use myself as an example. Most kids that make All-State and get into the best studios have the resources and environment from their parents. When I was in high school, I didn’t have the luxury of affording lessons much less getting to them because of transportation. I was the youngest of 4, step dad was underemployed, mother was main bread winner and all us siblings/cousins had to work. We grew up metro Atlanta in predominantly black neighborhoods. There was simply no way I could compete on the performance side. So instead, I focused more heavily into theory and composition since that didn’t require traditional lessons. The return on investment got me a perfect 5 on the AP Music Theory exam and easily into conservatory. And my peers labeled me a prodigy, when that is far from the case. And just be simply willing to absorb as much music as possible, I’ve learn at least 10 instruments, have composed professionally for film and concert, and also play professionally on viola and bass. I applied for a master’s in composition, and the faculty thought I was applying for a doctorate based on my portfolio and wealth of experience. I say this because as a director, there are noticeable differences and correlation between culture, demographics, and high achievement. In my state, there is a reason most kids that make All-State come from a couple of adjacent zip codes, and also Asian. It takes a lot of time and money to have access to the best teachers that teach these “prodigies.” Their mothers pretty much can’t work because they are essentially their prodigious child’s manager. One of my one orchestra students made concertmaster for All-State 2 years in a row and is heading to a conservatory. Her mom is always present, her father can’t be become he’s working to support his daughter. It helps that the father is a dentist and the family has a 7 figure net worth. Lastly, work ethic plays the biggest role. You gotta give credit to the kid. But jealousy and envy are real, powerful human traits.
2:23 Wow, it's like gifted kids who score good grades in school when they're young without any effort but then become frustrated when they can't do the same in later years. Never would've guessed it would apply to instruments aswell
They built a hotel near my house when I was 5 with a piano, I would listen to Chopin and Beethoven at home and go back and play what I heard - eventually I was taken in to free lessons, offered in the future-my uni paid, and was bought a piano by a European at the hotel missing a few fingers- despite growing up extremely poor / in a messed up place; and though, because of this- I got sent away for 5 years, came back and could not motivate my old teacher to maintain interest after missing a couple lessons.. Writing this from the shelter. Life has been very up and down. The ups were extremes, the lows as well - but I still play - I needed someone to tell me what I am not doing, how I didn’t play well- affirmation’s only made me fall into self imitation, I played the same way because I knew I’d get the reaction I wanted, improvement would have come from knowing sooner how to do better other than rampantly - I still feel as creatively inclined, still make music daily - but I regret missing such a development in life, I want to be playing Gaspard De Le Nuit rn. I still play at that hotel- almost every day now that I am back in the same city - 3-6 hr a day - I really need a teacher smh.
I feel like people who truly excel at their instrument are predisposed or have been meticulously guided (likely both) to moving their playing apparatus in the most efficient ways so as to produce top tier tone, consistent rhythm and overall fluency. So their practice to most looks a lot like playing. And they’re primed for success. The rest of us practice technique to the best of our ability in hopes to be able to crack the code of true beauty and expression thru music, instead of our bones lol. Keep going brotha, I am. 😊
“If you want to be a prodigy”. As per your own definition, that’s not how it works whether in music or sports. You are a prodigy or you’re not and no amount of work can change that. You can become one of the greatest soloists in the world without being a prodigy though, so you don’t have to be a prodigy to reach the top. Ray Chen says he’s not a prodigy. So if we work very hard, it’s possible to get to that level. It will just be much harder than for a prodigy.
>>"You can become one of the greatest soloists in the world without being a prodigy though" It happens so rarely that to all intents and purposes you cannot. (Ray Chen was just BS-ing you about his own childhood.)
I probably wasn't a prodigy but I completely understand what they're going through. I started playing the piano at the age of 6 and everything came very naturally to me. I barely practiced but somehow I made it. Won a contest at age 8 and continued studying until age 14. But around 11-12 things started to become really hard and I had to put in a lot of work, which I wasn't used to. Took me a lot of time to enjoy playing again. At the time my interest in piano was fading, I got into computer science instead and consistently won many programming competitions. It also came very naturally with very little practice. And guess what? A few years passed and I was no longer the best. The people who put in the work became the best. At least that led me to a good career in software engineering but I never got the habit of working hard and always followed the easy path.
ViolinMechanic, this was a SICK thumbnail. And video. Keep up the good work. It’s the first time I am knowing your channel and I subscribed even though I am not a violin player (but I really like classical music)
i was deemed a prodigy as a child i had constant scholorships and concerts and got to play so many great concerts with famous musicians won competitions etc but then i was stuck i couldnt chose anything else this was all my life had been being forced to continue music from family and everyone around me even though i was so depressed and lost all motivation for it and now after years im trying so hard to find more of the love i had for music i used to its so draining to have everyone have huge expectations for you always
Never jealous, just full of admiration and wonder that a chosen few have dedicated their lives to become so darn good at something the rest of us could never achieve
I guess I could be considered a child prodigy, although I'm a teenager now. I finished all my trinity exams both on piano and violin by the age of 12, and scored a distinction in both. I've played at two opera houses, won competitions, and was recently labelled "Most Promising Young Musician" of my city. I remember when I was about 7-11 I wanted to quit my violin SO BADLY. To the point where I would yell and cry at my mum for not letting me quit. I hated every bit of music practise, hated classical music (still hate it to this day) and hated the way my music sounded. Playing at high levels as a young child is hard, and I can kinda empathise with these kids.
@@haasee1443parents force you to play. They believe that you would thank them for this when you grow up and realise it was worth it. But doesn't always happen
@@aaliiissssaaaaaa_21 My parents forced me to play, and they always told me I would thank them later in life. It's a few years later now and I love playing the violin, so I continue to play it.
Probably one of the darkest parts of being a "prodigy" is if you are already well-known and there's no backing out. I technically call myself a "prodigy". Though I am not well-known, and I will stay to be unknown, since music isn't really my passion. My young, bored self just decided to learn the piano for no reason, until it became an addiction.
@@juliejules7780 Never. It's much better if I don't do that. That will add suspicions to other people and mostly newcomers to my videos, somebody said that they will hail me as a "World Class Technician" if I make a video of myself playing, which I personally wouldn't. If they think it's "fake" then nobody will know me, unless they saw me play in real life. Because there are times where I play in school. I don't think piano is that hard anyways, it's far from when I tried learning the violin. I had more pain from the violin, than the piano.
Thanks for the informing video! As much as I love Chloe’s Bruch, I admire how much she’s put on the line, same for other prodigies like Hilary and Midori. :)
I wish more “prodigy producing” parents would choose less common instruments or even encourage their kids to be prodigy composers nowdays. Too many violins and pianos and it’s kind of boring. The new music composition field has really been falling out of popular culture for the past 50 years and we need people to get media attention and bring new composition and obscure instruments back into the spotlight
I wished that the US public schools started music instruments programs at all levels. We spent money on our daughter's piano and violn lessons starting at 4 years old and all the way to her 12th grade. She received scholarship money few times. However she was recruited to an engineering academy for her 9th grade. Her heart was with music but she chose to be an engineer. She is enjoying working in computer games. My daughter credited classical music training for her current job.
I play and love violin, but carpal tunnel in both of my hands forced me to pace my practicing and adopt new habits like stretching and stuff. I am so glad that happened to me, because I would feel horrible thinking that I could be better, if I just practiced more and more. But carpal tunnel put an end to all that, and I realize I'm good at so many other things, I don't have to be great at violin. I just have to enjoy the music that I can make.
I started at 21 years old, it's been 6 years and I think I am not bad, I see my skill cultivated slowly but surely, of course I can't aspire to become a soloist but it's a lot of fun and I feel fulfiled.
And this is why I consciously decided against actively becoming what you would consider a 'child prodigy' when I was at that age. Thank you for bringing attention to these things.
I skipped the intro of midori and thought you were saying Chloe Chua played for Reagan. I was like, "Wow, Ling Ling really can bend the space and time continuum." 😂
@@rec2you haha, welcome to real practice. It is a grind. But now that I’m older i love it. I love knowing I’m making clear progress through sweat. If someone just went “poof” and turned me into a player like vengerov I don’t think I’d really appreciate it.
Totally agree, if you try to make practicing fun and amusing, you’re doing something wrong. If it’s boring, you’re on the right track! Maybe I should do a video on how to practice efficiently.
As a pianist I would certainly say that the rigors one must endure to mechanically perfect difficult repertoire can test your sanity. On the other hand, I think geniuses in earlier eras, who were (on top of being able to flawlessly execute the most demanding repertoire) also spending time on composition and improvisation, managed to balance out the monotony of raw practise with the more creative aspects in music making. On the other hand, I only say this from the perspective of a pianist. I suppose wind, string, and other players who occupy more strictly performance-oriented roles, simply have it harder since they aren't nornally expected to be given the role of a composer, improviser, conductor, or arranger/producer/etc.
Chloe as a little kid, was the true definition of prodigy. There are no dark truths, some kids have natural ability, superior brain, lucky socio-economic conditions, that's all. Not every piano teacher's daughter becomes a player. (And not that this fact did not affect Chloe as she had guidance at "2 year old") Now as a very young women, creating her own planet everytime she picks the violin, ofcourse there had to be HARD WORK.
With regards to what he said about Mozart giving up, I don't think that's true. Mozart died because of an illness, although experts speculate about which disease it was that actually killed him. Julie Gill, Glasgow, Scotland.
I wish my mother had taught me the violin earlier, now I could play more complex pieces... Because I really don't have a problem with pieces that should cost me with the time I've been playing.
I was not quite a child prodigy, but I was pretty close. I started playing piano at 9 years old and performed the first movement of Moonlight Sonata after less than a year of lessons (iirc 5 or 6 months). Preparing Alla Turka for a competition when I was 13 was a bit of a grind but not overly challenging at the time, and, despite the technical mastery I achieved, the judges tore apart my interpretation and did not appreciate my awkward/autistic stage presence. The sensation of effortlessness up to the point where raw talent ceased to be sufficient came with all sorts of psychological issues besides the obvious one of "wtf why is this so hard", e.g. friends and family members always writing off any technical achievement as not taking any effort or not accommodating my need to practice 4-6 hours a day. I was studying to become a professional pianist under a retired concert pianist who had toured Europe before marrying and immigrating to the US, but, when I was 15, I suffered a spiral fracture in my left ring finger in an accident in a martial arts class that completely derailed everything. The following years were some of the darkest I have ever experienced. I was unable to regain my former level of skill after two years of dedicated effort, gave up, and got a biotech degree that I have not used. I had a very torturous relationship with music for many years, focusing on dark and angry metal songs as I learned to play electric guitar (which felt almost effortless despite the countless hours of practice). I tried resuming my classical music ambitions 7 years ago with violin lessons after learning the basics autodidactically for 6 months, but I encountered hard limitations due to my irregular hand shape and gave up after a year. I resumed seriously practicing piano a few months ago and pulled my violin out of the closet at the beginning of last month; to my surprise, I found that I can now move my left hand in ways I couldn't 6 years ago. It has taken the equivalent of my entire life up to the point of the injury to recover from that one injury. Idk if I have the temerity at this point to attempt a career as a musician, but I hope to at least begin performing Mozart piano sonatas and Chopin's preludes and nocturnes, and maybe I'll finally be able to play both parts of Kreisler's Liebeslied this year. (My grandiose music goals are to play and record both parts of Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Dance Macabre, and Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy.) I am generally hopeful about it but also quite sensitive due to the psychological baggage; for example, I had a minor back injury at the beginning of this month that prevented me from practicing for weeks and got severely depressed during that time. Tldr is that talent has risks and the archons are evil.
Techniques can often be acquired through hard work. What is even more amazing to me is their memory. Imagine forgeting a line in front of a packed music hall. That just dont happen to them
That's it. I really love piano, I started studying six months ago, but I had already studied keyboard for five years. I didn't like the keyboard, my goal was the piano and it became easier for me because I was already studying a similar instrument. The piano is my passion, my hobby and, even if I learn faster, I don't want to think of it as a burden or something that I need to be super-skilled at. I want to play because I like, because it fills me with joy.
I don't think I'd call myself a prodigy but I'm 13 years old and I've performed with orchestra (as concertmaster not soloist ofc) and I've gotten a offer from my teacher to play in a professional orchestra for a concert and I still have a social life, go to school, and I have a lot of extracurricular activities like basketball (which is probably not good but anyways) football, and plenty of other things so I guess its not about being a prodigy its about scheduling and managing your time for other things :)
You're absolutely right. As a former violinist who played from childhood to college (though I was not a music major), I also had other extracurriculars, went to public school, and a normal social life. Kudos to you for finding the right balance in your life! Congratulations on all of your accomplishments and good luck with all of your current and future endeavors :)
I need my violin I can't live without my instrument its more important than food and water. Its my life and my career and my focus lastly my only friend.
What talent, what natural abilities!! Show me a child prodigy that doesn't have a parent pushing the planet their way or a manager/teacher. They're literally taught to make faces while playing. Almost everything a "talented" musician is capable of, can be taught to a child, and it is. Wether or not the kid has a natural predisposition for a craft is almost out od the question - a child prodigy is forged, not born
Also, show me a prodigy that compares to Mozart lol. If the world was trully as filled with prodigies as we're sold to believe, the world would be overflown with little Mozarts, Jacob Colliers, Justin Lee Schultzs...
Maybe it is natural abilities/talent that allow a prodigy to succeed for especially hard measures/pieces, but I also think that more importantly, it's having a extremely solid foundation (eg. bow hold, posture, tension, technique, scales, etc.)
At least where I live (India) there isn’t really any pressure to excel in music or anything creative, you’re basically forced to become a doctor or an engineer. My family kind of expects both from me; I’ve been singing since I was four and when I wanted to stop going to class my grandmother was very angry. I’m often jealous of the talent that prodigies have, but I personally don’t really want to be one. The pressure that comes with that would be too much for me, and I already take anxiety meds lol😅.
I started on my instrument so late, there was no chance of me ever being a prodigy. But I did eventually finish grad school for performance on my instrument, albeit I no longer perform
Training a kid to play Paganini is commendable, but real prodigies possess maturity beyond their years. Show me the same 8 year old playing a Brahms sonata,and there won’t be much to write home about. Josef Hassid, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Charles Castleman, Michael Rabin-these players were real prodigies because they had developed their own individual sound at an early age. Hilary Hahn as well
Greatness involves a great deal of sacrifice. Look at what Jannik Sinner had to do to get to where he is today. It's not just music. Some are content with simple and happy life. Others want to leave their name behind to be remembered when they're long gone.
Yes indeed. Most people who go on about the "dark truths" of being a music prodigy don't say the same about e.g. kids who are outstanding at sport because the idea of practicing sport five hours a day strikes them as fun but the thought of practising an instrument five hours a day fills them with horror.
I know that LangLang also have insurance on his hands. So I guess it's fairly normal. But then again in Vengrov's case I think I saw on his instagram that he's also marching into conducting? Makes sense. I think Yuja Wang is like that, she is also marching into conducting. I think this is the same for ballet dancers, with a wayyyyy shorter career span. Most of them graduate into a choreographer or master. And in some very great cases, they eventually transform into Artistic Director of ABT, like Susan Jaffe. (FYI Susan Jaffe danced her first Swan Lake Odette/Odile, a principal role, at age of 19. absolutely a prodigy.) But then again we also see lots of prodigies' tragic life stories. So it really is a case-by-case thingi.
I believe much of the "dark side" is how many prodigies have their high functioning autism misdiagnosed or flat out ignored, and at worst, exploited. I'm happy for those that find a balance and happiness in life. Next question: how prodigious is it if the public audience/cd market/competition jury prefer the artistry/interpretation of a non-prodigy or a late bloomer? Is an individual's "prodigy status" taken away or diminished? I really feel the biggest dark side is the classical market is victim to rampant capitalism, - a dying market and misplaced priorities.
My sister started violin at age 8 and went to Julliard every weekend at age 16. She practiced 4 hours a day from age 8 to avoid the chaos in our home. She said at age 50, "I didn't practice 4 hours a day to play in the pit." Apparently, she did, although she made it her career. Not everyone is a soloist.
All of those who are in absolute top of their field do need to work hard some day. Just very few will make it. As extremely talented friend of mine once said to me: "to be gifted is not enough there. others near the top are gifted too. Hard work is necessity when compiting with them". Good team around prodigy is also absolute necessity. In a long run psyche will collapse otherwise, life must be in good balance. Plan B must always be there for sure
Super talented kids are just wired up differently. There is a fine line between practise and obsession and that goes for both the child and the parents. How many get that right. With Mozart, obviously wrong but with many the parents main job is to stop their child obsessing and spend some time being a kid.
I’m so glad there is a video about this. I’ve watched to many that involve worshipping and idolizing child prodigies and 🫣😓 Great video- hope your channel grows even more 🙌🏽
I get frustrated a lot now that I'm older because everything was so easy to come by, reading music and playing it. But now I struggle to keep tempo and have expression!! I doubt I was a "prodigy" but it felt a lot easier back then😂
Prodigy is not someone who do not practice anything and then can do it suddenly. But how fast can they understand, learned , and do it. So if Prodigy did a lot of practice, the distance with their peer Will be a whole lot far too.
I’m a “prodigy” in things like art and literature mainly thanks to my hyperphantasia and synesthesia, I hate having them so much even though it’s almost always considered a gift, my brother also has them and he’s also a prodigy. My mom has VERY high expectations when it comes to grades😭
and you want to be a youtube prodigy competition, just like in the olympics, we run to win the prize Many people are raised this way to be involved intensely.
I wonder if prodigies can develop their nerves more naturally by being just simply being a prodigy. I would imagine there are still nerves when they perform, but I'm sure that they can manage it much more than those who weren't exposed to instruments at a young age.
Some kids are just fearless. Some of them simply don’t have the internal dialogue to make the self conscious. And then there was me that was born a nervous wreck haha.
@nickcarroll8565 I totally agree with you! Kids do have a special way of simply being fearless. But there are always exceptions to the rule, you and I included 😅
Vengerov would not have been practicing outside at -35 temperatures as you suggest here. It might have been -35 outside but he would have been indoors in front of a warm fire.
I think that living a relatively normal life leads to experiences that can contribute to interpretation and expression of music. The isolation of the prodigies inhibits this. I have a theory that some people are blessed with an advanced cerebellum that can record muscle memory after one or two repetitions, rather than the 30+ that it takes for most people.
School was like this for me, didn't have to really put in any effort until college, so I never really "Learned" how to put in real effort, concentration and diligence. Not music though, gotta study for that stuff.
@@chordsofsteel-i4j People need to take a closer look at home schooling. Some students need to be in public school for the experience of meeting other people, having fun with sports and other school activities and learning from many experienced teachers. Home schooling was a disaster for my kid. I seriously regret ever thinking that home schooling was a good idea.
I just want to say that I've played the violin for over 5 years, and that if it hurts to play the violin, then you're likely doing something wrong. Unless you're playing for four hours straight and maybe you start to feel shoulder tension, you really should have any pain, especially in the wrist/hand.
My nephew got to practice piano and violin since boyhood because of his father. Was he a prodigy ? l dont know, l only know he's a good boy obeys to his father. After years one day, my nephew played me a piece of Vivaldi's violin thru internet, it's not so good it's just ok, but l didnt said a word in return to him. ln fact, l didnt know what should l say. The boy only exercises his father's will.
Isn't complexity of growing up easily at first and then you hit a wall and suddenly need to practice hard to grow further are the same for any other occupation? I don't think we have a question of being prodigy here. It's more like a question of strict parents and your own motivation. Which can be a problem one or another or both. But it doesn't really touches prodigies but the growing itself. It's just bumping a wall in growing is happens later for prodigies. Not like for me after 5 minutes of tries)
Interesting that Himari Yoshimura was not included here, as at 7 years old she absolutely blew away a panel of Russian judges in international competition and won 1st place...7 years old!!! She was already extremely technically sound, but her interpretation and expression of the music were well beyond her years. Many prodigies can play well technically, but it's the interpretation and expression that sets them apart from the others.
Some half wit oncw commented tha Yuja was conducting from her piano bench while also playing. The opinion o😊f the writer was that the orchestra was relying on the soloists to avoid a conductors fee. And some like Estrada seem to engage in aerobic exercise while conducting.As a musician and former orchestra violist when 12 years old I notice that Hilary Hahn can help the conductors with her athletic body language and occasional facial movements…eg eyebrows, eye contact, even a slight if rare half smile. The older and more experienced she gets the more relaxed I see her becoming. At the piano where the camera focuses where it will you can watch Yuja talking to herself. It is so charming. Unlike Gould during recordings of the Goldberg variations you can hear his mutterings.. The transition from childhood concentration to mature artistry should not be confused ..I for one am happy to be alive while these two glorious artists are here to share their genius with all of us.
Don't confuse virtuosity with music. At 22 years old, you can be the best virtuoso in the world, but you're certainly not the best musician. Look at Hilary Hahn; after turning 35, she started to understand the music she plays, and now at 44 she is just fabulous. When you've checked the box for all the unimportant things, you start to question what music truly is.
I only just started watching but I'm hearing Brahms in the background, is it Hilary Hahn? - asking because one of my favourite things to do is to guess the soloist lol. While I'm at it, have you seen this interview with her where she talks about practicing as a kid and that she, unlike many others, did not feel like she missed out? If she did, she can simply do it now. And the crazy part is, i believe her 100% It always feels weird to directly adress a youtuber, like I'm entitled to your attention, so i hope this is okay haha
@@ViolinMechanic its 11:05 pm at the time im writing this..... and i have a rehearsal and more practicing the good ol' violin at my school cuz we we got some programs lol
@@ViolinMechanic wish me luck bruv cuz my wrist is tense and its bruised (for some reason idk why maybe cuz i punched a kid for making my violin fall from its case lol.... oh wait now it makes sense) and my knee is hurting cuz i fell down a flight of stairs and scrapped my knee really badly and now im just limping lol
Subscribe or you will never be prodigy.
I Can play the first page of god save the king and I’m only thirteen 😅 (I’ve been playing for one year in a half)
@@Zahid_lunato be fair that part is the easiest. I can play Bruch violin concerto after a year
That wasn’t a boast btw just clarifying 💀
I'm already 29 and can't even play the violin, so...
How about Alma Deutcher?
Chloe Chua is probably not a prodigy, at least not anymore. She practices 5 hours a day. Her outstanding talent is her understanding of music and her seeming lack of nervousness but she has to practice a lot. She also has a great sense of humour and plays videogames in her free time. I think she has had a healthy upbringing. She chose herself to become a solo violinist. Her parents didn’t push her.
Yeah there can come a point where hard work replaces the natural talent.
Well good for her xd
5 hours a day is definitely not enough to reach her level even as a talented violinist
Prodigies are those who accomplish a lot early in life, that is not only dedication but also gifted talent, not everyone can do that by only working hard. Later in life you will see less difference between prodigies and those who practice a lot.
yup she's a monster at call of duty those same precise motor skills skills carry over to gaming
Great video! I would add that prodigies are not just kids who can be trained to play the hardest pieces at a young age, but also kids that demonstrate a musical maturity beyond their age. If you close your eyes and they sound like they are 30, where in reality they are 10, that's a prodigy to me!
Great point! The sound quality is one of the most important traits!
I think that stretches the definition of prodigy. As long as one has exceptional talents, that person is a prodigy. These can be technical or interpretative talents. There should be no restriction in that regard.
@@haomingli6175 good point! I still think as some famous violin teacher used to say "you could teach a monkey to play violin". As in, the technique can be taught, it's challenging and demanding, but the maturity of the player is something that is very hard to teach. But you are right in some way, those kids are impressive! :)
No such thing. They are all circus. They play thousands of hours and when they are older realize they are not musicians and never learned to ride a bike or kick a ball.
No, the not sound like they are 30
...man..... i just turned 14 and got my violin. I sometimes feel like trash when i watch younger people play better than me, but it also makes me want to practice more..
I’m 42. Just remember no matter how good you are there is some 6 year old that is better 😂
Just keep going. Maximize your own potential.
That’s why I only watch pro adults in their 50’s play.
thank you guys ! I will ! I will stay away from stuff that would break my self esteem in 24 pieces early on, lol
Remember to practice scales and exercises. My teacher got me started in sevcik op.1 at the start of suzuki book 2. Also remember to focus not just on playing everything correctly, but playing it musically
@@Mr_Lyric i will ! Thank you ^^
I feel like I have quite the opposite experience of the child prodigy. I didn't start taking viola lessons until I was around 15, and it was really hard seeing everyone else my age play way better. It was really hard, frustrating work, but I'm going to music school now. It would have been so much easier if I had started earlier, but I'm honestly grateful that I was able to discover my passion by myself and use that as motivation, and that I can see how far I've come.
Pretty simmilar with me. I started playing classical music on guitar at the age of 14-15 (now I'm 17) and I discovered that clasical music, music theory is my big passion. I never had a chance go to to the music school or play any instrument that I really would want to play like violin or cello (I started playing guitar because of my parents who still want me to quit classical music and play modern songs) but I said to myself, that I'm not gonna leave those dreams and I try to learn and practise as much as I can :3 Good luck in music !
I had the same experience! Started learning guitar at 15
I'm now 19 and going to music school to study classical guitar
It's never too late
Having taught people of all ages, sometimes there are benefits to starting a little later. As you're older, you usually things more and is able to pick up a lot faster than someone younger. Of course you're not as conditioned as a learner who started young. But then you would also have spent time doing other things and learning other skills that would've helped you further down the road in some other ways... So don't despair!
VIOLA FRIEND, HEY! I started at 17 ! (But I'm a clarinetist haha it helps)
These artists were so lucky to have the opportunity to use their talent and develop their skills and most importantly show them to the world. Some prodigies have never been, are not and will never be seen simply because of where they're born in and their originality.
Privilege has a lot to do with it.
@@juliejules7780 oh come on, many musicians grew up in poor households in the past and had to teach rich kids for the majority of time to make money instead of making great music themselves. Or they needed to compose pieces that suited the rich audience instead of something truly good and original that no one would understand back then ...
Privilege is certainly a tool, but no amount of molly coddling can put a lazy and uninspired person into artistic achievement.@@juliejules7780
@@rebeccaclark2614 In the past , 200 years ago, not now. You now must be able to afford extensive lessons, good instruments and compete in competitions that take hundreds of $$ to get to and enter. All this requires being privileged or at least having someone recognize you as a prodigy and take you under their wing. Those who have to be teachers as you’re seemingly indicating, will not be recognized as the musicians they could have been had they been in the other side of the equation. Money and circumstance absolutely plays a big part in developing and maintaining a career, prodigy or not.
I went to Chloe’s concert last year! Her Mozart 3 interpretation was AMAZING ✨🫶🏻🔥
Lucky😢
@@Doge_mlbb hehe it was just once tho
It does NOT surprise me IN THE SLIGHTEST!!!!!!!
NOT ONLY is she a COMPLETE JOY to listen to, she comes across as one of THE LOVELIEST people you could EVER meet!!!!!!!
I emailed her asking if she was planning a tour of Scotland and got a LOVELY (albeit disappointing) reply saying unfortunately not, but she would love to as it's such a beautiful place.
I wish her the VERY BEST of luck for the future, NOT just because she IS EXCEPTIONALLY talented, but also because of her personality!!!!!! She has NOT allowed fame to change her ONE IOTA!!!!!!!!! Julie Gill, Glasgow, Scotland.
@@juliegill6278 ikrrrr her Mozart never fails to bring smile to my face.🥹🥹🥹 I drew some portrait for her, she saw it and appreciated it 😭✨🫶🏻. (You emailed her and she responded??!?!???!)omgggggg
I started violin a year ago. Seeing all of these like 5 year olds being able to play pieces that I could never kinda makes me want to give up but it I just try to make sure I practice. I'm going into grade 2 hopefully in the Summer.
Don’t give up! It’s really worth it. The violin isn’t just about mastering pieces, it masters you. The amount of patience, discipline, self control you learn through your instrument will produce lasting fruits in the future:)
@@ViolinMechanic no lie, the discipline in violin was the reason I went through medical school and thrived when most of my colleagues only survived.
Woah good on you! A living example:)
@@ViolinMechanic Thanks. I kind of needed to hear that. Love your vids as well, can't find a lot of people like you nowadays.
grade 2 is still very young. I think people overvalue starting playing very very young. Just put in the practice, and enjoy playing and getting better at what you do. You do not need to be a prodigy to become a superb musician - what you need is to put in the time, and not give up.
There is no such a thing as a prodigy. Most of those kids start very young at 3-5 years old and practice every day at least 4 hours to 7 hours per day. One thing I have noticed is that most of those "prodigies" have the resources to pay for daily violin lessons and/or have parents or closed relatives with musical backgrounds. Most have one or both parents who play the violin or piano or any other instrument. For instance, Mozart's father was not only a music teacher, he was a musician who played the violin, and the piano. he was also a composer. The same thing with Bach, most of his family were recognized musicians and composers. Most recently, Chloe Chua 's mother is a music teacher. Don't get me wrong they were the best of the best and talented and worked hard and practiced and practiced for hours, but they had the influence, the help at their finger tips, and a good marketing. That's it. I can give them the credit, but not the merit as prodigies.
I'm not sure about everything you wrote; I was called a prodigy and got by with practicing very little because I could just sit down and sight-read Beethoven piano sonatas at 14. I didn't work very hard because my "no effort" was already head and shoulders above anyone else, and my interpretations were always very mature. Like he said in the video, a lot of prodigies realize they hit a point where it's no longer easy, they have to do the work to advance, and so they give up. Luckily I didn't (I got my doctorate in music), but I definitely burned out and got bored in high school until I realized I had to be serious. The young prodigies you talk about are the ones who practice hours and hours. They're the ones who win competitions and get the recognition, because it doesn't just take natural talent or hard work, it takes both for them to get ahead.
With THAT remark you have you PROVEN BEYOND ANY SHADOW OF A DOUBT that you could NOT BE MORE IGNORANT IF YOU TRIED, AND THAT YOU do NOT HAVE ANY CLUE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!! Julie Gill, Glasgow, Scotland
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔😅😅😅😅😅
@juliegill6278 I am not ignorant, and I know what I am talking about. That you don't accept it or have your own opinion is your problem. And I don't care. 🤷♀️
I’m an orchestra director for middle and high school and there is much truth to what irisrivas6603 is saying. And it’s an unpopular and uncomfortable opinion. And I’ll use myself as an example. Most kids that make All-State and get into the best studios have the resources and environment from their parents. When I was in high school, I didn’t have the luxury of affording lessons much less getting to them because of transportation. I was the youngest of 4, step dad was underemployed, mother was main bread winner and all us siblings/cousins had to work. We grew up metro Atlanta in predominantly black neighborhoods. There was simply no way I could compete on the performance side. So instead, I focused more heavily into theory and composition since that didn’t require traditional lessons. The return on investment got me a perfect 5 on the AP Music Theory exam and easily into conservatory. And my peers labeled me a prodigy, when that is far from the case. And just be simply willing to absorb as much music as possible, I’ve learn at least 10 instruments, have composed professionally for film and concert, and also play professionally on viola and bass. I applied for a master’s in composition, and the faculty thought I was applying for a doctorate based on my portfolio and wealth of experience.
I say this because as a director, there are noticeable differences and correlation between culture, demographics, and high achievement. In my state, there is a reason most kids that make All-State come from a couple of adjacent zip codes, and also Asian. It takes a lot of time and money to have access to the best teachers that teach these “prodigies.” Their mothers pretty much can’t work because they are essentially their prodigious child’s manager. One of my one orchestra students made concertmaster for All-State 2 years in a row and is heading to a conservatory. Her mom is always present, her father can’t be become he’s working to support his daughter. It helps that the father is a dentist and the family has a 7 figure net worth.
Lastly, work ethic plays the biggest role. You gotta give credit to the kid. But jealousy and envy are real, powerful human traits.
2:23 Wow, it's like gifted kids who score good grades in school when they're young without any effort but then become frustrated when they can't do the same in later years. Never would've guessed it would apply to instruments aswell
The book "If only you knew" is an interesting read on this. Autobiography by David Garrett (violin prodigy in his childhood).
Prodigy is one in a million. If gifted that special talent, I'd be sure to make good use of it!
They built a hotel near my house when I was 5 with a piano, I would listen to Chopin and Beethoven at home and go back and play what I heard - eventually I was taken in to free lessons, offered in the future-my uni paid, and was bought a piano by a European at the hotel missing a few fingers- despite growing up extremely poor / in a messed up place; and though, because of this- I got sent away for 5 years, came back and could not motivate my old teacher to maintain interest after missing a couple lessons.. Writing this from the shelter. Life has been very up and down. The ups were extremes, the lows as well - but I still play - I needed someone to tell me what I am not doing, how I didn’t play well- affirmation’s only made me fall into self imitation, I played the same way because I knew I’d get the reaction I wanted, improvement would have come from knowing sooner how to do better other than rampantly - I still feel as creatively inclined, still make music daily - but I regret missing such a development in life, I want to be playing Gaspard De Le Nuit rn.
I still play at that hotel- almost every day now that I am back in the same city - 3-6 hr a day - I really need a teacher smh.
I feel like people who truly excel at their instrument are predisposed or have been meticulously guided (likely both) to moving their playing apparatus in the most efficient ways so as to produce top tier tone, consistent rhythm and overall fluency. So their practice to most looks a lot like playing. And they’re primed for success.
The rest of us practice technique to the best of our ability in hopes to be able to crack the code of true beauty and expression thru music, instead of our bones lol.
Keep going brotha, I am. 😊
“If you want to be a prodigy”. As per your own definition, that’s not how it works whether in music or sports. You are a prodigy or you’re not and no amount of work can change that. You can become one of the greatest soloists in the world without being a prodigy though, so you don’t have to be a prodigy to reach the top. Ray Chen says he’s not a prodigy. So if we work very hard, it’s possible to get to that level. It will just be much harder than for a prodigy.
>>"You can become one of the greatest soloists in the world without being a prodigy though"
It happens so rarely that to all intents and purposes you cannot.
(Ray Chen was just BS-ing you about his own childhood.)
No,hard work alone will not do it.Too many other requirements.The X-factor.
I probably wasn't a prodigy but I completely understand what they're going through. I started playing the piano at the age of 6 and everything came very naturally to me. I barely practiced but somehow I made it. Won a contest at age 8 and continued studying until age 14. But around 11-12 things started to become really hard and I had to put in a lot of work, which I wasn't used to. Took me a lot of time to enjoy playing again.
At the time my interest in piano was fading, I got into computer science instead and consistently won many programming competitions. It also came very naturally with very little practice. And guess what? A few years passed and I was no longer the best. The people who put in the work became the best. At least that led me to a good career in software engineering but I never got the habit of working hard and always followed the easy path.
ViolinMechanic, this was a SICK thumbnail. And video. Keep up the good work. It’s the first time I am knowing your channel and I subscribed even though I am not a violin player (but I really like classical music)
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it:) glad you enjoyed it
My favorite part is that I started playing the violin at 15, so I don't tend to compare myself to prodigies that much 😅😅😅
In that case your sanity will be spared😂
I started at 25 now i'm almost 30 so there is no need to compare xD😅
i was deemed a prodigy as a child i had constant scholorships and concerts and got to play so many great concerts with famous musicians won competitions etc but then i was stuck i couldnt chose anything else this was all my life had been being forced to continue music from family and everyone around me even though i was so depressed and lost all motivation for it and now after years im trying so hard to find more of the love i had for music i used to its so draining to have everyone have huge expectations for you always
Maybe just burnt out and need to take a break?
Never jealous, just full of admiration and wonder that a chosen few have dedicated their lives to become so darn good at something the rest of us could never achieve
I guess I could be considered a child prodigy, although I'm a teenager now. I finished all my trinity exams both on piano and violin by the age of 12, and scored a distinction in both. I've played at two opera houses, won competitions, and was recently labelled "Most Promising Young Musician" of my city. I remember when I was about 7-11 I wanted to quit my violin SO BADLY. To the point where I would yell and cry at my mum for not letting me quit. I hated every bit of music practise, hated classical music (still hate it to this day) and hated the way my music sounded. Playing at high levels as a young child is hard, and I can kinda empathise with these kids.
how did u reach that level while hating it
Did your parents force you to play or why did you play at all?
@@haasee1443parents force you to play. They believe that you would thank them for this when you grow up and realise it was worth it. But doesn't always happen
🧢
@@aaliiissssaaaaaa_21 My parents forced me to play, and they always told me I would thank them later in life. It's a few years later now and I love playing the violin, so I continue to play it.
Probably one of the darkest parts of being a "prodigy" is if you are already well-known and there's no backing out.
I technically call myself a "prodigy". Though I am not well-known, and I will stay to be unknown, since music isn't really my passion.
My young, bored self just decided to learn the piano for no reason, until it became an addiction.
You are truly mysterious…
Good luck on your channel! It will bloom some day.
Thanks for the encouragement ❤️ it truly means a lot.
I hope to see your comments in future vids:)
Do you video your progress?
@@juliejules7780
Never. It's much better if I don't do that. That will add suspicions to other people and mostly newcomers to my videos, somebody said that they will hail me as a "World Class Technician" if I make a video of myself playing, which I personally wouldn't.
If they think it's "fake" then nobody will know me, unless they saw me play in real life. Because there are times where I play in school.
I don't think piano is that hard anyways, it's far from when I tried learning the violin. I had more pain from the violin, than the piano.
Thanks for the informing video! As much as I love Chloe’s Bruch, I admire how much she’s put on the line, same for other prodigies like Hilary and Midori. :)
I wish more “prodigy producing” parents would choose less common instruments or even encourage their kids to be prodigy composers nowdays. Too many violins and pianos and it’s kind of boring. The new music composition field has really been falling out of popular culture for the past 50 years and we need people to get media attention and bring new composition and obscure instruments back into the spotlight
Yeah I agree, it creates way too much competition. Competition = more failures
Availability of teachers is also a thing
I wished that the US public schools started music instruments programs at all levels.
We spent money on our daughter's piano and violn lessons starting at 4 years old and all the way to her 12th grade. She received scholarship money few times. However she was recruited to an engineering academy for her 9th grade. Her heart was with music but she chose to be an engineer. She is enjoying working in computer games.
My daughter credited classical music training for her current job.
I play and love violin, but carpal tunnel in both of my hands forced me to pace my practicing and adopt new habits like stretching and stuff. I am so glad that happened to me, because I would feel horrible thinking that I could be better, if I just practiced more and more. But carpal tunnel put an end to all that, and I realize I'm good at so many other things, I don't have to be great at violin. I just have to enjoy the music that I can make.
I'm unsure if Mozart gave up by the end of his life - he was working on his requiem until he died. How are you backing up your claim?
I agree: that comment about Mozart was completely baseless.
I started at 21 years old, it's been 6 years and I think I am not bad, I see my skill cultivated slowly but surely, of course I can't aspire to become a soloist but it's a lot of fun and I feel fulfiled.
And this is why I consciously decided against actively becoming what you would consider a 'child prodigy' when I was at that age. Thank you for bringing attention to these things.
I skipped the intro of midori and thought you were saying Chloe Chua played for Reagan. I was like, "Wow, Ling Ling really can bend the space and time continuum." 😂
Are you also a Twosetter??
@@moineten I think my answer speaks for itself :D
Though i am not even a musician i always wanted to become one. “Admire them from a safe distance” that sentence changed my life view man.
The prodigy of Truth is the product of love and practice. ❤
Agreed!
Thank you! Of course, I’m a little upset that I spend several hours a day on classes, but the result is as if I spend 10 minutes a week.
Don’t be discouraged! Perhaps you can look into different methods to increase productivity when practicing?
Thank you! I'm trying. Maybe I need to play more slowly and in pieces. But it's so boring@@ViolinMechanic
@@rec2you haha, welcome to real practice. It is a grind. But now that I’m older i love it. I love knowing I’m making clear progress through sweat. If someone just went “poof” and turned me into a player like vengerov I don’t think I’d really appreciate it.
Agree with you. Quick fulfillment of desires reduces value. But, unfortunately, our life is not endless. 😀@@nickcarroll8565
Totally agree, if you try to make practicing fun and amusing, you’re doing something wrong. If it’s boring, you’re on the right track! Maybe I should do a video on how to practice efficiently.
Your editing has really improved, a lot! I was here when you posted one of your old videos and dangggg the editingg! Keep it up!
Thank you so much!!:)
As a pianist I would certainly say that the rigors one must endure to mechanically perfect difficult repertoire can test your sanity. On the other hand, I think geniuses in earlier eras, who were (on top of being able to flawlessly execute the most demanding repertoire) also spending time on composition and improvisation, managed to balance out the monotony of raw practise with the more creative aspects in music making. On the other hand, I only say this from the perspective of a pianist. I suppose wind, string, and other players who occupy more strictly performance-oriented roles, simply have it harder since they aren't nornally expected to be given the role of a composer, improviser, conductor, or arranger/producer/etc.
Thanks for the video! ❤ But why didn't you mention David Garrett? A prodigy who became a virtuoso, Paganini of our age🔥
Chloe as a little kid, was the true definition of prodigy. There are no dark truths, some kids have natural ability, superior brain, lucky socio-economic conditions, that's all. Not every piano teacher's daughter becomes a player. (And not that this fact did not affect Chloe as she had guidance at "2 year old") Now as a very young women, creating her own planet everytime she picks the violin, ofcourse there had to be HARD WORK.
With regards to what he said about Mozart giving up, I don't think that's true.
Mozart died because of an illness, although experts speculate about which disease it was that actually killed him. Julie Gill, Glasgow, Scotland.
I wish my mother had taught me the violin earlier, now I could play more complex pieces... Because I really don't have a problem with pieces that should cost me with the time I've been playing.
I was not quite a child prodigy, but I was pretty close. I started playing piano at 9 years old and performed the first movement of Moonlight Sonata after less than a year of lessons (iirc 5 or 6 months). Preparing Alla Turka for a competition when I was 13 was a bit of a grind but not overly challenging at the time, and, despite the technical mastery I achieved, the judges tore apart my interpretation and did not appreciate my awkward/autistic stage presence. The sensation of effortlessness up to the point where raw talent ceased to be sufficient came with all sorts of psychological issues besides the obvious one of "wtf why is this so hard", e.g. friends and family members always writing off any technical achievement as not taking any effort or not accommodating my need to practice 4-6 hours a day.
I was studying to become a professional pianist under a retired concert pianist who had toured Europe before marrying and immigrating to the US, but, when I was 15, I suffered a spiral fracture in my left ring finger in an accident in a martial arts class that completely derailed everything. The following years were some of the darkest I have ever experienced. I was unable to regain my former level of skill after two years of dedicated effort, gave up, and got a biotech degree that I have not used. I had a very torturous relationship with music for many years, focusing on dark and angry metal songs as I learned to play electric guitar (which felt almost effortless despite the countless hours of practice).
I tried resuming my classical music ambitions 7 years ago with violin lessons after learning the basics autodidactically for 6 months, but I encountered hard limitations due to my irregular hand shape and gave up after a year. I resumed seriously practicing piano a few months ago and pulled my violin out of the closet at the beginning of last month; to my surprise, I found that I can now move my left hand in ways I couldn't 6 years ago. It has taken the equivalent of my entire life up to the point of the injury to recover from that one injury.
Idk if I have the temerity at this point to attempt a career as a musician, but I hope to at least begin performing Mozart piano sonatas and Chopin's preludes and nocturnes, and maybe I'll finally be able to play both parts of Kreisler's Liebeslied this year. (My grandiose music goals are to play and record both parts of Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Dance Macabre, and Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy.) I am generally hopeful about it but also quite sensitive due to the psychological baggage; for example, I had a minor back injury at the beginning of this month that prevented me from practicing for weeks and got severely depressed during that time.
Tldr is that talent has risks and the archons are evil.
Amazing story! Wish you hard work and success on your musical quests
Techniques can often be acquired through hard work. What is even more amazing to me is their memory. Imagine forgeting a line in front of a packed music hall. That just dont happen to them
That's it. I really love piano, I started studying six months ago, but I had already studied keyboard for five years. I didn't like the keyboard, my goal was the piano and it became easier for me because I was already studying a similar instrument. The piano is my passion, my hobby and, even if I learn faster, I don't want to think of it as a burden or something that I need to be super-skilled at. I want to play because I like, because it fills me with joy.
Keyboard for five years?! How do you do that without going to piano a lot sooner? Were you playing as part of a rock band or pop group or something?
I don't think I'd call myself a prodigy but I'm 13 years old and I've performed with orchestra (as concertmaster not soloist ofc) and I've gotten a offer from my teacher to play in a professional orchestra for a concert and I still have a social life, go to school, and I have a lot of extracurricular activities like basketball (which is probably not good but anyways) football, and plenty of other things so I guess its not about being a prodigy its about scheduling and managing your time for other things :)
You're absolutely right. As a former violinist who played from childhood to college (though I was not a music major), I also had other extracurriculars, went to public school, and a normal social life. Kudos to you for finding the right balance in your life! Congratulations on all of your accomplishments and good luck with all of your current and future endeavors :)
I need my violin I can't live without my instrument its more important than food and water. Its my life and my career and my focus lastly my only friend.
What talent, what natural abilities!! Show me a child prodigy that doesn't have a parent pushing the planet their way or a manager/teacher. They're literally taught to make faces while playing. Almost everything a "talented" musician is capable of, can be taught to a child, and it is. Wether or not the kid has a natural predisposition for a craft is almost out od the question - a child prodigy is forged, not born
Also, show me a prodigy that compares to Mozart lol. If the world was trully as filled with prodigies as we're sold to believe, the world would be overflown with little Mozarts, Jacob Colliers, Justin Lee Schultzs...
Maybe it is natural abilities/talent that allow a prodigy to succeed for especially hard measures/pieces, but I also think that more importantly, it's having a extremely solid foundation (eg. bow hold, posture, tension, technique, scales, etc.)
At least where I live (India) there isn’t really any pressure to excel in music or anything creative, you’re basically forced to become a doctor or an engineer. My family kind of expects both from me; I’ve been singing since I was four and when I wanted to stop going to class my grandmother was very angry. I’m often jealous of the talent that prodigies have, but I personally don’t really want to be one. The pressure that comes with that would be too much for me, and I already take anxiety meds lol😅.
Haha well being a prodigy is one of the most stressful things a child can go through. Glad you’re keeping up with the violin:)
loving and supporting parents. Ones you certainly seam of lacking.
I started on my instrument so late, there was no chance of me ever being a prodigy. But I did eventually finish grad school for performance on my instrument, albeit I no longer perform
Training a kid to play Paganini is commendable, but real prodigies possess maturity beyond their years. Show me the same 8 year old playing a Brahms sonata,and there won’t be much to write home about. Josef Hassid, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Charles Castleman, Michael Rabin-these players were real prodigies because they had developed their own individual sound at an early age. Hilary Hahn as well
What makes you a professional on this subject!
If you break your arm you will never play the same again. Does this apply to both arms and what happens if you use lose your pinky on your bow hand?
Greatness involves a great deal of sacrifice. Look at what Jannik Sinner had to do to get to where he is today. It's not just music. Some are content with simple and happy life. Others want to leave their name behind to be remembered when they're long gone.
Yes indeed.
Most people who go on about the "dark truths" of being a music prodigy don't say the same about e.g. kids who are outstanding at sport because the idea of practicing sport five hours a day strikes them as fun but the thought of practising an instrument five hours a day fills them with horror.
Hi can someone please tell me what is the name of the piece at @7:20? I like it :)
chopin nocturne op 9 no 1 i think
I know that LangLang also have insurance on his hands. So I guess it's fairly normal.
But then again in Vengrov's case I think I saw on his instagram that he's also marching into conducting? Makes sense. I think Yuja Wang is like that, she is also marching into conducting.
I think this is the same for ballet dancers, with a wayyyyy shorter career span. Most of them graduate into a choreographer or master. And in some very great cases, they eventually transform into Artistic Director of ABT, like Susan Jaffe. (FYI Susan Jaffe danced her first Swan Lake Odette/Odile, a principal role, at age of 19. absolutely a prodigy.)
But then again we also see lots of prodigies' tragic life stories. So it really is a case-by-case thingi.
0:14 YoEun, who appeared a few seconds later, started at 2)))
I believe much of the "dark side" is how many prodigies have their high functioning autism misdiagnosed or flat out ignored, and at worst, exploited. I'm happy for those that find a balance and happiness in life. Next question: how prodigious is it if the public audience/cd market/competition jury prefer the artistry/interpretation of a non-prodigy or a late bloomer? Is an individual's "prodigy status" taken away or diminished? I really feel the biggest dark side is the classical market is victim to rampant capitalism, - a dying market and misplaced priorities.
My sister started violin at age 8 and went to Julliard every weekend at age 16. She practiced 4 hours a day from age 8 to avoid the chaos in our home. She said at age 50, "I didn't practice 4 hours a day to play in the pit." Apparently, she did, although she made it her career. Not everyone is a soloist.
All of those who are in absolute top of their field do need to work hard some day. Just very few will make it. As extremely talented friend of mine once said to me: "to be gifted is not enough there. others near the top are gifted too. Hard work is necessity when compiting with them". Good team around prodigy is also absolute necessity. In a long run psyche will collapse otherwise, life must be in good balance. Plan B must always be there for sure
Super talented kids are just wired up differently. There is a fine line between practise and obsession and that goes for both the child and the parents. How many get that right. With Mozart, obviously wrong but with many the parents main job is to stop their child obsessing and spend some time being a kid.
I’m so glad there is a video about this. I’ve watched to many that involve worshipping and idolizing child prodigies and 🫣😓
Great video- hope your channel grows even more 🙌🏽
Trying to push out original content ❤️ thanks for the encouragement:)
Idk, but at least she sounding equal or even higher than most adult performers. She had an extended aura
I get frustrated a lot now that I'm older because everything was so easy to come by, reading music and playing it. But now I struggle to keep tempo and have expression!! I doubt I was a "prodigy" but it felt a lot easier back then😂
Prodigy is not someone who do not practice anything and then can do it suddenly.
But how fast can they understand, learned , and do it.
So if Prodigy did a lot of practice, the distance with their peer Will be a whole lot far too.
Did you see Chloe talk to TwoSet about her new album? She learned a piece in a month.
Hang on a second. I thought you said by the end I'd be GLAD I wasn't a prodigy! You tricked me!
Im hearing a Chopin nocturne in the background. Perfect for some emotional moments these prodigies had to went through 🤣
Can someone tell me the piano piece playing in the background at 7:24?
Chopin Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1
Violin Mechanic is the best youtube channel by far(First)
I will never forget you
I’m a “prodigy” in things like art and literature mainly thanks to my hyperphantasia and synesthesia, I hate having them so much even though it’s almost always considered a gift, my brother also has them and he’s also a prodigy. My mom has VERY high expectations when it comes to grades😭
and you want to be a youtube prodigy
competition, just like in the olympics, we run to win the prize
Many people are raised this way to be involved intensely.
I wonder if prodigies can develop their nerves more naturally by being just simply being a prodigy. I would imagine there are still nerves when they perform, but I'm sure that they can manage it much more than those who weren't exposed to instruments at a young age.
Some kids are just fearless. Some of them simply don’t have the internal dialogue to make the self conscious. And then there was me that was born a nervous wreck haha.
@nickcarroll8565 I totally agree with you! Kids do have a special way of simply being fearless. But there are always exceptions to the rule, you and I included 😅
What is the piano piece at 7:30?
Vengerov would not have been practicing outside at -35 temperatures as you suggest here. It might have been -35 outside but he would have been indoors in front of a warm fire.
for you to have the guts to post this video is respectable.
I think that living a relatively normal life leads to experiences that can contribute to interpretation and expression of music. The isolation of the prodigies inhibits this. I have a theory that some people are blessed with an advanced cerebellum that can record muscle memory after one or two repetitions, rather than the 30+ that it takes for most people.
School was like this for me, didn't have to really put in any effort until college, so I never really "Learned" how to put in real effort, concentration and diligence.
Not music though, gotta study for that stuff.
My experience with home schooling is that it can be a disaster. You're right. It ruins the most important childhood experiences.
As a homeschooled kid someone pleae help. I don't have any friends i barely know any history, and days keep being skipped. :(
@@chordsofsteel-i4j People need to take a closer look at home schooling. Some students need to be in public school for the experience of meeting other people, having fun with sports and other school activities and learning from many experienced teachers. Home schooling was a disaster for my kid. I seriously regret ever thinking that home schooling was a good idea.
Violin is my life!!!!
I just want to say that I've played the violin for over 5 years, and that if it hurts to play the violin, then you're likely doing something wrong. Unless you're playing for four hours straight and maybe you start to feel shoulder tension, you really should have any pain, especially in the wrist/hand.
7:19 what is the piece name?
Chopin nocturne op.9 no.1 in B-Flat Minor
My nephew got to practice piano and violin since boyhood because of his father. Was he a prodigy ? l dont know, l only know he's a good boy obeys to his father. After years one day, my nephew played me a piece of Vivaldi's violin thru internet, it's not so good it's just ok, but l didnt said a word in return to him. ln fact, l didnt know what should l say. The boy only exercises his father's will.
Isn't complexity of growing up easily at first and then you hit a wall and suddenly need to practice hard to grow further are the same for any other occupation?
I don't think we have a question of being prodigy here. It's more like a question of strict parents and your own motivation. Which can be a problem one or another or both. But it doesn't really touches prodigies but the growing itself.
It's just bumping a wall in growing is happens later for prodigies. Not like for me after 5 minutes of tries)
Interesting that Himari Yoshimura was not included here, as at 7 years old she absolutely blew away a panel of Russian judges in international competition and won 1st place...7 years old!!! She was already extremely technically sound, but her interpretation and expression of the music were well beyond her years. Many prodigies can play well technically, but it's the interpretation and expression that sets them apart from the others.
1:15 btw, now you can play this part!! 👍
Bro that was hard
So is it normal for conductors to have “anger issues?”
Because they want to or because they have to? Confused on this dilemma.
Some half wit oncw commented tha Yuja was conducting from her piano bench while also playing. The opinion o😊f the writer was that the orchestra was relying on the soloists to avoid a conductors fee. And some like Estrada seem to engage in aerobic exercise while conducting.As a musician and former orchestra violist when 12 years old I notice that Hilary Hahn can help the conductors with her athletic
body language and occasional facial movements…eg eyebrows, eye contact, even a slight if rare half smile. The older and more experienced she gets the more relaxed I see her becoming. At the piano where the camera focuses where it will you can watch Yuja talking to herself. It is so charming. Unlike Gould during recordings of the Goldberg variations you can hear his mutterings..
The transition from childhood concentration to mature artistry should not be confused ..I for one am happy to be alive while these two glorious artists are here to share their genius with all of us.
Don't confuse virtuosity with music. At 22 years old, you can be the best virtuoso in the world, but you're certainly not the best musician. Look at Hilary Hahn; after turning 35, she started to understand the music she plays, and now at 44 she is just fabulous. When you've checked the box for all the unimportant things, you start to question what music truly is.
Wow
What make of violin do you have?
Haha you are so light to say this dark truth
I was homeschooled and it helped me become...not a prodigy! 😂 But I'm happy!
😂 at what age did you start violin?
@@ViolinMechanic I was 6
@@ViolinMechanic my sisters best friend was pretty close to a prodigy. She played so well. I let my jealousy discourage me.
I feel nearly the same way Midori feels, but for the piano.
I only just started watching but I'm hearing Brahms in the background, is it Hilary Hahn? - asking because one of my favourite things to do is to guess the soloist lol. While I'm at it, have you seen this interview with her where she talks about practicing as a kid and that she, unlike many others, did not feel like she missed out? If she did, she can simply do it now. And the crazy part is, i believe her 100%
It always feels weird to directly adress a youtuber, like I'm entitled to your attention, so i hope this is okay haha
Love your videos 👍🏾
Glad you like them!:))
Chloé is 🔥 Have you seen her latest PR pics!
oh begitu... matur suksma😊
good evening from malaysia dude :D
Oh nice to have you on! It’s morning in Canada
@@ViolinMechanic cool!
@@ViolinMechanic its 11:05 pm at the time im writing this..... and i have a rehearsal and more practicing the good ol' violin at my school cuz we we got some programs lol
@@ViolinMechanic wish me luck bruv cuz my wrist is tense and its bruised (for some reason idk why maybe cuz i punched a kid for making my violin fall from its case lol.... oh wait now it makes sense) and my knee is hurting cuz i fell down a flight of stairs and scrapped my knee really badly and now im just limping lol
😂😂😂 dude, you can’t be punching other kids, it’s bad for you hand, especially that you’re a violinist
Thats a nice looking violin what brand of water do you like to drink
Dude Last Rose of Summer still traumatizes me to this day
Bro is dissing skilled children 💀
(And i absolutely fucking love it)