Anyone see the six year old on Jay Leno last night?

[Antnee]

Six year year old piano prodigy Marc Yu. He was a pretty funny kid and he told a couple of jokes. He played the last variation of Mozart's Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je, Maman".
He was pretty technically good, and played it perfectly but I noticed his quality of sound was still something to expect from a six year old. Still remarkable playing. Just wondering if anyone else caught it.

-Tony-

[janne p.]

They'll probably air it here in Sweden in a week, as they usually do I'll make sure not to miss it. Thanks for the tip (although you didn't mean it as one ;-)

[Antnee]

Your welcome 

-Tony-

[Barbosa-piano]

Yes, I saw it yesterday night... The boy seemed to know what he was doing, pretty good playing for a 6 year old- Maybe he will be the next Lang Lang- Only Do Do . Is he from China? I think so... They seem to be taking over the world's stage on piano... I wonder what he plays with the orchestra... My mom was laughing because James Woods extended his hand to shake the boy's hand, and he ignored him... My opinion: He has to work on consistency of the notes, and strive for precision on timing. But, I have to say, his hands are quite strong for a 6 year old, especially when you see the 4th and 5th fingers.  His playing was remarkable indeed.

[pianohopper]

But yet, what do you have to sacrifice to be a "prodigy"?  In my opinion, it's a bad idea for the parents!

Why should you force a young child to such a level of playing?  To be really good at piano, you must develop your love for it, not be pushed upon it.

as Barbosa-piano noticed, "prodigies" are often helplessly socially-inept.  By age 6, you should know what to do when somebody offers you their hand -- on TV or not.  Besides, what's the point of having scores of women after you when you don't even notice them, and wouldn't know what to do if you did?  I mean, come on, how much time do you have for friends when you're driven to practice 8 hours a day? 

Then on top of that there is the immense pressure to produce!  So you're a prodigy at six, so what!  You could just as easily be burned-out at sixteen, having lost your interest or will or whatever it is that drives most people on.