Little Mozarts!

[melia]

Hi, I recently went to a piano performance by very talented students at a Yamaha Grand Piano fair. They composed their own pieces and performed them infront of a live audience. I was so amazed at their technical ability and musicianship! They were only 5 to 10 year olds and already music geniuses! After that, I wanted to hide my head in shame,   I don't know why, I always believed I was a 'good' player, but it seems that these children could teach me about technique and musicianship more than myself! When I went home, I played my piano, but stopped halfway because it sounded like crap! Is it unfair of me to compare myself to other people's playing, especially when they are only 10 year olds?  

[zhiliang]

Well, i dont know whether this is consoling or not, but children, they have the most natural way and technique of playing. They also do not suffer from the influence of many different teachers wherby they MAY be taught something that is totally against the natural physique of their hands.

Well, for me, that might be one of the reason. But i feel the same way as you do too when i went for a quite similar kind of performance too. Their playing of Mozart sonatas really put me to shame. I would sound so lumbering besides them.

[scarbo87]

.......don't worry about it - just try to do what you can to imporove yourself. Most prodigies are lacking in deeper and truer artisty.

[namui]

Hi, I recently went to a piano performance by very talented students at a Yamaha Grand Piano fair. They composed their own pieces and performed them infront of a live audience.  

I believe that those children are from a music education program called JOC (I don't remeber its full name), in which a group of young children are trained for instrumental skills (for both individual and ensemble) and also composition skills. Well, it's a special course and accepts only selected group of students.

But Bernhard mention about teaching his 5 yo student to play 2-part invention and etc. And he even claimed that the child was not a prodigy. So I think it's a matter of teaching technique. Most children may be able to do much more (and stay mentally healthy) if the curriculum and teaching methodology is right for their development.

[dinosaurtales]

It's easy to feel intimidated by players (mostly younger) who can play a lot of fast notes or at least appear technical.  I will bet that your musical maturity still shows through in your playing, even if you think they are whiz kids.  I have even noticed this phenomenon with college students who appear amazing at first till I hear even a rudimentary adult play - age makes quite a difference in musical maturity.

[The-Piano-Man]

hmmm...  Well I'm probably one of the younger members of this forum (not 5-10 but..) so I don't know if I can relate as well...  But at church one day, I heard this song (don't remember what it was), but it was played so well and sounded hard, and i was thinking it was someone older but then it was like this 8 year old.  And I felt like I was so bad...  I wish I had gotten a piano or keyboard at a younger age so I would of had more time....