What's on your mind now?

[Bob]

Weird....

*Bob starts collecting threads, trying to figure out what's going on... in addition to trimming the sails, etc., and keeping the S.S. Bob on course.*

The PF website
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=40557.0

[fleetfingers]

Bob, check these out:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=40510.0

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=40541.0

[Bob]

I found this one.

Scriabin - Etude in D# Minor, Op. 8 No. 12
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=40541


Looks like Becky pulled all her audition board posts.  Probably a copyright violotion too if it's from someone else.  


Haha... What really floors me is how someone could steal a performance off Piano Street and then go to all the trouble to fake themselves performing a Youtube video of it.  Very bizarre.  


I'd like to hear these performances now and who really played them. 

Haha... It keeps the forum interesting.  I have my own idea of who it might be.  Someone who hasn't been posting a lot lately -- because they're busy making up all this stuff.  Someone who's got multiple accounts and has had multiple accounts.  But it sounds like so much work to make accounts, borrow clips, etc.  Geez. 

There was...  I'm blanking now... Someone who said they had TB on here several years ago.  Made up a story.  People fell for it.  Not me of course.   

And even before that there was someone in the news, Hatto or Hat or something, who tweaked professional recordings and merged recordings together and then sold them as n overlooked performer.

[Bob]

Dumb question... I thought Birba was an middle-aged asian lady.  But her profile says male...  *Bob knows ladies are not male.*  I got the impression Birba was on the level.  Except that I thought Birba was female.

[birba]

And maybe I'm NOT on the level.  And maybe I AM a middle-aged asian woman.
Well, I slept on it and I can look at what happened here with a grin, I suppose.  when you think about it, that person (maybe it was anafressi- or rolipoli as he's designated in youtube) was really quite clever.  He DID slip up a bit when changing voces from the 12 year-old to the 76 year-old, but I only notice it now.  And even the marine had a sort of military voice about him.  But I really feel like a jack-ass.  Maybe that's what I am Bob.  A four-legged, long-eared jack-ass who knows how to type.

[pianowolfi]

Wow that was weird I wonder why Nils is so silent....

[pianisten1989]

Now when you think about it- they gave us clues all the time, at least becky did. She posed some very high level recordings, and wrote in a very mature style. Then some people here didn't quite believe she was 12, and suddenly she wrote way more immature, and posed couple of quite bad recordnings (and somehow managed to suddenly have a really bad sound quality).

From nowhere, LadyPianist starts posting really great recordnings, and kind of steals the attention... Hmm hmm...

I feel like scoobydoo

[Bob]

Wow that was weird I wonder why Nils is so silent....

Yes, it violates the big unwritten rule -- Don't make more work for Nils.  Although if they took their recordings down, Nils might not have much to do.  Unless he bans them or does more investigating.  If no one complains... He might not do much.    .... That is... Assuming Nils is not in fact Becky/Lady Pianist/whoever... oooOOOOOOooo.....


The Becky post about accompanying is still useful.  That sounded like a college student shocked at seeing the level of a typical student in the schools.  Still useful information.

[Bob]

*Bob wonders if there will be any kind of online lynching and/or mob activity related to the false posters.*

An old hag wanders out.  "Stone them!  Stone them!"


Yes, or if any ceremonial Nerf "stoning of the false posters" will be going on.

"Avenge me!   Avenge me....!" continues the old hag.  *Bob pushes old hag away.*

[Bob]

Looks like someone locked all their threads on the audition board too.  I can't tell if it was Nils though who locked them.

[ongaku_oniko]

we can lock threads? O_O

anyway, another thing that was suspicious to me was that when you search up rebecca stern and nina voskova on google nothing appears. I'd assume these people would be semi-famous if they were that good, like the other child prodigies, like George Li, Tiffany Poon, etc.

[pianowolfi]

I googled "Nina Vaskova" the other day ("Ladypianist") and found nothing, at least nothing piano-related.

[ongaku_oniko]

did you post that before or after you read my post? XD

anyway, but I never really doubted them; I even wrote a really really long advice on life in a pm to becky (she pmed me first)


But ironically I've aways doubted emill and whatever his son was called... lol I was like there's no way a kid who started piano at 9 can play fantasie-impromptu in less than a year and la campanella in 2 years. Not possible.

At least it's not possible without him winning Van cliburn and fredyryk chopin international piano competiion by now.

And I'd assume that with such a pushy parent who is so eager to tell everyone about his amazing son that he will be quite well known, at least around youtube.


@emill: sorry for the ad hominem attacks, I'm just jealous, if what you say is true :p

[pianowolfi]

I posted at the same time as you, I got that red warning

I believe Enzo/emill is okay.

[littletune]

Haha... It keeps the forum interesting.  I have my own idea of who it might be.  Someone who hasn't been posting a lot lately -- because they're busy making up all this stuff. 

Hmm... who hasn't been posting a lot lately? I noticed Alistair hasn't been posting at all for a while!  (I was starting to get worried already!!) sooo..... Alistair? 
Just kidding of course!  Sorry 

[kelly_kelly]

did you post that before or after you read my post? XD

anyway, but I never really doubted them; I even wrote a really really long advice on life in a pm to becky (she pmed me first)


But ironically I've aways doubted emill and whatever his son was called... lol I was like there's no way a kid who started piano at 9 can play fantasie-impromptu in less than a year and la campanella in 2 years. Not possible.

At least it's not possible without him winning Van cliburn and fredyryk chopin international piano competiion by now.

And I'd assume that with such a pushy parent who is so eager to tell everyone about his amazing son that he will be quite well known, at least around youtube.


@emill: sorry for the ad hominem attacks, I'm just jealous, if what you say is true :p

Enzo/emill are extremely well-known on YouTube at least... check the channel blueyoyi. A search of his name turns up piano-related results too. Clearly you are jealous, or haven't actually investigated.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Enzo/emill are extremely well-known on YouTube at least... check the channel blueyoyi. A search of his name turns up piano-related results too. Clearly you are jealous, or haven't actually investigated.

Yeah, I've been following them on youtube before Pianostreet
Prodigies do exist. They do things that are unlikely, but not impossible.
But don't worry ongaku_oniko, I'm a bit jealous too  . And I mean that as a compliment to Enzo If it weren't for all those talented young pianists I know both online and in real life, I wouldn't be the piano freak I am today. (:

[kelly_kelly]

Yeah, I've been following them on youtube before Pianostreet
Prodigies do exist. They do things that are unlikely, but not impossible.
But don't worry ongaku_oniko, I'm a bit jealous too  . And I mean that as a compliment to Enzo If it weren't for all those talented young pianists I know both online and in real life, I wouldn't be the piano freak I am today. (:

I agree. I know and have heard people in real life who are as good or nearly as good as Becky pretended to be. The mature advice giving was actually the least believable aspect of her persona to me.

[ongaku_oniko]

Enzo/emill are extremely well-known on YouTube at least... check the channel blueyoyi. A search of his name turns up piano-related results too. Clearly you are jealous, or haven't actually investigated.

I also clearly indicated that I was jealous... Although I still doubt the that he started piano at 9. I know people who can play advanced pieces at a young age, but only because they've been learning the piano for years, since they were 3 or 4. If Enzo really started and 9 and got his fantasie that good in less than a year, he should be international level by now.

Then again, sometimes prodigies lose their geniusness as they grow up, and improve slower and slower.

Whether Enzo really did start the piano at age 9, being able to play fantasieimpromptu at 10 is remarkable, and I'm jealous either way.

[kelly_kelly]

I also clearly indicated that I was jealous... Although I still doubt the that he started piano at 9. I know people who can play advanced pieces at a young age, but only because they've been learning the piano for years, since they were 3 or 4. If Enzo really started and 9 and got his fantasie that good in less than a year, he should be international level by now.

Then again, sometimes prodigies lose their geniusness as they grow up, and improve slower and slower.

Whether Enzo really did start the piano at age 9, being able to play fantasieimpromptu at 10 is remarkable, and I'm jealous either way.

Right, I think that what you refer to as "losing prodigousness" is facing higher expectations as one gets older. Enzo's performances of Fantasie Impromptu and especially Campanella were NOT perfect/world class (no offense intended, Enzo and Emill ), but at the ages of 10-12 they were still impressive. At age 15, one is expected to play with more musical insight AND greater technical perfection, so even if one improves at the same rate, the progress won't seem as dramatic. Somebody once told me that in music "it takes 80% of the time to get the last 20% of improvement". So the fact that he hasn't won international competitions (yet!) really doesn't undermine his story in itself.

But I probably should let Emill speak for himself...?

And on a completely unrelated note... are you a university student?

[ongaku_oniko]

Yes, doing acturarial science though. Nothing to do with music.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Yes, doing acturarial science though. Nothing to do with music.

Wow, I bet my parents would love it if I were to study that!
I have no idea what I want to do in uni . . .

(yes, off topic again) But that's what's been on my mind... my future. (:

[kelly_kelly]

Yes, doing acturarial science though. Nothing to do with music.

Okay, just asking because your posts seemed not-quite-adult and yet not childish. I'm a first year university student probably studying physics... or mathematics... or engineering if I'm not tough enough for the first two (which seems increasingly likely ).

[/off topic... maybe]

[ongaku_oniko]

Which country? I'm first year too, and act sci is basically math...


I don't know, I've always thought of myself as mature, but I'm beginning to realize more and more how immature I really am. I guess I can write mature and thoughtful posts, but I don't bother to, since this is... not really that important.

But I do have a ways to go, of course.

[kelly_kelly]

Which country? I'm first year too, and act sci is basically math...


I don't know, I've always thought of myself as mature, but I'm beginning to realize more and more how immature I really am. I guess I can write mature and thoughtful posts, but I don't bother to, since this is... not really that important.

But I do have a ways to go, of course.

Yeah, I think that part of becoming "mature" involves accepting immaturity... which I'm also working on

I'm in the US. I'd imagine that actuarial science doesn't involve that much "pure" math though? As in, proof-based? Though I shouldn't be talking about math because I'm probably going to drop my math class this semester anyway... did my first year of university math last year though, so still eligible to go for a degree if I change my mind. Where do you study?

[ongaku_oniko]

University of Toronto (Canada).

Well, there's no pure math at an advanced level, but for the first two years, we take the same classes as math majors. Maybe even the first 3. Not really sure.

[ongaku_oniko]

back on topic:

I'm sitting here studying for my math exam while listening to the beautiful interpretation of islamey by Nina Vaskova

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

back on topic:

I'm sitting here studying for my math exam while listening to the beautiful interpretation of islamey by Nina Vaskova

I could never study for math and listen to music. It never goes well for me
How do you still have that recording? I thought it was deleted?

[ongaku_oniko]

I downloaded it?

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Wow... I never realized you could download stuff from the audition room like that! I thought you went through your internet cache or something complicated like that. Darn well now I can't download it anymore.


Silly me.  

 

[ongaku_oniko]

I can send it to you if you like it was the only one I downloaded, unfortunately. I wanted to get my hands on becky's op.10 no.5


BTW to download, right click the link and press save target as

[pianowolfi]

Yes of course you can download these recordings, as ongaku says The player with the arrow is actually quite new to this site, I think it was introduced only one or two years ago, before that recordings were only accessibly by download.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

@ongaku_oniko Thanks, but it's ok. At least I learn something new everyday.

I said that I'm moving on from this whole thing, BUT I really wanna know WHO was really playing everything. Somehow the La campanella intrigued me the most...

@pianowolfi
Yes thanks for the explanation... from now on, I'll just download them, Media Player is way easier to use than the online player, although the online player is pretty convenient

 

[fleetfingers]

I downloaded La Campanella and was looking last night for a match on youtube. Found one that was very close, but I don't know...I don't think it's it. But it's a really good interpretation if you're looking for one.

&list=UL

[thebuchertrain]

This is:

&feature=related

[emill]

Hi guys!

I read some discussions about Enzo here and there, but seldom do we respond for the simple reason that it will not amount to much since I will not be able to present absolute proof to the contrary and it will only fuel more the doubts.  However, I feel Pianostreet is so different from YouTube and is a place where one can learn, develop friendships and is a place with people who genuinely help ... Birba, rachfan and furtwangler to name a few .... so that I feel I should try to tell our side and hope it is believed.  So here goes:

That I am a pushy father who is unrelenting in driving his son -    Oh well, if there is someone being pushed around in our house it is me . Until about a year and a half ago Enzo was a driven person when it came to the piano.  Every parent knows you can't push your child into something he does not like; but enzo was different... after spending the whole day in regular school which prides itself for its academic excellence, he still had the energy to practice the piano for at least an hour, sometimes 2 hours, daily and 3-4 hours on weekends without anyone asking or reminding or prodding him to do so.  Sometimes I would think aloud that he is having an abnormal childhood ... but it would seem, that was what he enjoyed doing most.  So everyone let him be.

It is impossible for child who is starting to learn the piano to play the Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu reasonably well after several months -   AGREE!!!   Yet it happened, not only the Fantasie Impromptu but also Liebestraume by Liszt in his 1st 6 months of "formal" lessons with his present teacher, he was 10 1/2 years old then. He started on the piano at 9 1/2 when we bought an upright piano for his older brother who plays the guitar and keyboards and it was only then that we found out about Enzo's skills.  Difficult to comprehend how his brain works but he devours musical pieces by memory in so short a time. In about a year he was sight reading .... even if i am his father ... allow me to say his progress was phenomenal.  How I wish we were able to pick up his skill when he was younger, 3-6 years old,  when he was singing from memory "with full expression"  all the songs of the rock opera Jesus Christ superstar and the Phantom of the Opera.

In his 1st lesson and encounter with his present teacher in early 2006, the 1st question she asked him was - what piece would you like to learn first?  Without batting an eyelash, Enzo answered - Liebestraume!!   She almost fell from her stool!!!  However, being the experienced teacher that she is,  she gamely accepted but explained to him the time frame of a year to learn it. In a little over 2 months he played Liebestraume as his part in their group recital for 12 years and younger .... of course he played it like a child.

Liebestraume:   

On his 3rd month with his teacher, a visiting professor from Towson University in MaryLand, Reynaldo Reyes heared Enzo's attempts at Fantasie Impromtu and sat down with him for about an hour, giving him tips to improve his technique and challenged him to be able to play it better by the time he comes back in in 2-3 months.  Well he did it....  He played it relatively well as a 10 year old.

Fantasie Impomptu:     

Enzo does not talk much, but I can see the sparkle in his eyes and his enjoyment when he is with and in discussion about the piano and the pieces with college students at the University of the Philippines' College of Music.  He is now 15 years old and so moody to the extent that sometimes he does not touch the piano for 2-3 weeks and if he does,  not more than 30 minutes to an hour.  It is already good if he practices 2-3 hours a week.  He has allowed to let his moods control him and this has been going on for over a year now. We have been hands off ... not even gently reminding him about his piano. All the discussions about his changing attitudes on many things has been limited to my wife and teacher and it is our consensus to let him be. It may be that he is so burned out with the tons upon tons of schoolwork and the recitals and performances that he attends to once in a while that it has zapped all his energy.  Maybe it is his hormones, but whatever,  he is changing and so less driven or no longer the driven child he once was. We, his parents and his teacher had to learn to say No to many invitations and opportunities which is so difficult in our culture and in our country.

Is he still interested to pursue? ....  maybe?, I do not know, but as his dad whatever he thinks will make him happy as a person then we support.  Personally i wish this doldrums will pass away soon and that this is just a phase in his life... the teenage, confused phase ... like many of us had.

well I can continue if ...........   thanks for bearing.

emill

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

@ongaku

 
Wow, it's your lucky day! Today I just felt like listening to Chopin etudes, and so I went through a bunch of Chopin etude posts and listened to them all. Came across becky's and I realized the recording was still there. Everything else was gone, but the op 10 no 5 was still there.
 It's deleted now, but I maybe I could send it to you? Because I actually saved the file


@ fleetfingers
That's a really nice interpretation too. Thanks for posting!
If it's possible, could you upload the file somewhere? I'd like to listen to it again... If you can't could you at least tell me how long the recording is?   I have nothing better to do during my March break than play detective  


@emill
Wow, I'm pretty sure 99.9% of the people here believe you!!  Of course, there'll always be doubters, in philosophy class at school we talked about people who even doubt their own existence  
  Just curious, did Enzo ever want to learn piano before he was 9 1/2? Sounds like he was exposed to a lot of music even before he started lessons. I'm going to confess I had no idea what Liebestraum was until about 3 years ago.  
Anyway, those videos are really good! I wish I found them when they were first posted, then even though I didn't/don't have the same amount of talent, at least I would have been inspired to practise hard. 2006 was probably the lowest point of my piano life. I left my piano teacher, I refused to practise (maybe partially in rebellion against my parents who compared me to their friends kids (: ), and I just wasn't motivated.

[fleetfingers]

Emill! I don't know how Enzo even entered this discussion. I have become a big fan of Enzo in the 6 months I've been here - plus 2 months of lurking - and also a big Emill fan! You have always been kind to listen to others' recordings and offer praise. I enjoyed the background story you shared; Enzo is truly talented and inspiring to the rest of us. I especially loved his Mozart Sonatas that were recently shared (much better than my playing and I'm twice his age).   

[birba]

I downloaded La Campanella and was looking last night for a match on youtube. Found one that was very close, but I don't know...I don't think it's it. But it's a really good interpretation if you're looking for one.

&list=UL

Nope, that's not it.  But I like it better.

[birba]

Emill: 15 is a VERY tough age.  I'm sure we all remember that.  And you sound like the perfect parent.  I wish I had had a father half as understanding.

[ongaku_oniko]

I was the one who first started talking about Enzo, saying that I didn't doubt becky because I thought her story was more likely than Enzo's.

Let me explain this more clearly:

It's not so much that I doubt Enzo's talent... It's just that I find it .... annoying when someone keeps pushing at how great his son is, going to a tough academic school while being a musical genius... sticking videos of his son's fantasie and la campanella in other people's threads... I don't know, I just feel slightly annoyed by it. Your son is great, I get it. I know parents want to show of their children, and if I ever have a child that was somewhat successful I would totally boast about it too. But not to the degree of pushing him in the face of anyone I can reach, including those on the internet. I mean in a thread I saw a post that emill made saying something like, "I know how this is such a tough piece, anyone would have trouble playing it. Oh, by the way, my son learned it in less than a year. video link."

Isn't that like rubbing it in their faces that they can't play as well as your son? Frankly a lot of your "nice" comments don't seem very sincere at all. It just seems like the only reason you're here is to show off your awesome son to everyone else.

Again, I'm just totally jealous of Enzo's abilities, so don't mind my bitterness; I just wanted to rant a bit, since this is the internet.

OMG please send me the link for op10 no.5 :D:D

[birba]

I think you're being too harsh on enzo's father.  Read what he said in the post "If enzo doesn't want to pursue music we aren't going to insist.  It has to be HIS choice."  (or something like that)  I, personally, think it's wonderful that they're supporting his talent.  My parents never did, really.  He's proud of his son and has reason to be so.  But he's also been very supportive of the others who have posted in the audition room.  I never got the idea he was thinking his son is better then everyone else. 

[ongaku_oniko]

I think you're being too harsh on enzo's father.  Read what he said in the post "If enzo doesn't want to pursue music we aren't going to insist.  It has to be HIS choice."  (or something like that)  I, personally, think it's wonderful that they're supporting his talent.  My parents never did, really.  He's proud of his son and has reason to be so.  But he's also been very supportive of the others who have posted in the audition room.  I never got the idea he was thinking his son is better then everyone else.  

I don't think that means anything. Now, even assuming that what he said was sincere, and that he won't force enzo to play if enzo really didn't want to, that doesn't mean he isn't... Well, a show off.

I also think it's wonderful that he supports his son's talent. I'm sorry your parents didn't, but I assume they have their reasons. Either way, it's a great thing, and everyone has good points and bad points. This also doesn't take away from my point that he's a show off.

I'm not saying emill is a bad parent, or even a bad person. Just that his main interest here is in showing off his son's talent. That's not the same as supporting his son's talent. Supporting means providing his son with the opportunity to improve and do his best. Going on the internet and posting his son's playin(on other people's thread, andnot as a video to show how to play or help the original poster, either) and telling people how this piece is hard for anyone, but his son learned it in less than a year is just rude, IMO.

Perhaps I'm being too harsh on enzo's father. Certainly I am bitter and jealous. But let me say this:

I wish my musical ability was a fraction of anyone on this fourm. You (Birba), pianist1989, pianowilfi, fleetfingers, bustthewave, just to name a few. I only dream of the day when I can play as well as any of you. But I don't get this annoyance from any of your posts. When you guys compliment, I feel that it's really sincere. As I've said in the scriabin thread, you really motivated me to turn my life around, and I can never thank you enough for that, birba.

[kelly_kelly]

I don't think that means anything. Now, even assuming that what he said was sincere, and that he won't force enzo to play if enzo really didn't want to, that doesn't mean he isn't... Well, a show off.

I also think it's wonderful that he supports his son's talent. I'm sorry your parents didn't, but I assume they have their reasons. Either way, it's a great thing, and everyone has good points and bad points. This also doesn't take away from my point that he's a show off.

I'm not saying emill is a bad parent, or even a bad person. Just that his main interest here is in showing off his son's talent. That's not the same as supporting his son's talent. Supporting means providing his son with the opportunity to improve and do his best. Going on the internet and posting his son's playin(on other people's thread, andnot as a video to show how to play or help the original poster, either) and telling people how this piece is hard for anyone, but his son learned it in less than a year is just rude, IMO.

Perhaps I'm being too harsh on enzo's father. Certainly I am bitter and jealous. But let me say this:

I wish my musical ability was a fraction of anyone on this fourm. You (Birba), pianist1989, pianowilfi, fleetfingers, bustthewave, just to name a few. I only dream of the day when I can play as well as any of you. But I don't get this annoyance from any of your posts. When you guys compliment, I feel that it's really sincere. As I've said in the scriabin thread, you really motivated me to turn my life around, and I can never thank you enough for that, birba.

I don't think that's fair at all. Most of Emill's posts of Enzo's videos on this forum are in the Audition Room, asking for constructive criticism. Is that not "supporting" rather than "showing off" talent? And regarding the Campanella thread, I think you misinterpreted Emill's post completely. If I recall correctly, he posted the video to show his son's LIMITATIONS in attempting to learn the piece at a young age, not showing off that he could do it! In fact, he even said that Enzo NOW considers the piece too difficult, because he has higher standards, even though he is now older and more experienced.

[ongaku_oniko]

That's not what I was referring to. What I was referring to was one of his posts NOT in the audition room, where someone was asking about fantasie-impromptu, and emill first posted saying how hard the piece is, and even for experienced pianists it is a challenge,


And then he started talking about how enzo learned the piece in less than a year at age 10.

And I also saw another post that's similar to that. I don't frequent the audition room, since most of the pieces there are pieces I"m not familiar with, I only look at pieces I've heard before. So I guess my perspective on emill isn't very fair. It's just what I feel based on the very few posts he made that I saw, and if no one else shares this feeling, then more likely than not, I am wrong.

And strangely enough, I can't find the posts I was referring to... perhaps I gone crazy and thought it up all in my mind? o_o

[emill]

It's not so much that I doubt Enzo's talent... It's just that I find it .... annoying when someone keeps pushing at how great his son is, going to a tough academic school while being a musical genius... sticking videos of his son's fantasie and la campanella in other people's threads... I don't know, I just feel slightly annoyed by it. Your son is great, I get it. I know parents want to show of their children, and if I ever have a child that was somewhat successful I would totally boast about it too. But not to the degree of pushing him in the face of anyone I can reach, including those on the internet. I mean in a thread I saw a post that emill made saying something like, "I know how this is such a tough piece, anyone would have trouble playing it. Oh, by the way, my son learned it in less than a year. video link."
Isn't that like rubbing it in their faces that they can't play as well as your son? Frankly a lot of your "nice" comments don't seem very sincere at all. It just seems like the only reason you're here is to show off your awesome son to everyone else.
Again, I'm just totally jealous of Enzo's abilities, so don't mind my bitterness; I just wanted to rant a bit, since this is the internet.

I am a firm believer of dialogue and that is the reason I will continue to clarify as I feel ongaku_oniko has some serious misconceptions and has ascribed in me some unpleasant motives.

:::::  Regarding posting in the NET: My family is a big "international" family like a lot of Filipino families and unlike many western families, family ties are close.... really very close. Even relatives to the 4th degree of consanguinity expect to be treated like immediate family. I have sisters married to a Belgian, an American, a French and a brother who was a former US marine like rodger_1948 ..hehehhehe...  I have multitude of cousins, aunties, uncles, nephews and nieces in Europe and the US ....  and everyone expects that I periodically send them dvds of Enzo's 1st recital....2nd recital...etc..etc..
Not to do so would be considered a slight on my part against them.  So I opened an account in YT in 2006 and if you will bother to scrutinize the videos posted they are from the mediocre to good performances and shows clearly the growth of Enzo as a pianist through the years.  We did not do any filtering of only good videos for purposes of showing off, but posted as they came.  As I said the videos were primarily for my "international" family so they will get off my back and give me some peace.  However, along the way, many people liked his videos so much so that he has now over 5,500 subscribers and friends, but still the original purpose prevails.  It was never meant to show off.

If you feel that our posting here in Pianostreet is to show off, then that is a personal opinion which no amount of clarifying will probably convince you. Let me just tell you that I frequently "cut and paste" comments here and send them by email to his teacher.  I have also provided the teacher links to the videos Birba has been kind enough to make.  And I have noticed that Enzo has also adopted a good amount of the suggestions made.  So if you feel we are showing off ... so be it.

:::::  sticking his son's videos in other peoples thread. Yes I have done this 3-4 times in the last 5 years but only to emphasize a point.  It is not as you seem to suggest that I do it frequently to show off.

I posted the link to La Campanella which Enzo attempted when he was 12 in a thread started by Animae where she asked - I'm going to learn Rach 3! Am I crazy?.  Most of those who answered gave me the impression in their advice that the piece was too advanced for her.  It  reminded me of Enzo's attempt at La Campanella at age 12 ....  I thought the piece was too advanced for him then, but did not discourage him and allowed him to find out for himself ... after he practiced for some time and finally played it,  he realized it was not for him at that time and did not touch the piece again up to now, which is about 3 years since.  That was my message which was clearly stated there .... for animae to try the piece ...  feel her way through it .. make her decide if she is good enough to make a go for it .... and if she feels inadequate, for her to leave the piece for some time and go back to it in the future.  That was the message....  never was the intent to show off .... and really the la campanella played by enzo was not that well played.

I posted  links to Mozart's sonata 330 in one of the threads of ladypianist because she wanted to hear a Mozart from Enzo.  It was not meant to show off but to learn, it was played just average.
At that time ... lady pianist was the toast of pianostreet for her "genius" and comments coming from her were appreciated by most, including me.

I posted the Fantasie Impromptu in this thread to complement my narration.

:::::: 

"I know how this is such a tough piece (fantasie impromptu), anyone would have trouble playing it. Oh, by the way, my son learned it in less than a year. video link." 

A statement according to you made by me in a post here in Pianostreet?  I flatly deny ever making such an arrogant statement as that ...but if you can just refresh my memory with a link to it ... I am willing to apologize and as a consequence for such a braggadocio, stop all posting in pianostreet and merely remain a lurker to continue my education.

::::: 

It's not so much that I doubt Enzo's talent... It's just that I find it .... annoying when someone keeps pushing at how great his son is, going to a tough academic school while being a musical genius

This was in response to your impression that I was a pushy father.  It was to emphasize that despite the demands of their school which prides itself for their academic excellence, he still is self driven enough to practice the piano at least an hour a day without anyone prodding or pushing or watching him to do so. He just enjoys doing it.  He is not being pushed.

regarding the "musical genius" .... your words not mine.  I do not remember ever using words like genius or virtuoso ... to me Enzo is Enzo my son ... period.

:::::

Perhaps I'm being too harsh on enzo's father. Certainly I am bitter and jealous.

 

So I guess my perspective on emill isn't very fair. It's just what I feel based on the very few posts he made that I saw, and if no one else shares this feeling, then more likely than not, I am wrong.

And strangely enough, I can't find the posts I was referring to... perhaps I gone crazy and thought it up all in my mind? o_o

Oh well .... I am sorry that you are bitter and jealous, emotions
which can easily cloud understanding and judgment.   I am also
sorry if what I meant came differently to you than most here, perhaps
I should strive to be more clear next time.

No worries at all, we have received and been attributed worse things.

best wishes,

emill   

 



 

[emill]

Emill: 15 is a VERY tough age.  I'm sure we all remember that.  And you sound like the perfect parent.  I wish I had had a father half as understanding.

Thank you Birba .... but really I am far from being perfect ... my wife feels differently!!!
I guess each one of us has something in his chest about things past. I have many myself which took so long to calm down. Even now, these monsters would sometimes peek and create a little havoc in me.  But that is another story!!   You know what I must admit ladypianist-Becky8898-rodger_1948 created quite a stir and infused a good amount of energy to Pianostreet.  It was refreshing and energizing while it lasted! hehehhe .... just me!

[emill]

@ongaku
 
@emill
Wow, I'm pretty sure 99.9% of the people here believe you!!  Of course, there'll always be doubters, in philosophy class at school we talked about people who even doubt their own existence  
  Just curious, did Enzo ever want to learn piano before he was 9 1/2? Sounds like he was exposed to a lot of music even before he started lessons. I'm going to confess I had no idea what Liebestraum was until about 3 years ago.  
Anyway, those videos are really good! I wish I found them when they were first posted, then even though I didn't/don't have the same amount of talent, at least I would have been inspired to practise hard. 2006 was probably the lowest point of my piano life. I left my piano teacher, I refused to practise (maybe partially in rebellion against my parents who compared me to their friends kids (: ), and I just wasn't motivated.

Hi thinkgreenlovepiano!!

We did not have any piano at home before he was 9 years old so we never had any inkling.  But he liked to sing and practically memorized the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar and Phantom of the opera .... he was 6 or 7 then.  When he was still younger about 4-5 years old, he used to gyrate and make faces and did a lot singing of Axle Rose (Guns and Roses) hits in front of a big mirror to the amusement of everyone.  We got an old upright piano when he was about 9 1/2 for his older brother ... but it was him that excelled in it.  We are sorry about your low point in 2006 ....  yes parents may sometimes be careless .....  I sometimes commit such mistakes.  so many THANKS AGAIN!!

emill

[emill]

I don't think that's fair at all. Most of Emill's posts of Enzo's videos on this forum are in the Audition Room, asking for constructive criticism. Is that not "supporting" rather than "showing off" talent? And regarding the Campanella thread, I think you misinterpreted Emill's post completely. If I recall correctly, he posted the video to show his son's LIMITATIONS in attempting to learn the piece at a young age, not showing off that he could do it! In fact, he even said that Enzo NOW considers the piece too difficult, because he has higher standards, even though he is now older and more experienced.

Hii kelly_kelly! 
Thank you so much for confirming what I meant ... I really do not know how I could have been misunderstood.... oh well...just one of those things... i am sure ongaku_oniko was merely expressing his annoyance at what he perceived (wrongly I think).  As you understood it too  ... the video was posted to emphasize a point.  Thanks again for your nice words for Enzo.

emill

Emill! I don't know how Enzo even entered this discussion. I have become a big fan of Enzo in the 6 months I've been here - plus 2 months of lurking - and also a big Emill fan! You have always been kind to listen to others' recordings and offer praise. I enjoyed the background story you shared; Enzo is truly talented and inspiring to the rest of us. I especially loved his Mozart Sonatas that were recently shared (much better than my playing and I'm twice his age).   

Hi fleetfingers,
Thank you so much .... it is only praise that I can offer as to be a critique I do not dare since I never had any piano education.  I can say though that I am a classical music fan and has heard enough to know a nicely played piece. I remember my how happy I was when as a 10 year old my father gave me 3 brand new 33 rpm mono vinyl records of Tchaikovsky's famous piano concerto...heheh.  It also included Rimski-Korsakov's Scheherazade.  He must have also felt my being happy as he sort of bought me on a regular basis classical records since then. Thanks again for your very kind words for Enzo.

emill

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Hi thinkgreenlovepiano!!

We did not have any piano at home before he was 9 years old so we never had any inkling.  But he liked to sing and practically memorized the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar and Phantom of the opera .... he was 6 or 7 then.  When he was still younger about 4-5 years old, he used to gyrate and make faces and did a lot singing of Axle Rose (Guns and Roses) hits in front of a big mirror to the amusement of everyone.  We got an old upright piano when he was about 9 1/2 for his older brother ... but it was him that excelled in it.  We are sorry about your low point in 2006 ....  yes parents may sometimes be careless .....  I sometimes commit such mistakes.  so many THANKS AGAIN!!

emill

Thanks for answering! Sounds like Enzo was born to be musical
And my point about 2006 was that I really appreciate it when people like Enzo share their musical talent. I really think that watching other people play really motivated me to practise hard. My attitude towards piano completely changed. I used to say "I like piano, hate practising"... now I love both.
 I know my parents have my best interests in mind, they used to compare me to kids who played piano well but now that I'm so busy at school they are comparing me to kids who quit piano in an attempt to get me to quit so I won't be as stressed
 I agree with Birba. You sound like a great parent. Posting videos is not showing off, its supporting Enzo like Kelly_kelly said, and it is also sharing

@ongaku
Not sure if you saw my post, but I have that op 10 no 5 if you want it
And I really hope nice comments don't always come off as insincere, especially if you decide to post something. Sometimes I worry that I sound insincere because all I do is say something nice. But that is really all I can say. Personally, I'm not good with words so I can't really give a "deep, beautifully written" comment... and I'm not a pro so I'm not qualified to critique either.  And I don't want to never comment because if I enjoyed the music, then the performer deserves some form of applause from me.