For Scacchipazzo: How were you at the age of 4?:

Originally posted by sonhouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w30TFlJiRKA

Never was a terribly talented child. This child is a prodigy indeed. Can't wait to see him grow into an even more awesome pianist. Wonderfully vibrant personality as well! I'd be proud to be his father! Thanks for posting!

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
Never was a terribly talented child. This child is a prodigy indeed. Can't wait to see him grow into an even more awesome pianist. Wonderfully vibrant personality as well! I'd be proud to be his father! Thanks for posting!

In the first piece he played you could hear some boo boo's, missing the exact key and such but he was also hip to dynamics, amazing for such a young kid!

Originally posted by sonhouse
In the first piece he played you could hear some boo boo's, missing the exact key and such but he was also hip to dynamics, amazing for such a young kid!

Programmed to win or lose, at parents' discretion. I taught in China, and they all want a Lang Lang or such like. I find it insincere of parents, and wonder how the eventual burn-out affects these so called 'prodigies', as there are not that many left by the age of 20 or beyond, and this is nothing new.

Please consider that aspect. Yes, great for now...... but.... 😲

-m.

And, in Edit: Here's the other end of the Asian robot chain.....

YouTube&NR=1&feature=endscreen

What say ye??

😉

Originally posted by mikelom
Programmed to win or lose, at parents' discretion. I taught in China, and they all want a Lang Lang or such like. I find it insincere of parents, and wonder how the eventual burn-out affects these so called 'prodigies', as there are not that many left by the age of 20 or beyond, and this is nothing new.

Please consider that aspect. Yes, great for now.... ...[text shortened]...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhetvLOBOOo&NR=1&feature=endscreen

What say ye??

😉

No doubt and in effect that is why I comment on the child's vibrant personality. He seems well adjusted and full of life, appears happy indeed. There are those who burn out even before then, but there are also those who succeed and become quite happy. It is less controversial in my mind however, than a Jon Benet Ramsey style exploitation which leaves the child nothing. This at least leaves a timeless skill!

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
No doubt and in effect that is why I comment on the child's vibrant personality. He seems well adjusted and full of life, appears happy indeed. There are those who burn out even before then, but there are also those who succeed and become quite happy. It is less controversial in my mind however, than a Jon Benet Ramsey style exploitation which leaves the child nothing. This at least leaves a timeless skill!

There are still those who overcome the burnout era and go on to win competitions and such like this South Korean girl:
YouTube

And it doesn't look like this kid has suffered much in the burnout area:
YouTube

Originally posted by sonhouse
There are still those who overcome the burnout era and go on to win competitions and such like this South Korean girl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ayFj_gWWE

And it doesn't look like this kid has suffered much in the burnout area:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LNTXE9e5ok

Every task, endeavor, craft, art, even the most worthy carries risk of burnout. On the flip side there is also ample possibility for opening a door/window into immortality. Beethoven's father was the penultimate stage parent/cheerleader, tiresome, terrible vicarious dreams kind of a father. Not only wanted virtuosity, but for young Ludwig to be the next Mozart and even falsified his birth certificate to make him seem younger. Failed but gave us perhaps history's greatest musician. Music is pre and post Beethoven the same way a thought is but a germinal idea and is exemplified in the music before the master. Once Beethoven exploded onto the scene in Vienna, after laying in wait writing Mozartean style pieces finally erupts into who we know in his Eroica Symphony, changing music forever. Therefore, identifying talent and "exploiting" it may lead to greatness. If we simply step back and let children light their own sparks we may end up with indolence and sloth.

Wonderful musicianship evidenced by both guitarists. Some may not attain greatness unless starting very young!

Here's my effort in the Christmas School Event.

Apologies for the sound, but the elementary and kindergarten levels were there, and very excited... with much noise.

The sound system was not working, so I couldn't plug in and it was via a choir microphone unadjusted to guitar, so it picked up all the surrounding sounds. 🙁

But a Fair EFFORT I would like to think, on my part.. ?? 😉

YouTube&feature=youtu.be

-m. 😀

Originally posted by mikelom
Here's my effort in the Christmas School Event.

Apologies for the sound, but the elementary and kindergarten levels were there, and very excited... with much noise.

The sound system was not working, so I couldn't plug in and it was via a choir microphone unadjusted to guitar, so it picked up all the surrounding sounds. 🙁

But a Fair EFFORT I would l ...[text shortened]... k, on my part.. ?? 😉

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjjlNNqYVGY&feature=youtu.be

-m. 😀

Indeed the sound not optimal, but indeed an excellent effort. It is great to expose kids to the greatness of serious guitar music. You did a great service to that school! Congrats!

Originally posted by mikelom
Here's my effort in the Christmas School Event.

Apologies for the sound, but the elementary and kindergarten levels were there, and very excited... with much noise.

The sound system was not working, so I couldn't plug in and it was via a choir microphone unadjusted to guitar, so it picked up all the surrounding sounds. 🙁

But a Fair EFFORT I would l ...[text shortened]... k, on my part.. ?? 😉

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjjlNNqYVGY&feature=youtu.be

-m. 😀

Too bad the camera was not a bit closer! It sounded great in spite of that. Is that where you live, Saraburi? I lived up north in NakhomPhanom on the Mekong, at the air force base there. I was able to visit Ta Kek in Cambodia which was supposedly off limits even to civilians like me, was a great visit! Have you visited Cambodia?

How did you get involved with the Peter Samai auditorium? Do you teach at the school there?

Originally posted by sonhouse
Too bad the camera was not a bit closer! It sounded great in spite of that. Is that where you live, Saraburi? I lived up north in NakhomPhanom on the Mekong, at the air force base there. I was able to visit Ta Kek in Cambodia which was supposedly off limits even to civilians like me, was a great visit! Have you visited Cambodia?

How did you get involved with the Peter Samai auditorium? Do you teach at the school there?

Yes, I've been teaching here for 5 years now. I'm head of ESL. Peter Samai opened the school 9 years ago, and when he died in 2009 the auditorium was built in his memory. It's a building and a half, for any school; one which Cineplex and AMC would be proud of!

The school website is : www.sjmis.ac.th - and you can see some wonderful pics of the auditorium in the galleries.

I lived in Saraburi for 3 years, and then close to Bangkok for 2 years. I lived 1 year in Phatumtani, but lost my home there in the floods - with 2.4m of water in the house for 3 months, an awful time. We recently bought a new house in Khlong Luang, Phatumtani, where we live now, and a place that has never flooded... 😉 . I'm approx 50Km from school, and my wife 30Km from her practice and University lecturing duties. All's good.

This added for interest.. : YouTube


-m. 😉

Oh! and you can just make me out on this clip, bowing to the princess... 😉

Article of the auditorium opening made the Thai News!

YouTube

-m. 😉

Originally posted by mikelom
Oh! and you can just make me out on this clip, bowing to the princess... 😉

Article of the auditorium opening made the Thai News!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvzww6R7OHs

-m. 😉

I saw that clip before you posted it! Looking up the auditorium. That is you, second in line by the chairs. I wonder how long it took you to get fluent in Thai? I never got past Leo Si, Leo Qua, Nung, Song, sam, See, Ha, Ha Ha Ha🙂 Well I got Tali Baht cop? Lao Lao!

Originally posted by sonhouse
I saw that clip before you posted it! Looking up the auditorium. That is you, second in line by the chairs. I wonder how long it took you to get fluent in Thai? I never got past Leo Si, Leo Qua, Nung, Song, sam, See, Ha, Ha Ha Ha🙂 Well I got Tali Baht cop? Lao Lao!

Lol...... not bad. Leo sai, leo kwaa..... neung, song, sam, si, har, hoc, jed, bad, gao, sib.

Fluent? Took 5 years..... not an easy language!! At about 80% now..... still a lot to learn.

Yep, you spotted me well...

One of my favourites of all time. Guitar just doesn't get much better than this!

YouTube

-m. 😉

Originally posted by mikelom
Lol...... not bad. Leo sai, leo kwaa..... neung, song, sam, si, har, hoc, jed, bad, gao, sib.

Fluent? Took 5 years..... not an easy language!! At about 80% now..... still a lot to learn.

Yep, you spotted me well...

One of my favourites of all time. Guitar just doesn't get much better than this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaCZ106b5w

-m. 😉

I guess that video is an example of the new flamenco, eh. Who is your favorite traditional flamenco player? I tend towards Manitas De Plata or Sabicas, totally different ends of the spectrum, eh.

Not sure if I showed you this duo, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, husband and wife duo. She uses a lot of percussion techniques derived from her study of the Bodhran, the irish drum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=27kKqwIfMC4&NR=1

This is from the Dave Letterman show. They had the audience eating out of their hands!🙂