Child Prodigies.

[Puguni]

Wow. Every so often Oprah would have a feature on child prodigies. I mean, I'm sure the adults are impressed, but every time I, the teen, watch it, I think about my own mediocre life. :O

Then, thinking about it, where do all the child prodigies go? It seems after that, you never hear from them again.

[Slater]

Seems like a lot of child prodigies die before they get too old... like there was this one kid who memorized Genesis before he was 1 or something (that means that he also had highly advanced reading skills), but died before he became 9

[Joshua Christopher]

Come on now, so what? Just because they're really smart doesn't make you mediocre!

I doubt any of them has as pretty ears as you!

[Puguni]

Come on now, so what? Just because they're really smart doesn't make you mediocre!

I doubt any of them has as pretty ears as you!

Oh man...there was this one asian girl...she could play the piano with mad skills, compose her own music, has above average art skills and stilll gets those perfect grades.

I feel like I should just give up. I'm sub-asian. D: And my ears are nicely burnt, thank you.

[Joshua Christopher]

Oh man...there was this one asian girl...she could play the piano with mad skills, compose her own music, has above average art skills and stilll gets those perfect grades.

I feel like I should just give up. I'm sub-asian. D: And my ears are nicely burnt, thank you.

So? Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things how many pianos you can get good grades composing? Not at all. Talents are talents, but that doesn't make that person better than you.

How about this: I think you are much cooler than her. Sound good?

[Puguni]

So? Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things how many pianos you can get good grades composing? Not at all. Talents are talents, but that doesn't make that person better than you.

How about this: I think you are much cooler than her. Sound good?

Well, I am pretty cool.

[Technomancer]

Some child-prodigies do go on to do great things (e.g. Mozart, Wiener, Von Neumann, etc), and others will fade into obscurity. There are sadly, some whose lives end in tradgedy. Incidentally, you might want to read Norbert Wiener's recent biography "Dark Hero of the Information Age", or his autobiography "Ex-Prodigy" (which he originally entitled "The Twisted Branch"), although his truly apalling childhood is far from typical. For that matter, so is Hesse's depiction in his novel "The Prodigy".

I mean, I'm sure the adults are impressed, but every time I, the teen, watch it, I think about my own mediocre life.

Even if you don't have such impressive talents, your life hardly needs to be mediocre. Focus on cultivating richness and scope within your own life rather than seeking competition. Look, not everyone who plays music is going to be in an orchestra, but the enjoyment of music still enriches your own life. The same can be said of art, or literature, and so on. Even if you want to be good at them, there's still no reason you can't put in the extra effort to do so irrespective of whether some people seem to find the matter effortless.

[ShiroiHikari]

I've always felt jealous of those kids. I've been singing since I could talk and ever since I was old enough to sit up at the piano, I knew how to pick out melodies by ear and taught myself chords.

But I don't know what happened, as I got older I never got any better. I look back now and wonder if maybe I could have been like some of these kids you hear about if I had the proper guidance. Maybe I could have been something more, instead of a 23-year-old loser with no college credits and working a dead-end job.

[mastersquirrel]

I sometimes get upset with how absolutely brilliant some kids are on the piano, while I'm still trying to get good at 3 flats. However, I always end up owning at some video game, and then all is well.

[Linksquest]

I think they get cast as voice actors for characters such as Azumanga Daioh's chiyo-chan XD

[Tenshi no Ai]

Seems like a lot of child prodigies die before they get too old... like there was this one kid who memorized Genesis before he was 1 or something (that means that he also had highly advanced reading skills), but died before he became 9

Wow that's gotta suck (think of the potential...) Sounds slightly exaggerated but still amazing 0_0

Reminds me of part of a movie I watched before "Mercury Rising", sad movie though v_v I think it's amusing watching movies like "Rainman" too at what people with savvant syndrome can do... :/ It amazes me. Although there's the irony with the fact that autistic people can't even take care of themselves really, yet are still genuious!

[Aka-chan]

Yeah, I get feeling all inferior sometimes, too (especially because I know a lot of absolute geniuses, which can be slightly depressing at times). But it's still way cool to hear about all the stuff they've done.

[mitsuki lover]

Mozart,great musical life sordid personal life.Married a woman against his parents'
advice and ended up being buried in an unknown grave.Died so much in debt that there wasn't enough to pay for the funeral.

Beethoven,how many remember HE was a prodigy as well?Ok so I'm a Beethovenphile,stormy personal life but unlike Mozart when he died had a public funeral with many of his friends participating.And yes for being such a curmudgeon
Beethoven had many friends especially among the aristocrats even though he himself pictured himself as being more of a democrat.

[ZiP]

Yeah, I often feel dwarfed (dwarved?), because unlike the kids who started learning piano at age 4 or 5, my parents never bothered to teach me, so I ended up not being any good at piano until I get a keyboard a couple of months ago. I'm still learning how to play multiple parts (harmony, melody) or fairly simple songs... Luckily, guitar and singing came naturally.

[Scer]

Yeah, I often feel dwarfed (dwarved?), because unlike the kids who started learning piano at age 4 or 5, my parents never bothered to teach me, so I ended up not being any good at piano until I get a keyboard a couple of months ago. I'm still learning how to play multiple parts (harmony, melody) or fairly simple songs... Luckily, guitar and singing came naturally.

I kind of know what you mean. I consider myself decent at piano. But around 3 or 4 years ago I went to this state competition (cause you get a plaque or something for attending x competitions) and was just, well, dwarfed. Not only did all the other kids play perfectly, their songs were like a full grade more difficult than mine. It was scary.

[ZiP]

Hahaha, yeah, I know man, my friend has an 11 year old sister who makes me look like I just found out about pianos, when she plays. So embarressing.

[Doubleshadow]

Child prodigies can be impressive but I do not begrudge them their abilities. Everyone has different talents, some less noticeable than others but possibly even better. To me, a good parent is always awe-inspiring, someone who gives a hundred and ten percent for their kids and it is reflected in their children. That is amazing, but it doesn't make headlines. Another group would be Medal of Honor winners. Their stories are heart-wrenching and sometimes unbelievable, but how often do you hear of them or their stories? If you haven't read about them, do so, its unreal. Or how about woman who has gift for teaching autistic children? In light of those things I don't find a five year old who is a master pianist that impressive. It is unusual and remarkable, but thats about it.
As for feeling mediocre, don't worry about it. Some skills cannot be applied until later in life when circumstances allow it, those skills lying dormant and possibly unknown until that time, and usually then you can have a much greater impact with whatever it is that you do. Some of these kids will always excel, but others might eventually have their peers catch up with them and no longer be special. Besides, who wants to reach their peak in middle school?

[Myoti]

You don't have to feel mediocre next to them.

You simply have to find ways to brainwash them while they're young and make them your PAWNS!!! >:D

[Mr. SmartyPants]

[RubyJewelStone]

I know what you mean. I'm scared of the piano.
Anywho, I play saxophone in church next to this younger guy that plays about 5 different instruments, very well. But I have the asset of being around predictable people daily. So one strategically placed drawing here and perhaps an OH MY GOSH! I didn't work that hard on that...what was it? A+++++++ project?!
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j/k...


...sorta....


...Why do I have a feeling that my Bible is going to open up to a verse about pride this week?

[Sakaki Onsei]

I was a gifted mapmaker when I was younger. However, some adults wanted to push my freeform skills into a career. I quit.

I lost that gift, but had it replaced with a keen ear for music.

[Mave]

You know, I don't recall ever being upset or feeling inferior to child prodigies. I think my parents were kind and wise to emphasize that I was loved for whom I am, not whom I'm not or not meant to be. Period.

[Debitt]

Bravo, MSP.

The only time I ever feel "inferior" when I compare myself to child prodigies, is when they're amazing writers. I guess I get the feeling "Gee...D: I work so hard to improve, and they're just BORN better than me? No fair."

[Tenshi no Ai]

I was a gifted mapmaker when I was younger. However, some adults wanted to push my freeform skills into a career. I quit.

...were any of the adults named Arlong?

[ZiP]

I was a gifted mapmaker when I was younger. However, some adults wanted to push my freeform skills into a career. I quit.

I lost that gift, but had it replaced with a keen ear for music.

You're happier with the music aren't you? I had a gift for programming (good with logic), but I stopped for the idea of music. I've always thought it was a dream worth chasing.

[Yahshua]

Eh in the eyes of our Heavenly Father we are all important and love in His heart although some maybe smarter then us or some maybe not as smarter then us that does not matter much in the end it is how our Heavenly Father sees us.

[Kaligraphic]

Don't worry about competing with a prodigy - they end up being bought out by SBC and their name ends up being used as a marketing brand for Telmex.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Don't worry about competing with a prodigy - they end up being bought out by SBC and their name ends up being used as a marketing brand for Telmex.

My friend actually used to be signed up with that ISP

[Kaligraphic]

Prodigy, SBC/Yahoo, or Telmex?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Prodigy