"I'm a little Alma, not a little Mozart!"

[Richard Barrett]

She just looks so happy.

She comes from a privileged background with unstinting support for her favourite activities. What is there not to like about that?

[doversoul1]

I wonder if Benjamin Grosvenor would have looked so happy if he’d been asked /told to play to charm adults. On the other hand, I guess Charlotte Church would have been more than happy to do so. So who are we to say this young person shouldn’t be paraded about in the way she is? All the same, I think it can send out a wrong message about music (any music) as a serious activity for young people.

[Serial_Apologist]

She comes from a privileged background with unstinting support for her favourite activities. What is there not to like about that?

I'm not sure whether or not this still applies today, or how much, but my mother (1905-1985) was raised in what I suppose one would have to call an upper-working class background in Middlesbrough. The household had an upright piano, and once it was discovered that my mother was possessed of some natural talent, she became a sort of family showcase to the world - look what a wonderful talented daughter we've produced, all you envious people - sort of thing. At age 21 she obtained her LRAM - Herbert Howells was on the adjudicating panel. Patronised by my father in what was probably normal possessive husbandly behaviour for his time, the fact that Mum hated my musical tastes as they evolved caused me enormous surprise on her death, when I discovered her college assignments and exam papers, which show her to have had an in-depth understanding of advanced theory (for the time) way beyond that of mine, an outcome of voluntary autodidaction, such that I find myself totally unable to dispense with them - someone else will have to do this after I'm gone.

What my mother was subject to, frankly, was cultural forcing, and although she grew to be a brilliant virtuoso, a Chopin and Schumann specialist, she resented it all her life, would rarely play unless for visitors or guests, and by way of some sort of psychological defrayment she tried to force on me the brutal kind of training regime to which she had been subjected, which resulted in me in turn being put off from learning, though I derive much pleasure from playing jazz standards and improvising, albeit in a derivative way. Interestingly her older sister was always reminded of her comparative lack of talent, and resented both this and her younger sister for the rest of her life, and my mother never mourned her passing. So, this short parable illustrates the fact that coming from a relatively privileged background, for any particular time and location, and deriving 'cultural benefits' thereby, does not necessarily comprise a happiness index enhancing upbringing.

[Richard Barrett]

this short parable illustrates the fact that coming from a relatively privileged background, for the time and location, and deriving 'cultural benefits' thereby, does not necessarily comprise a happiness index enhancing upbringing.

As I said, unstinting support for her favourite activities... which presumably wasn't the case with your mum.

[Serial_Apologist]

As I said, unstinting support for her favourite activities... which presumably wasn't the case with your mum.

Yes - the salent factor missing from Mum's story.

[ahinton]

She comes from a privileged background with unstinting support for her favourite activities. What is there not to like about that?

The fact that we don't all come from a "privileged background".

[Jonathan]

Well, congratulations to her, if she is happy doing what she's doing then good for her!

[Tony Halstead]

I'm not sure whether or not this still applies today, or how much, but my mother (1905-1985) was raised in what I suppose one would have to call an upper-working class background in Middlesbrough. The household had an upright piano, and once it was discovered that my mother was possessed of some natural talent, she became a sort of family showcase to the world - look what a wonderful talented daughter we've produced, all you envious people - sort of thing. At age 21 she obtained her LRAM - Herbert Howells was on the adjudicating panel. Patronised by my father in what was probably normal possessive husbandly behaviour for his time, the fact that Mum hated my musical tastes as they evolved caused me enormous surprise on her death, when I discovered her college assignments and exam papers, which show her to have had an in-depth understanding of advanced theory (for the time) way beyond that of mine, an outcome of voluntary autodidaction, such that I find myself totally unable to dispense with them - someone else will have to do this after I'm gone.

What my mother was subject to, frankly, was cultural forcing, and although she grew to be a brilliant virtuoso, a Chopin and Schumann specialist, she resented it all her life, would rarely play unless for visitors or guests, and by way of some sort of psychological defrayment she tried to force on me the brutal kind of training regime to which she had been subjected, which resulted in me in turn being put off from learning, though I derive much pleasure from playing jazz standards and improvising, albeit in a derivative way. Interestingly her older sister was always reminded of her comparative lack of talent, and resented both this and her younger sister for the rest of her life, and my mother never mourned her passing. So, this short parable illustrates the fact that coming from a relatively privileged background, for any particular time and location, and deriving 'cultural benefits' thereby, does not necessarily comprise a happiness index enhancing upbringing.

This is a lovely and very moving posting, S-A, for which many thanks!

[ahinton]

This is a lovely and very moving posting, S-A, for which many thanks!

Seconded!

[greenilex]

Enjoyed the One Show snippet. And it was really interesting to see the short video of Alma's younger self composing at the piano...she was lucky to be given the notation skills early on.

Many children compose in their heads all the time.

[jean]

There's an interview with her on R4 this morning (December 30th) as she prepares for the staging of her opera Cinderella in Vienna:

0850
Musical prodigy Alma Deutscher, who despite being aged just 11 is already world renowned as a violinist and composer, joins us to discuss the final preparations for her first full length opera.

[Dave2002]

I'm not sure whether or not this still applies today, or how much, but my mother (1905-1985) was raised in what I suppose one would have to call an upper-working class background in Middlesbrough. The household had an upright piano, and once it was discovered that my mother was possessed of some natural talent, she became a sort of family showcase to the world - look what a wonderful talented daughter we've produced, all you envious people - sort of thing. At age 21 she obtained her LRAM - Herbert Howells was on the adjudicating panel. Patronised by my father in what was probably normal possessive husbandly behaviour for his time, the fact that Mum hated my musical tastes as they evolved caused me enormous surprise on her death, when I discovered her college assignments and exam papers, which show her to have had an in-depth understanding of advanced theory (for the time) way beyond that of mine, an outcome of voluntary autodidaction, such that I find myself totally unable to dispense with them - someone else will have to do this after I'm gone.

What my mother was subject to, frankly, was cultural forcing, and although she grew to be a brilliant virtuoso, a Chopin and Schumann specialist, she resented it all her life, would rarely play unless for visitors or guests, and by way of some sort of psychological defrayment she tried to force on me the brutal kind of training regime to which she had been subjected, which resulted in me in turn being put off from learning, though I derive much pleasure from playing jazz standards and improvising, albeit in a derivative way. Interestingly her older sister was always reminded of her comparative lack of talent, and resented both this and her younger sister for the rest of her life, and my mother never mourned her passing. So, this short parable illustrates the fact that coming from a relatively privileged background, for any particular time and location, and deriving 'cultural benefits' thereby, does not necessarily comprise a happiness index enhancing upbringing.

Just read this as the thread has been bumped. Very interesting.

A good friend of mine remarked a while back about some one else that "it's possible to be very good at something without actually liking it" which may explain some behaviours, and why some seemingly talented people are not actually happy.

Possibly it helps to like something in order to be good at it, but being good at something does not always imply liking, or happiness. Many of us may overlook this, and make incorrect assumptions. It can be important to know this in some situations.

[MrGongGong]

Just read this as the thread has been bumped. Very interesting.

A good friend of mine remarked a while back about some one else that "it's possible to be very good at something without actually liking it" which may explain some behaviours, and why some seemingly talented people are not actually happy.

Possibly it helps to like something in order to be good at it, but being good at something does not always imply liking, or happiness. Many of us may overlook this, and make incorrect assumptions. It can be important to know this in some situations.

Interesting and something i've thought about a lot when working in education.

I think that "liking" something can sometimes get in the way of doing it well.

If I sit down at the piano to play one of the simpler Debussy Preludes (i'm not a great pianist at all) I can get into a mental loop of thinking "ooo I like this chord, aaaah this bit is good" and so on which can make the process enjoyable to me but hopeless if someone else was listening.

[Serial_Apologist]

Interesting and something i've thought about a lot when working in education.

I think that "liking" something can sometimes get in the way of doing it well.

If I sit down at the piano to play one of the simpler Debussy Preludes (i'm not a great pianist at all) I can get into a mental loop of thinking "ooo I like this chord, aaaah this bit is good" and so on which can make the process enjoyable to me but hopeless if someone else was listening.

That last bit describes me and my approach to piano playing to a T!!!

Hearing little Alma on this morning's Today speaking of premiering her opera in Vienna brought nothing more immediately to mind than the mannerisms of a closeted upper-class child as portrayed in the Forsyte Saga and similar dramas of that past era. Or do I have a problem?

[Richard Tarleton]

That last bit describes me and my approach to piano playing to a T!!!

Hearing little Alma on this morning's Today speaking of premiering her opera in Vienna brought nothing more immediately to mind than the mannerisms of a closeted upper-class child as portrayed in the Forsyte Saga and similar dramas of that past era. Or do I have a problem?

OT, and utterly pedantic, but the Forsytes are (were) middle class, non? But yes I think I share your cringe, S_A.

MrGG also describes my guitar playing