Mel Bay's Creative Keyboard® Webzine

What is the difference between a talented child and a child prodigy?

After hearing a ten year old boy play a classic sonatina on the piano, a gentleman remarked that the boy was a child prodigy. I was surprised by the comment and gave my opinion that the young pianist was indeed talented and played well, but I didn't consider him to be a child prodigy. The boy performed a sonatina not a Beethoven Sonata and furthermore, the boy was ten years old, not five! Reading music on level shouldn't be considered outstanding any more than a child in fifth grade reading books at his age level is considered anything spectacular. All the children in fifth grade are there and if they all pass they will be in sixth grade. Are they all equally talented? No, every child is different, but each student is expected to know certain skills and pass the same tests...

School students may be held back if they fail every spelling test and don't pass a reading test. In contrast to that, a piano student just keeps taking lessons and learns new songs. There are levels in music but each piano course varies as to which pieces should be mastered to be considered in the next piano level Playing the scales each hand alone, then together one octave, then two octaves and finally all 24 scales played four octaves at a fast tempo can determine what level a piano student has achieved. Everyone learns at their own pace. However, we expect certain abilities to be realized at each level or grade. Children should be able to multiply in third grade so I wouldn't call the boy a genius if he could do what he was supposed to do at that age. A first grader should be able to tie his shoes but he is no wonder child! Certain tasks are age appropriate and not extraordinary.

Now, on to what makes something extraordinary and puts the child in the category of a child prodigy. The factors to consider are the age of the pianist and the amount of talent displayed. The feat must be something out of the norm, off the charts. Webster's dictionary defines the word prodigy this way, " (L. prodigium; perhaps from pro, forth, and dicere, to tell.)

an extraordinary happening, thought to foretell good or evil fortune. (Rare)
a marvel; a person, thing, or act so extraordinary as to inspire wonder; as, a child prodigy.
something monstrous

In the history of music we have had several child prodigies. One that comes to mind first is Mozart. He composed his own music at the age of five. He played before royalty. His father was his first teacher and started lessons very young.

Amy Beach, Teresa Carreno and Clara Schumann all composed music at an early age. Amy Beach played for royalty and Teresa Carreno played for Abraham Lincoln. Each of these three were taught piano first by their parents. Clara's father wrote special exercises for her. Teresa's father wrote 500 exercises for her practice. Amy Beach composed a piece when she was four years old. They all played music that was extremely difficult for their age. Fanny Mendelssohn was a child prodigy also. Her mother taught her first when just a tot. Fanny composed and memorized all 24 Bach preludes by the time she was thirteen. Amy Beach memorized the Bach preludes and even transposed them in other keys. These ladies were child prodigies!

Felix Mendelssohn, Franz Liszt and Mozart were considered child prodigies. Felix Mendelssohn had composed five symphonies for strings, nine fugues, several piano pieces and songs and two operettas by the time he was twelve. His first concert was at the age of nine. Beethoven's father wanted his son to be a child prodigy and forced him to practice, practice, practice. All child prodigies had to practice to become one. Sometimes, managers or parents would say the children were younger than they were to make the pianist appear better than they were.

Many years ago several young Suzuki children stayed in my home. One eight year old pianist could play Chopin's 'Fantaisie- Impromptu" perfectly however, she appeared to only know that one piece. I showed her an easy piece in Book One of Diller Quaile and she couldn't play a note. Sometimes playing by rote may dazzle but doesn't really put one in the category of child prodigy. I would love to know how the little girl is doing today. Is she a concert pianist? Can she read notes now and does she still remember the piece? I hope she does.

In conclusion, it is true that most great pianists show talent at an early age. Some compose great music and continue to perform and compose all their lives. It is wonderful when a child prodigy becomes a professional pianist and doesn't fizzle out. There have been parents who have pushed their children too hard and then there are parents who don't push their children hard enough to practice.

Prodigies are few and far between. In my thirty plus years of teaching hundreds of children, I have taught only two students who I consider to be child prodigies. One little girl named Kathy was three and by the age of eight could play the Gipsy Rondo by Haydn and had 7 other pieces memorized the last time I taught her. She continued with an excellent teacher when my husband was transferred to another state and I had to give her up and move. She entered major concerto competitions and received her doctorate and taught in college. Then I taught a blind boy who was only four years old. He composed several pieces and appeared on the TV program, "That's Incredible" when he was five. I had the privilege of teaching him for nine years. He has recorded two CD's and plays jazz and improvises with a band. Kathy and Ivan are still incredible.

Talent is a gift from God. It is to be nurtured and not taken for granted. Sometimes those who have less talent work harder and achieve as much even if they are not child prodigies.

Do you know a child prodigy? Let us know.

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