[Dixielandjazz] A plethora of 10 year old jazz musicians?

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

Some years ago When I was teaching public schools I had a beginning student 
that played Trombone.  The young girl,  a 5th grader,   started off with an 
almost perfect tone had a good range and played perfectly in pitch.  She 
finished the first book in weeks.  At the end of the 3 month rental of the 
instrument she turned it in.  I was shocked because although I was a young 
teacher I had never seen anything like it.  This kid could play anything 
that she thought of.  I thought that her parents couldn't afford the 
instrument and offered to get her a sponsor or pay for the instrument 
myself.  She was quite adamant and didn't want to continue and as far as I 
know never played anything else.  The family wasn't musical particularly. 
It seemed that she just wanted to try it to see if she could do it and when 
she found out she could got tired of it.

Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert S. Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] A plethora of 10 year old jazz musicians?


> Stephen Heist wrote:
>
>
>> You know, I'm going to REALLY be amazed when one of these child prodigies
>> actually makes the transition to being a happy adult, and an accomplished
>> full time playing musician...
>> I don't know WHY parents push their kids, because all of them seem to 
>> burn
>> out, usually with disasterous results...
>> Anybody know of a happy ending for one of these prodigies?  There MAY be
>> one or two, but sorry to say, I've never heard of one!
> (snip)
>
>
> Yes Steve, my daughter Molly.
>
> However, I never pushed her.  I always gave her the opportunities.
>
> For instance, if she wanted to practice for 5 minutes, or an hour, either 
> was OK with me.  I am speaking when she was little.  I kept it fun for 
> her.
>
> She went on to star in over 35 films, TV shows & Broadway productions.
>
> She recently played the lead in "Cabaret" on Broadway for 13 months.  She 
> will be touring the US in the Broadway touring company of "Sweet Charity" 
> in the fall.  I would say that is a success story.
>
> --Bob Ringwald
>
>
>
>
>
>
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