Labelling someone a prodigy: good or bad?

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 08 Apr 2014, 08:13

Labelling someone a prodigy: good or bad?

Folks, prodigies have never been in short supply in our land called Bharat. Rama, Krishna, Muruga, Ganesha, Hanuman, Lava, Kusha,.. all show how these epoch makers are endowed with the divine spark, shine from day one in their cradle, and vanquish all challenges like they're eating a laddu. Even Bharata, son of Shakuntala, was taming lions as a toddler when dad Dushyanta paid a surprise visit. Shuka, Adi Shankara, Ashtavakra all spoke the highest truth in their early years.

No wonder we have an irresistible urge to paste the label prodigy on anyone young and with musical talent. We also don't hesitate to mention Mozart or Menuhin as worthy comparisons. And the social media accelerate the marketing of these kids like nothing before. And talent shows.. I cringe.

It's a bit unfortunate that we ignore the data that none of these:Thyagaraja, Dikshitar, Shyama Shastri, Purandara Dasa, Swati Tirunal... Composed their highest works in their infancy. Of course Dikshitar scored a maiden test century with his very first composition. But perhaps by then he was just short of 20, an advanced age by our reckoning of prodigies.

By labelling a child prodigy are we doing good or harm? Are we fuelling the insane ambitions of the doing parents? Are we using the beautiful children to live their guru's or parent's dreams at the expense of their own intrinsic growth and highest potential?

Why did Vasishta send Rama to Vishwamitra? To become an overnight celebrity or to learn the arts really well under a Brahmarshi? Why did Krishna go to Sandipani for studies eventhough he had arrived as a hero after finishing off Kamsa? Why didn't he just say, "I'm ready to be the king"?

Are we driving the tender limbs and learning brains into overdrive to perform and excel and just blow away everyone with their prodigious talent?

Don't we know how being a prodigy hurt MJ? Or Kumar Gandharva?

Don't we know the idiosyncrasies that surrounded our own CM prodigies, prodded to the top of the charts by their parents and teachers?

Isn't music, especially a classical form, something to be absorbed and nurtured and matured within to produce lasting works of greatness?

Is great music more like vintage vine or like instant coffee?

Are there prodigies among rasikas? Please enlighten me!

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 08 Apr 2014, 09:02

A classic example is Shankaran Namboodiri who was labelled Child prodigy.

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 08 Apr 2014, 13:42

The important point is to leave the choice to the child

Mice: Should a writer have read all of those?
Y.C.: All of those and plenty more. Otherwise he doesnʼt know what he has to beat.
.....
Mice: What do you mean “has to beat”?
Y.C.: Listen. There is no use writing anything that has been written before unless you can beat it. What a writer in our time has to do is write what hasnʼt been written before or beat dead men at what they have done. The only way he can tell how he is going is to compete with dead men. Most live writers do not exist. Their fame is created by critics who always need a genius of the season, someone they understand completely and feel safe in praising, but when these fabricated geniuses are dead they will not exist. The only people for a serious writer to compete with are the dead that he knows
are good. It is like a miler running against the clock rather than simply trying to beat whoever is in the race with him. Unless he runs against time he will never know what he is capable of attaining.

Mice: But reading all the good writers might discourage you.

Y.C.: Then you ought to be discouraged.

Mice: What is the best early training for a writer?

Y.C.: An unhappy childhood.......
...............
Y.C - YOUR CORRESPONDENT - (HEMINGWAY)

full text at
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/ ... ersity-of-

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 08 Apr 2014, 20:48

Very interesting to note of this child prodigy. Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira in Bangalore had a concert on sunday 6th apr. It may be the same boy. I wish him the very best in his musical pursuits.

Personally, however, I am not comfortable about the concept of providing "opportunities" to such talented kids. Children to be asked to give full concerts, in situations where they are actually very talented (as it appears in the present case), spend all their time in the single occupation of preparing and giving "successful performances". They are not allowed to grow up as normal kids with fun, frolic, games , sports, pranks and so on. Although the intention of the parents and all those who give them the opportunities to "perform" are indeed laudable, the child does not get a chance to enjoy his childhood. All of you know of several such cases whether it is Michael Johnson or Williams sisters and so on. I do not want to mention similar cases in the case of CM. I think everyone knows of cases of prodigies losing their childhood due to the ambition of people around him/her.

There is also a second case which is more common. Children who have average talent are forced to demonstrate their prodigious talent. They are tensed up and try harder and harder to prove their parents correct. Some ancestor might have been a great vidwan/vidushi and the child is also expected to be of the same calibre. It however seldom happens that way. It is important that the child should be given adequate time and treated like a normal student of music such that he/she really learns this tough art well and shines on his/her own.

In both the above cases, what we actually do to the child unknowingly is a form of child abuse. Sorry for giving this discordant note. I once again wish this child great happiness and also growth as a musician.

Ashwin · Post by **Ashwin** » 08 Apr 2014, 20:50

A meaningful excerpt, Varsha.

varsha wrote:The important point is to leave the choice to the child

Unless, of course, the child begins proclaiming himself or herself a prodigy - or, to borrow the words of a respected senior musician, "fraud-igy"

Ashwin

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 08 Apr 2014, 21:11

kssr, point well taken though we do not know the specific case of this boy. He may be naturally talented enough that he can do public performances and be a normal kid. But I do see the risk you mention.

It also looks to me that after a certain standard ( 8th or 9th ), the competition in the academic side is so high and the total material the kids need to study has grown considerably compared to when we were in school, I wonder if those kids can be kids, or just learning and test taking machines forgoing fun activities. That will be an interesting thing to hear from parents of that age children. I am sure there are exceptions on either side of this spectrum but I am curious about what happens in general.

Taken in that sense, music can be a fun distraction and nourishment for kids from studies. Just another point of view.

In the U.S. what happens in many Indian ( and Chinese ) parents' cases can be termed 'parent abuse', if I may

The kids are in so many extra curricular programs, whether it is academic augmentation programs or on the cultural side ( dance, music etc. ) or on the sports side ( soccer, karate whatever ), the parents have a long day starting as early as 5 A.M. and ending at 11 P.M. This is especially the case for the prototypical case of both parents working outside the house and having two kids. And this kind of high octane daily routine can go on for 15-20 years between the two kids. The kids seem to be taking it all fine, I do not see any stress in them though they also have a long day, but the weariness in many parents faces is quite palpable.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 08 Apr 2014, 21:25

It would be better that the child prodigy is given its own space and allowed to develop gradually.This way they will become complete musicians.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 08 Apr 2014, 21:55

"Ego control in Gifted Children and their Parents"

OK folks, there's the title. I don't have a clue how to go on from there, but it'll be a great thesis if someone can!

There's a clue there, though. Gifted is probably better than "prodigy." It acknowledges the ability without giving a pedestal.

Anyway, the only thing I know is that I admire those who survive child stardom with manageable egos.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 08 Apr 2014, 22:32

Doogie Howser!!!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 08 Apr 2014, 22:46

vasanthakokilam wrote:In the U.S. what happens in many Indian ( and Chinese ) parents' cases can be termed 'parent abuse', if I may but the weariness in many parents faces is quite palpable.

So true! And you do not two kids to feel that way!

KSSR - Mr. Richard Williams was very careful to shield Venus and Serena from too much exposure duirng their childhood - probably explains their back-end longevity. To me that is the opposite of abuse...

And I am sure that many of our members (e.g.: Vinod, Aishu's dad) can give pointers on how to raise a prodigy while keeping them well-rounded at the same time!
I think the trick to staying on the right side of the razor-thin divide between 'pushing' and 'abuse' may lie in truly listening to the cues the child gives at all times and be prepared to steer a new course.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 09 Apr 2014, 00:03

There are first talented ones, then gifted ones, and a handful of prodigies.

Our fellow forumite Ravikiran is truly a prodigy. He would know!

Oh, another thing. They don't stop creating more in their given field over the years, and do not rest on their laurels. If they have a bloated ego, the best of them know how to keep it under control. How? By working more on what they are bestowed with!

As for us rasikAs and parents, we should keep encouraging children by recognizing their gifts and in supporting them. Call them prodigies? That is bound to mislead them

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 09 Apr 2014, 00:18

kssr,

There is another new thread just on prodigies, started by RSachi!

VKokilam,
Is it possible to merge the end posts of this thread to that?

Ravi,
I mentioned Ravikiran. You rightly mentioned Aishu. Though not members here, we have Abhishek, Shashank and others in the CM world at present.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 09 Apr 2014, 02:27

Good idea Arasi. Merged.

vallknowme · Post by **vallknowme** » 09 Apr 2014, 04:00

by calling a child a prodigy, you are harming other children. As for the prodigies themselves, I know specifically two cases where they have grown up to become alcoholics. They dont receive the same kind of attention when they grow up. One of the two cases is me. The other is my very close friend who can solve international math olympiad papers at the age of 15. As for myself, I started wrting machine level computer codes at the age of 5. People around me didn't even understand what I was doing. I was showered with praises.

As I grew up it was difficult for me to cope with the rest of the society for many reasons : 1. I did not get the intellectual stimulation from other activities. 2. People were not as rewarding with praises as I was used to.

Now, I am a functional alcoholic going to meetings and addressing the issues. As for my friend, who was and still is an amazingly intelligent guy, people have given up on him now.

Question to ponder : what have all the past prodigies achieved when they have grown up?

I am reminded of this scence from the movie 'Amadeus' : Salieri is in this institution playing music and he asks the priest - "do you know who I am?".

Paraphrasing the priest :
In God's eyes, all children are equal.

Please be mindful of what you are feeding the children with. Not everyone is appreciative of intelligence. Especially, the peers. I don't blame them because people can feel threatened or intimidated. Most important thing to see is if the child is sociable and friendly. Who cares about prodigies?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 09 Apr 2014, 04:27

As you say, in God's eyes, all children (and adults too) are equal--how true!

We too have to see them as equals. 'inda niRam SiRidenRum, idu ETRadenRum SollalAmO?' All children have their own special qualities. So, no big deal--just as there are countless number of outstanding men and women who did not go to IIT, Oxford, Harvard or Princeton but prove themselves to be brilliant in their fields.

Finally, to be comfortable and happy with one's own gifts, working on them, getting even better--and in making others happy (parents, listeners) is what it's all about, I suppose.

Sorry to hear that you had to go through a difficult life, being gifted...

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 09 Apr 2014, 07:13

I started this thread last morning after a conversation about how parents and gurus are pushing their young wards as prodigies.

vallknowme's inputs are unique as he is talking in first person about a prodigy. Thank you.

Being a prodigy in music is a double whammy. You are in the limelight, you are showered with applause, you get to show off. You start living in a make believe world in a case of self hypnosis. You filter out whatever is unpleasant or irrelevant to your "bubble" world.

For ordinary mortals like me, they have coined the expression "emotional intelligence". I think so-called prodigies have a big chance of having low EQ.

For myself, I believe that only the Universe, or Brahman, is ever-expanding and limitless. Otherwise, everything within it, every individual thing, is self-limiting. I am not ruling out of this list anyone - even avataras.
That is the beauty of creation.
The second truth for me is that everything is connected. If I think I am unique, limitless, and am great all by myself in my own "world", I am irretrievably lost.
Ramayana shows us something important. Even the avatara Rama had to take the help of monkeys to reach Lanka and find Seeta! And as we all know, he is the greatest warrior ever - Krishna declares in the Gita "rAmO zastrabhRtAM vara" - the greatest warrior ever is Rama. But he was helpless without the monkeys. They searched out Sita, and built the bridge, and fought the war for him.

Sorry for boring you folks...

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 09 Apr 2014, 09:27

Quite interesting that RSachi has started this thread on the same day when overwhelming praise was being showered on one of the new found prodigies, for which I felt a compelling need to respond with skepticism. Could be a coincidence or this could be Rsachi's way of responding independently under a new thread. Either way the matter is of great relevance. Parents,rasikas and sabhas should try not to do this prodigy thing if we care for the kids.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 09 Apr 2014, 09:57

Kssr
I agree.

By the way Kssr, I am facing the same temptation as Varsha: every time I type kssr my autocorrect suggests kiss.

A foreigner landed in Frankfurt and found the hotel pillows uncomfortable. He went to a big store and walked up to a very pretty shop assistant and said "kuessen, bitte!" he was trying to show off his Berlitz knowledge. The lady blushed and asked, "was!" he thought she asked what type and pointed his cheek, patting it to show he wanted something to rest his cheek against. Promptly she grabbed the man, and planted a rosy kiss on his cheek.

German: kuessen=kiss kissen=cushion

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 09 Apr 2014, 12:46

hee hee... I would like to rest my head on a nice soft pillow ...in France! Monoglot idiot Brit that I am, even though I never got past chapter 1 of the book in French class, I giggled with the rest of the schoolboys over this one.

Seriously again...

I have spoken several times about my respect for those who survive child stardom/prodigy --- but nothing could have so much impact as vallknowme's experience. All those expressions like "thank you for sharing" have become trite with overuse, so I am at a loss as to how to say... thank you.

Arasi, I would suggest that the use of the word gifted, or whatever, is a part of ego control. After the event, and when they have proved not to be a short-lived wonder, then let us say that they were child prodigies! Everybody has an ego quotient: we are not going to add to it, or not in the inflationary sense, when they are 30, 40, or older!

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 09 Apr 2014, 13:06

There is a wonderful story about Ken Rosewall , relevant to this discussion .
The story goes like this .
He first started going to the tennis club as a tiny tot , to watch his father play , early in the mornings.
Surely , he tried his hand too with the racquet and folks recognised that the boy had loads of talent .
And the guys there started pushing the father to bring the kid along every day . The kid was naturally excited and would pester the father .
On the next day when it was about time to leave early in the morning , they noticed that the socks were missing and so gave up playing for the day .
The day after one of the shoes of Rosewall Senior was missing and .....so it went on .
After a couple of such excuses more , one night , as the Dad was climbing into bed , he noticed his son had laid out all the things beforehand so that his Dad would not be able to give any sort of excuse for not going out to play .
And he decided that his son had it what it takes to become a great player .
And the world did not have to lose out on the charm of one most graceful and gracious players of all time .
I remember this quoted in an article when he finally retired , settling down to a tag of the Champion who never won Wimbledon.

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 09 Apr 2014, 17:58

Rsachi wrote: By the way Kssr, I am facing the same temptation as Varsha: every time I type kssr my autocorrect suggests kiss.

I am tempted to oblige your autocorrect and change my login to k**s. But Oh! I can see my l*dy admirers blush by the simple suggestion of this idea.

Sorry Rsachi. I will not allow our dirty minds (mine and your computer's) to spoil the decorum of this forum

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 09 Apr 2014, 18:14

So that's settled, then!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 09 Apr 2014, 19:04

Raghavan

Decorum of this forum WAS tested earlier
When one of my lady friends on the forum--
Lady she truly is--tried to type your name
And couldn't wipe it off--I mean the way
Her iPad wanted to call you, pray!

We call for decency and decorum on the forum
Caution and courtesy in the rasikAs family
But that inanimate imp, shining example
Of technology, plays tricks to trip us
Ties our hands from redeeming its misdeed!

Well, AbRASIve I have become, thanks imp!
With the name of rAmA, you have
Become mischievous child Krishna!
What more transformations await!
So, caution is the word when we
Consider forum names! Folks beware! #:-s

appu · Post by **appu** » 09 Apr 2014, 19:19

rshankar wrote: And I am sure that many of our members (e.g.: Vinod, Aishu's dad) can give pointers on how to raise a prodigy while keeping them well-rounded at the same time!

rshankar, Just curious why Aishu and her dad Vinod got singled out in your response. I have attended many of her concerts and don't get me wrong. I am indeed a fan of her style and technique.

Just curious if you have any insight that others are missing.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 09 Apr 2014, 20:51

appu wrote:Just curious if you have any insight that others are missing.

I was using Aishu as an example as the previous poster (VK) whose post I had quoted had written about parents in the US, and I am sure there are others out there too...And, IMO Aishu is much more than just a supremely gifted violinist, or a jazz artist, or a Stanford graduate - she's all that and much, much more, and some of the kudos need to go to her parents

...to misquote one of my favorite songs from The Sound of Music, 'somewhere in her youth or childhood - they must have done something right'!

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 10 Apr 2014, 08:34

Interesting workshop for children, done by two great musicians. Incidentally will feature young artistes

kssr · Post by **kssr** » 14 May 2014, 22:34

By the way, I came to know that the 12 year old veena prodigy's formal education has been stopped so that he can develop his music. I do not know how different people will react to this information. I am very sad indeed.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 14 May 2014, 23:29

with over 1+ billion people in India, it seems our country is blessed with many Doogie Howsers in music that blooming children will be put to extreme pressure to prove their skills. Way to go Jackfruit!!!

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 15 May 2014, 09:31

VK RAMAN wrote:
Way to go Jackfruit!!!

Chakkai poDu poDunga!

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 15 May 2014, 09:42

Rsachi wrote:
A foreigner landed in Frankfurt and found the hotel pillows uncomfortable. He went to a big store and walked up to a very pretty shop assistant and said "kuessen, bitte!" he was trying to show off his Berlitz knowledge. The lady blushed and asked, "was!" he thought she asked what type and pointed his cheek, patting it to show he wanted something to rest his cheek against. Promptly she grabbed the man, and planted a rosy kiss on his cheek.

German: kuessen=kiss kissen=cushion

Same story in "Three Men on a Boat" by Jerome K. Jerome, except that the Englishman wanted to buy a cake but was demanding a kiss from the saleswoman!

Kuchen in German is cake.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 15 May 2014, 11:21

Yes, but kuchen pronunciation doesn't resemble kiss

http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/speak-de/5/4/eTzq6TyvaNk.mp3

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 15 May 2014, 11:45

Rsachi wrote:
http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/speak-de/5/4/eTzq6TyvaNk.mp3

I see your URL and raise you this:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2bim74DR9rI

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 15 May 2014, 11:53

Three Men In A Boat is one of those books that is so well known I can never remember if I've actually read it or not...

harimau wrote: Same story in "Three Men on a Boat" by Jerome K. Jerome, except that the Englishman wanted to buy a cake but was demanding a kiss from the saleswoman!

Kuchen in German is cake.

But, it it set on England's Thames, isn't it? Would this have happened on one of the German-speaking stretches of that river?

My wife always advises me to be very careful if I attempt to say the Tamil word for mosquito.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 15 May 2014, 12:23

Nick,
I think the guys went around in a boat all over Europe.

As famous as Rajini jokes, the Buckingham Canal mosquito is irreplaceable in world vector entomology. And it speaks pristine Tamil as you can see in Enthiran.

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 15 May 2014, 14:26

They go on yet another trip , this time on bicycles . Grudgingly allowing the wives to tag along . Anyone married to a single person for more than a decade is bound to love it .

Three men on the bummel.

Though not as famous as the boat book ( which had a first movers advantage ) it is nevertheless a treasure .
Watch out for one chapter where one of the guys is riding downhill with wife on the pillion ( chattering away non stop ) with muffled ears and discovers that she has fallen down some time ago . Since he was not listening , he could not guess where .
The scene at the police station where he fails to answer all the questions of the helpful policeman ( except the one about the name which is the only thing he remembers after fifteen years of marriage - but nothing more - does not not know the dress she wore ...etc etc is a very compelling bit of humor )

Back to prodigies

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 15 May 2014, 19:16

The organizers should arrange enough psychiatrists to follow the children to keep up with their performance until they die otherwise these innocent children will fall into depression, heart attack and good for nothing and will ultimately blame their parents for robbing their childhood.

venkatakailasam · Post by **venkatakailasam** » 15 May 2014, 19:27

What a lovely topic and the engaging posts!!

Even though my doubt is not far away from the topic...

kindly clarify whether Senthilnathan the mentally retarded child ....performing here is a child prodigy...

http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23520

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 15 May 2014, 23:54

Senthilnathan is a God-gifted child and no body called him a prodigy nor will anyone pressurize him for performance, I hope; neither should he be surrounded by unscrupulous business minded scoundrels to take advantage of him.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 16 May 2014, 03:36

I think the guys went around in a boat all over Europe.

I have been meaning to read it for 40 years. When I do ...I'll probably realise I read it 40 years ago!

Anyone married to a single person ...

Isn't that a contradiction in terms?

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 16 May 2014, 09:03

Nick, I think 'Married to the same person' was the point being made!

varsha · Post by **varsha** » 16 May 2014, 09:30

more hair splitting
One gets married TO a person who is single .Not to someone who is married :p .

Anyway, the main issue about prodigies is the awe they generate about Gods scheme of things , reinforcing beliefs in reincarnation etc. For someone who is equally awestruck by a new born baby's chuckle or the formation of sweat drop on an arm when the fans / airconditioners are shut down ,the mind wanders to the possibilities of unheard of melodies as the prime mover.

Melodies which have an undisputed virtue of not being a copy of something that existed already . Mali , Srinivas , Ravikiran , kumar gandharv ,.... the larger point is that they bring something to the table did not exist before ( as we mortals define existence) so early that we , normal mortals , have to have a connection with something that we understand.

All the other so called prodigies are hapless victims of a system that feeds on a set of values that are very very short term in nature . I pray for good sense to prevail , among all these parents who push their wards

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 16 May 2014, 14:45

Nick, I think 'Married to the same person' was the point being made!

more hair splitting

More, err, humour. Hey, it may not be the greatest, but one tries.

(To which someone has to reply, "Yes, you are certainly trying, very trying." The old ones are the best!)

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 27 May 2014, 12:03

RSachi,

It is very well known that many Great Maestros/Maestros started performing from the age of 9-14. Great Maestro/Maestro Gurus gave consent for the full fledged concerts only from the age 35-40! But the sishya's achieved recognition as maestros in quick time. Only few of the Maestros did receive the patronage and performing opportunities in their prime time! They had to be content with the reputation gained supporting them to a living only on teaching. These happenings were during the period 1920-1980. During this period there was equal importance to popular and meritorious performers, with many exceptions. Gurus, opinion makers and patrons influenced the support to their chosen performers.
Immensely talented and prodigals made a highly successful commencement and gained the acceptance, on their own or with minimal influence.

Sabhas enjoying rasikas support, income to manage the events coming mainly from subscriptions and tickets sale, the popularity of the performers to ensure good gate collection became the prime factor after 1980. Media's influence gained in importance. Media to gain higher circulation, took to promoting highly gifted and talented as 'child prodigy'. Intense competition to gain popularity in quick time became mandatory. This compulsion lead to achieving rasikas recognition in quick time. Rasikas not rejoicing middle age wonders, took to great liking of young vidwans/vidushees with prodigal talents as a novelty! Thus was born the compulsion of labeling a young and highly talented PERFORMER, a prodigy. Is this development good or bad? Truth that many young vidwans and vidushees started performing and achieved popularity and made it a career with good income and living proves that labeling was good, with short term perspectives. Fact is only very few of them gained immense vidwath with sadhana and became Great Maestros/Maestros. Fact naturally establishes that labeling is bad, with long term perspectives.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 May 2014, 12:59

I'm sure you've observed what a strange language English can be: prodigal and prodigy are, as far as I know, unrelated and have entirely different meanings. We could have another thread for prodigal musicians! I hope you do not mind my correction, offered with respect.

Your historical perspective is very interesting. It seems that emphasis has moved from keeping youngsters off the stage to encouraging them on to it.

Last week I attended two concerts of senior, elder musicians, and two of youngsters (counting those in their twenties as youngsters). The brilliant twenty-something vocalist I saw yesterday had two brilliant accompanists both in their teens.

munirao2001 · Post by **munirao2001** » 27 May 2014, 15:17

Nick
Prodigal is also a person Having or Giving- musical experience- on a lavish scale! Beauty of English language.

Yes, Nick in the present times, we have highly talented young performers for short duration concerts, perhaps like talented cricketers playing T-20 format cricket! They are in an era of good family & Gurus support, good education, good enough career or prospects of a career, tech savy and leading comfortable lives. When tested in longer duration concerts, most of them are found wanting, like T-20 cricketers struggling in Test cricket formats. When they are confronted with the challenge of 30-45-60 minutes or at best 90 minutes concerts, focus is totally different. Contemporary times demands of fusion, confounding the problem. What is missing? Shruthi, Svarasthana perfection - mainly male performers; Patanthara Sudham-at liberty to tinker with any compositions; rich gamakams, the hallmark of KM; Visradhi and Vilambakala delineations; thrikala and thristhayee handling; sense of proportion and progression;High on Kalpita and Low on Manodharma; deeper experiences of aesthetics.
We have many exceptionally talented performers in the age group of 25 to 50, about 30 performers achieving very high success. But many are languishing for want of support and opportunities. Thanks to AIR and SVBC, they get opportunities to perform. Perhaps they have to stay healthy and perform in the advanced years-patronage commencing from their age at 75!

munirao2001

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 27 May 2014, 17:44

2. having or giving something on a lavish scale.

I totally missed that! Thank you for your correction! I never knew.

The word prodigious fits in there too, somewhere. Yes, beauty of English: can be spoken for a lifetime and still new things to learn.

I am not qualified on all the technical aspects, as you know, but I can say that the youngsters that I see are giving very full concerts of at least 2.5 hours, and that they are rich in manodharma too. If they were not, then I would not be attracted to their concerts for a second time. But it may well be that my "youngsters" are among those that you are counting in your last paragraph. I think both the young ladies I saw last week are close to 25.