 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: justwannaplay
Date: 2004-02-13 21:16
Hey, she went to my alma mater.
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2004-02-13 21:23
Gee thanks Ken. Just when I was starting to feel okay about myself.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-13 22:37
Yummy! Another large slice of humble pie! Thank you very much.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-02-13 22:41
Well as a "regular" 15 year old reading that, that was certainly depressing.
Bradley (who is currently sometimes having difficulty with Chemistry).
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-02-13 23:28
A lesson for all you kids out there - No sense being unprepared...
Go out and get a Ph.D. in engineering to fall back on if the music thing doesn't work out ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
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Author: Avie
Date: 2004-02-14 00:05
That is very impressive. It would be nicer if she didnt have to miss out on being a common insecure teenager. But then maybe she is!
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-02-14 02:17
Yeah, but can she do this?
/buys beer
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-02-14 02:45
TKS, Ken - Interesting/impressive/challenging to all of us of "scientific leanings". I have informed our daughter-in-law, who teaches the "gifted and talented" in a Texas high school, if she doesn't already know of this girl, so that she may "study" this ?prodigy? . Sure wish I were this young [and smart]. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Lisa
Date: 2004-02-14 03:26
I was really interested in the link to her webpage, given in the article Ken provided above. (http://aliasabur.com/) When I tried to click on "Listen to me play" my computer froze, and did so on several subsequent tries.
Has anybody else been able to listen to her excerpts without computer weirdness?
Post Edited (2005-03-03 16:19)
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-14 04:15
When I saw the shortest download was 4 meg I gave up.
Regards,
John
whose internet connection is through a very long rusty pipe
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Author: ksclarinetgirl
Date: 2004-02-14 04:21
Listening to the Saint-Saens Sonata right now. She has a pretty good tone, especially for being only fourteen years old! I guess that's what happens with you study with Ricardo Morales...
Absolutely amazing, as well as humbling. My old piano teacher wanted me to go into researching music and the effect it has on the mind, as well as what makes people talented, etc. Although I hate science, this is the kind of story that makes me wish I were able to do that sort of thing
Stephanie :o)
"Vita Brevis, Ars Longa"
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-14 04:34
I think not only for the fact that she is fourteen years old, but also keep in mind that she's only been playing clarinet four years! Now that is pretty darned good for four years of playing . . .
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2004-02-15 02:11
She seems OK from that article but I'd still worry about her. There's a 15 year old college freshman in my dorm who seems normal at first but he's really had trouble adjusting to life at college. He has very few friends and just isn't mature enough to fit in (three years makes a big difference at that age). Since she lives at home and has friends her own age it sounds like she wouldn't have exactly the same problems but I fear we might not know the whole story.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2004-02-15 10:38
Isn't it funny that these kinds of stories emanate almost completely out of America. Is any of this verifiable? If it is true, is it healthy? Is it, in fact, true?
It doesn't make me feel inadequate. I would, however, feel sorry for the girl if I believed the story was true. I am sceptical!
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2004-02-15 13:19
Check out her Weber Concertino MP3 on her web site. This Girl Can Play.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-02-15 15:00
Mark Pinner wrote:
> Isn't it funny that these kinds of stories emanate almost
> completely out of America.
I guess you haven't read about Chinese, Japanese, or Korean musical & academic prodigies? Perhaps English is the bias ...
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Author: Anon
Date: 2004-02-15 17:43
Mark Pinner;
She's legit, I saw her (and heard her because Ricardo was on there with her) on one of the network Sunday morning television shows.
Kind of made me shake my head a little...so much packed into one human being!
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Author: atl4413
Date: 2004-02-15 22:46
I listened to the pieces that she's posted on her page, and considering the fact that she is young and has only been playing for 4 years, my humble opinion is that she's pretty good. But honestly, I wasn't that "blown away".
I was asking myself, do you think that they asked her to play because they honestly think her talented with the Clarinet? Or, was it because of her age and how smart she is? She's a sort of fascination thing with the 14 year old that has a PhD?
Gee, I hope that doesn't sound cruel.....but it is human nature to want to observe others, "pidgeon-holeing" them based personal opinions, comparing them, etc.
Again, considering her age and length of study, she is good, but is she really that good that Lang Lang is dying to perform with her?
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-02-15 23:04
I have to agree with the above poster. She has a nice tone, and she is a few months younger than me- but honestly I think I did a better job with the musical aspect of the Rabaud in January thanks to my teachers (who btw aren't Morales equivalents). I also think that she did not perform those pieces better than the two freshmen would've at my school (one of them just did the Saint Saens). My school is a high school conservatory and everything, but I really don't think Alia is a prodigy at clarinet. I have never met her ofcourse, so I could be wrong- but being a part of the section I am her recordings didn't do anything for me.
Bradley
Post Edited (2004-02-15 23:06)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-02-16 01:23
I've only heard her play about 8-12 measures or so of the Weber Concertino last spring on Letterman or some such. She didn't have time to get to any of the faster bits, having started at the 6/8 section before the 16ths start. Not a bad tone at all.
I do think she's probably one of the most intelligent human beings around now, but IMHO, how does that make her more important than the people whom each of us sees every day? So she's a genius who plays clarinet. So she'll end up being both a brilliant inventor and a brilliant clarinetist. Quite frankly, I don't care what she ends up doing or just how brilliant her approach to "nanophotonics" is. There are many many people in this world, and (again IMHO) each of us can make as huge a difference around us to as many individuals as those who work on scientific research make to folks who use their inventions/etc.
Katrina
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-02-16 02:33
Well she seems like a nice young woman, I like the way her parents put a curfew on her to "chill out" after 6pm at night. Also a black belt in karate and (I imagine) good at origami ... her clarinet clip on her website is very expressive ... hope she doesn't burn out before she changes the world of fibre-optic technologies.
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Author: bnanno
Date: 2004-02-16 08:26
Dear Mark(s), Micaela,
Well, good luck to her.
This certainly wouldn't be possible in Spain as the law doesn't allow any one to "skip" compulsary school. Under exceptional circumstances you are allowed to be promoted one year during the primary era of 6 grades, and another during the secondary era of 4 years , so maximum you might end up compuksary schooling at the age of 14 rather than 16.
Educationists are very reluctant to do this, as many case studies are being followed, and it is felt that emotional development may be hampered, plus just the good old school life with people your age. Because however intelligent you are, in amy ways you still need to be and go through the different ages of your life.
We have a few people at the music school who might fall into this category, I think some might become great professional musicians, but they haven't lost out on anything in the process.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2004-02-16 10:31
Mark Charette
"I guess you haven't read about Chinese, Japanese, or Korean musical & academic prodigies? Perhaps English is the bias ..."
I refer you back to our e mail conversation of some months ago. You accused me of, in some way, second guessing your politico/economic standpoint. Please do not make assumptions of any ethnic/linguistic/nationalistic leanings on my part.
I have heard of many cases of supposed prodigies from far and wide. Masters degrees at 16, PhD's at 18 and post doctoral qualifications at 20. Minute waltz in 15 seconds etc. etc.. What is the use of any of this. Wisdom and creativity develop with age and experience. Can she play anything other than what has been rote learned? Could she, as opposed to a subjective process like a PhD, pass an objective test on anything that requires lateral thought? Can she tie her own shoelaces?
I guess that if she has played on Letterman, sans the fast bits, then she has really made it in the musical world. (what about that CBS orchestra? some are sceptical over their musical value!)
It is a funny thing. These prodigies, with the exception of Mozart of course, seem to disappear as rapidly as they appear. The majority of the Asian prodigies that I have heard have been involved in the piano competition scene. They are not subjected to any form of testing other than the performance of prepared works, no sight reading etc. and for the most part only contrived musicality. It is all a bit like a hyper-memory exercise. The majority of genuine long standing musicians I have encountered have got there by a combination of talent, hard work, experience and animal cunning with some intangibles thrown in.
I guess if she has been on American television, especially that bastion of intelligent entertainment, Letterman, it is all true. I really hope that this poor girl gets a chance to experience some kind of normal life.
I also received an unsolicited e mail from somebody on this subject which was even more ridiculous than the original story.
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2004-02-16 11:40
Mark P:
I find it funny that you have seem to have such a hard time with this. Maybe it's the media coverage yoiu don't like but I suspect that it's not.
I would ask you - what would you like her to do? She's 14, incredibly smart, and not looking to sit on her thumbs. Would you prefer she stagnate in a grade school? She has incredible intelligence & she wants to use it. Seems like a good thing to me. And BTW, whe has friends her own age and her parents have set limits on what she does. My impression is that her life is going where she wants it to go. She obviously loves doing what she's doing and is not being forced against her will to be a "brain". What's wrong with that?
The fact that the media picked it up is because that's what they do - they look for unusual stories. This is one. I just hope they leave her alone so she can enjoy her life.
So, what's the problem here?
MOO,
Matt
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-02-16 12:02
Mark Pinner wrote:
> Mark Charette
>
> "I guess you haven't read about Chinese, Japanese, or Korean
> musical & academic prodigies? Perhaps English is the bias ..."
>
> I refer you back to our e mail conversation of some months ago.
> You accused me of, in some way, second guessing your
> politico/economic standpoint. Please do not make assumptions of
> any ethnic/linguistic/nationalistic leanings on my part.
You seemed to have missed the point. You mentioned that these stories "emanate from America", yet I watch Japanese TV & see their newspapers (my wife & children translate for me) and see stories very similar. But I don't see you remark on those ... perhaps it's the fact that the news stories we read or see are aimed towards a particular market.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-02-16 12:55
She's 14.
Most kids at that age want desperately to blend in with the background.
Good for her that she keeps on keepin' on.
No mention is made of siblings... I wonder if that's the 'Chemical X' behind this particular PowerPuff grrl?
*******
Most Hot House flowers don't last outside their glass confines...
Good luck to her
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Author: bnanno
Date: 2004-02-16 15:22
Matt:
I can see your point about twiddling thumbs. I don't know if you read mine. I suppose the proportion of child prodigies per 100000 or whatever of a population are the same around the world.
Well, in Spain or other countries, they would be "twiddling" their thumbs. I would like to think not; I believe that most of them end up being better human beings and at more adult ages are able to make better decisions about where their real interest lies.
Because even though they can read three books a day, memorize everyhting by looking at it, devouver encyclopaedias, they still have to do all the other things that "normal" children do, like write an essay on X subject that they don't really like, do a project on growing vegetables, or play football or tennis even if they are pretty hopeless at it. I mean they have to attend all sorts of lessons.
We can complement this at home or by other activities, but byliving their childhood as a child, which only happens once, never to be recovered, I hope they have chance to be happier human beings.
This is something of what I think, would like to know what you or anyone thinks about this.
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2004-02-16 17:14
Bnanno:
The great consistency of this world is that there is none. Some kids want to stay kids their entire life, and others are adults at the age of 10. Most of us know someone who fits into one of those categories. I'm more of the first myself! Do you think this young lady isn't playing? She's playing in her own sandbox - the whole world. I suspect she's very happy with what she's doing. I hope that if she gets tired of it that she finds something else. Until then she surely shouldn't be forced to act like a "normal" kid.
BTW, you're only an adult once too! There is nothing that says a person stops playing just because they've reached some special age. It's all a matter of how you look at the world.
MOO,
Matt
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Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2004-02-16 17:21
Cool, I take sightsinging and dictation with Ricardo's brother Jaime.
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Author: bnanno
Date: 2004-02-17 10:03
Dear Matt:
Some of us parents have to make this very difficult decision when our child is 4 or 5 or 6.... obviously there are many ways that one can take.
I just wanted to underline that in many countries it is impossible by law to do this "academic" jumping; I assume that these countries also produce their fair share of brilliant scientists, musicians, artists, writers, etc.
Well, at the moment have no regrets about my decision and the young person in question has discovered a number of things that he IS NOT good at as well, and has to work as hard as the person next door to accomplish, but at the same time has a better appreciation of being lucky enough in all the things are easy as ... for him/her.
There is an ongoing study of people who have been allowed to jump slightly to assess the results of doing the same; however, definitive results are not out yet
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-02-18 04:26
Good on her, she seems really nice and is obviously loving what she is doing.
All this talk about her being a 'normal child' can be cast to the wind in my opinion. No matter what age you are, you should be doing what you love, what makes you happy, and that is exactly what she's doing. There's nothing unhealthy about that. Some have said that she may be skipping important parts of her childhood, but at least she's not wasting the time.
I hope she reads this and frowns upon the people with 'tall poppy syndrome', haha!
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Author: Julie
Date: 2005-03-03 01:36
Quote:
I was really interested in the link to her webpage, given in the article Ken provided above. (http://aliasabur.com/) When I tried to click on "Listen to me play" my computer froze, and did so on several subsequent tries.
Has anybody else been able to listen to her excerpts without computer weirdness?
mine froze too. and I was interested in hearing her play!
I agree with those who question whether or not she is ready- psychological developement doesn't complete until about early/mid twenties...and at her age, she is in the middle of a critical stage of developement, in which she will have trouble fitting in. Which isn't fair. Being social is important to one's developement.
I must say that I am perfectly..."happy"...being trapped in a four-walled prison with other angsty teens and human-beings teetering on the edge of adolesence and adulthood. It may get tiring sometimes, but in the end, it's where I belong.
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-03 01:52
hmm...reminds me of "natural talent"...how far can one get before their talent doesn't match those who practice 4 hours per day and have the experience to back them up?
-Lindsie
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-03-03 02:02
She is very well developed. Alia still is a kid, does kid things and is very well adjusted. I don't think that she will burn out.
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Author: Klarinet37
Date: 2005-03-03 12:30
Same here on the computer Freeze.....Like a banana daiquiri.
The girl seems well adjusted. Kudos to her and her parents.
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-03 15:15
Quote:
She is very well developed. Alia still is a kid, does kid things and is very well adjusted. I don't think that she will burn out.
with all due respect, David, who are you to say she is very well developed (unless you know her personally?) She may be HAPPY, but that doesn't mean she is developing correctly, as she has been torn away from a normal childhood as well as a normal social life. Yea, she has friends her own age, but she's not going through the same trials and tribulations as they are and they are not the ones she sees on a daily basis, as she is in college (correct me if I am wrong). I am not saying that going to a "normal" highschool with other teens and doing the "normal teen" thing is what makes one happy, per se, but what she needs is to be with people her own age. She needs social challanges at her own level and she needs to be in a setting where she is challanged in areas of inadequacy, rather than being treated as a prodigy.
-Lindsie
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-03-03 15:35
music_is_life wrote:
> Quote:
She is very well developed. Alia still is a kid, does
> kid things and is very well adjusted. I don't think that she
> will burn out.
> with all due respect, David, who are you to say she is very
> well developed (unless you know her personally?) She may be
> HAPPY, but that doesn't mean she is developing correctly, as
> she has been torn away from a normal childhood as well as a
> normal social life. Yea, she has friends her own age, but she's
> not going through the same trials and tribulations as they are
> and they are not the ones she sees on a daily basis, as she is
> in college (correct me if I am wrong). I am not saying that
> going to a "normal" highschool with other teens and doing the
> "normal teen" thing is what makes one happy, per se, but what
> she needs is to be with people her own age. She needs social
> challanges at her own level and she needs to be in a setting
> where she is challanged in areas of inadequacy, rather than
> being treated as a prodigy.
>
I don't see why all this would be necessary, as long as SHE is happy. She made the choice to skip whatever challenges the 'average' person faces. And she's happy with the results.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-03 15:43
but will she be, come adulthood, when she's missed some critical stage in her life and when she realizes she's not the only smart one out there? I am a firm believer that natural talent only takes you so far... and then you come to realize that after all that time, getting by with little to no practice, that the person who sat second to you your whole life, who's been practicing like mad everyday has the actual skill to back him/her up. The body and the mind has been trained.
-Lindsie
Post Edited (2005-03-03 15:44)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-03-03 17:08
Of course I know her personally.
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-03-03 21:23
Quote:
Of course I know her personally.
BAM! End of discussion. Leave it alone.
I sense real insecurities in many of the people here; especially those who fight the most about "the likelihood" garbage of this young lady. I trust David and that this girl is adjusting well.
Quote:
I am a firm believer that natural talent only takes you so far... and then you come to realize that after all that time, getting by with little to no practice, that the person who sat second to you your whole life, who's been practicing like mad everyday has the actual skill to back him/her up.
Lindsie, you really should relax. You are missing a point here that is clearly made in the posts and on this young lady's website. You have pointed to this issue about hard work vs talent twice now (maybe three times) and are ignoring the truth: This young lady is both talented AND a hard worker!
When I read about this young lady and what she is experiencing, the only fear I have for her is how she handles life when the stardom wears off. The uniqueness wears off and she will find herself (musically) in the midst of a lot of hungry and experienced players who might not necessarily play any better than her overall, but who are eager to take her place. As she gets older, there will be less and less opportunities because of being unique and more competition bearing down on her. I hope that she has a good support crew with her through this transition later.
It looks like she will fare well in the end. Sounds like she has loving parents and sincere professionals around her and that will mean a lot later. I'm also glad to see that she is staying in touch with her 14-year-old friends.
When someone who is Quote:
I must say that I am...teetering on the edge of adolesence and adulthood. ...it's where I belong. [the point being they are a teen] offers Quote:
I agree with those who question whether or not she is ready- psychological developement doesn't complete until about early/mid twenties...and at her age, she is in the middle of a critical stage of developement, in which she will have trouble fitting in. Which isn't fair. Being social is important to one's developement. ...I find it ironic.
Honestly, the truth that I see here is that if you are a teen, it is most likely that the second comment is nothing more than a regurgitation of remarks you have heard or read somewhere, not based on any life experiences. Hence, why in the heck would a comment about life from a teen carry any weight?
I know, I know, "Of course that is true, Robert, but you really don't need to say something like that." I'm sorry, having been a teacher of K-college at varying points, I have lost some of my patience listening to kids try to talk about how "life" is. In fact, I sit here and watch spoiled adults who have gone straight to college and into the enlisted ranks of the military that whine about things they have no clue about (i.e. fair, right, wrong, etc).
*attempting to rip myself from soapbox*
Listen, insecure young people...you are valuable for who you are and are not in competition with this young lady. She is getting extra attention, yes, but she is also working. Appreciate her talent and be happy for her. We have someone here who knows her personally and reports that all is well with the things you supposedly worry about. Continue to do your work and explore your talents. There are plenty of places and opportunities for you to be that someone special too. ![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif)
*walking to fridge to get a beer and relax*
Take care,
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: Julie
Date: 2005-03-03 21:50
Robert: you gotta give me a little more than my comment being "nothing
more than a regurgitation of remarks [I] have heard or read
somewhere, not based on any life experiences."
Yes, I am only 18-years-old, and haven't experienced life as you have- however I wouldn't throw my comments into the wind...like they are meaningless! I live with adults, and sure, that may be a "regurgitation of remarks I have heard", but isn't that what knowledge is? wisdom is acting on that knowledge...
I would not be so quick to call me an ignorant teen (not that you said it in those words), though I see where you are coming from.
Anyway, I have been studying psychology, so I have a basis for my statements.
And I AM a teen (well, legally an adult, but what does that foolish title stand for anyway?), so I think that backs up my statements, for I know what I am talking about when it comes to adolescence.
You may say that I will grow up and learn, sure, maybe I will. Or maybe I will stick to my guns and be able to back up my opinion better as I grow and gain expericnce.
I like this thread because I see opinions from all different types of people...different sexes, ages, races, country....different walks of life. I am keeping an open mind and find that this is a great learning expericence. I am trying to reform my opinion, but I'm not sure what exactly is to be taken seriously or believed.
ok- fair- I have no right to talk about life because I have only lived 18 years of it... I know nothing of adulthood. I just say that dont let my age blind you and muddy my opinions.
I just have to say that I work hard to get good grades and upkeep my A in AP English and practice and play with symphonies and hang out with my friends...keeping up the balance. Maybe I haven't made any special acheivements, I just feel like to get recognition these days, you have to jump through hoops of fire. It's a shame I don't have those "smart" genes this girl has. ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-03-03 22:12
Once again, it seems there are a great deal of folks who prefer to take an accomplishment and drum it into the dirt. There is a young girl who is an amazingly good clarinet player. Get over it. You don't know her. Be pleased that she can do what she can do. Someone earlier mentioned insecurity, I think it runs rampant among musicians. Seeing someone younger (or older) play better than you doesn't take anything away from you. Neither does giving someone a complement.
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