Latest news with #childprodigy
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
5-year-old piano prodigy preparing for Carnegie Hall show
Watch Just a year after starting piano lessons, a Los Angeles 5-year-old is preparing for his debut performing at Carnegie Hall in New York.
ABC News
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
What it's like to be a child prodigy and debunking the myths of exceptionalism
The story of Australian pianist Geoffrey Tozer, as narrated in Janine Hosking's documentary The Eulogy, follows a familiar, tragic arc. In the 60s and 70s, Tozer seemed set to be one of Australia's biggest international success stories. By age 16, Tozer had performed on some of the world's most famous stages and met the who's who of classical music. But away from the piano, Tozer seemed to lack any other skills. In later life, he dealt with alcohol addiction, dying in penury in 2009. Classical music's history is peppered with stories of exceptionally talented child musicians including household names like Mozart and Mendelssohn. Even today, young performers like violinists Christian Li and Chloe Chua have attracted enormous attention for their early success. Tozer described his experience of being a child prodigy like "an old man with no future. I wouldn't wish it on anybody." But unlike Tozer, many prodigies have gone on to have happier lives and successful music careers as they've grown up. Australian pianists Andrea Lam and Grace Kim were both labelled as prodigies when they were younger. Lam made her debut with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra aged 13. Kim was winning international music competitions before she finished high school. They speak about their experiences navigating the label of "child prodigy" and how to support the next generation in their musical journeys. Lam remembers how surreal her orchestral debut felt, describing it as "an incredible sensory experience". "[I was] on stage making music with professional musicians who were treating me with respect and being on the same playing field as them." Lam remembers her teenage years as "the good days". She had opportunities to hone her craft, but along with her recognition as a young musician, "I had enough time to be a kid," Lam reflects. In her youth, Kim preferred watching TV and reading books over spending time practising. She loves playing the piano, learning new music and performing, but "the practice part was the most boring thing in the whole world," Kim admits. Despite this tendency, Kim did well in elite competitions thanks to her ability to "wing it." "Gifted kids [like myself] tend to find ways to do what they like doing and try to avoid what they don't like doing," Kim says. But as an adult, Kim doesn't see "giftedness" as a celebration of exceptionalism. She says it should be regarded as part of our neurodiversity. "As someone with children now, I realise the importance of structure," she says. "As a grown adult, I started practising more regularly." As a piano teacher and researcher, Kim also supports the next generation of talented pianists, some of whom have gone on to win major international music competitions. She says maintaining boundaries between parents, teachers and students is important in supporting young musicians in their journeys. "The parent's job is to offer love and support," she says. "My role as a teacher is to give the students challenges that are proportional to their ability." It's up to the students to develop their skills as musicians. Audiences are always fascinated by displays of young musical talents, and we have an abundance of them. Violinist Christian Li was just 10 years old when he won the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition in 2018. Taking joint first prize with Li was 11-year-old Singapore-based violinist Chloe Chua. Now in their teens, both violinists regularly perform with major symphony orchestras, a feat which takes most musicians years to achieve. Chua, 18, recently made her Australian debut alongside the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in a performance at the Sydney Opera House in February. "I find the process of learning music of different genres and by different composers very fun," Chua says. "And I feel very emotionally satisfied after I have mastered a violin piece." Chua, who is still finishing high school, is famed for her sensitive musical interpretations. "I love to captivate and move my audiences with expressive performances and bring joy to them," Chua says. Lam and Kim highlight that we should move away from the idea that young performers should wholly focus on only developing their musical talents. "You have all of your life to be an adult, but you have a very specific window of time to enjoy being a kid," Lam says. Some of the harmful ideas around prodigies concern how much they should practise and external pressure for excellence. The expectation for constant excellence can be hard for young musicians, Lam says. While Lam stresses playing an instrument at an elite level does take dedication and hours of practice, Kim says the myth that musicians should practise between eight to 10 hours a day is not healthy. "Parents do need to create opportunities for these kids to de-stress, be healthy, exercise and focus on other things in life." The opportunity to be just kids is one of the secrets to the longevity of their success, Lam and Kim say. Chua's family and friends ensure she has time to just be a teenager. "I normally take breaks between classes or my practice sessions to go out for meals with friends," Chua says. "Sometimes, I also attend parties organised by the school or concerts to socialise with friends." Lam recalls how much she liked reading and going out with her friends, some of whom are still close to her. Chua also shares similar hobbies during her free time. Kim points out that for young musicians and their parents, "music is a long game". "We can't stop people from labelling, but we can help ground the child by not buying into the wave," Kim says. "Children need to develop the skills to be able to achieve goals in their own way," Kim says. "They also need time to figure that out." Get a front row experience with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra concert featuring violinist Chloe Chua. Stream Front Row with Megan Burslem on ABC iview.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2-Year-Old Boy with ‘Formidable Intellect' Becomes the Youngest-Ever Member of Mensa
A 2-year-old U.K. boy just became the youngest person ever to be accepted into Mensa The toddler, named Joseph Harris-Birtill, said his first word at seven months and read his first book out loud from cover to cover at 21 months Joseph knows the Greek alphabet and is currently learning Morse codeA toddler from England just became the youngest person ever to be accepted into Mensa. Joseph Harris-Birtill, who was born on Nov. 23, 2021, was admitted into the organization — which accepts people with IQs in the top 2% of the general population — at 2 years and 182 days old, per Guinness World Record. His parents, Dr. Rose Harris-Birtill and Dr. David Harris-Birtill, who are both lecturers at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, told Guinness that Joseph began showing signs of being advanced for his age quite early on. 'It soon became clear that he was an exceptional little being,' Rose told the outlet. 'He first rolled over at five weeks, said his first word at seven months and read his first book out loud from cover to cover at [21 months].' 'By 2-and-a-quarter years old, he was reading out loud fluently for 10 minutes at a time, could count to 10 in five languages and could count forwards and backwards to well over 100,' she continued. Rose told Guinness that Joseph knows the Greek alphabet and is currently learning Morse code. He also has recently become interested in the periodic table. 'His interests are vast and varied, and he is always keen to learn more,' the proud mom explained. Rose said that Joseph, who is 'very kind and loving, confident and curious,' doesn't yet seem to know that he is more advanced than his peers, and noted that he loves giving hugs and sharing his toys with other kids. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She added, 'He loves a challenge and is really exhilarated by complexity, whether learning chess or poring over new words and concepts that he hasn't come across before.' Joseph's parents told Guinness that they initially reached out to Mensa in an attempt to find guidance on raising a highly-abled child. 'I searched online for any further support available, and saw that Mensa offers resources and membership for highly able children,' she explained. Rose added, 'It is a common misconception that everything is super easy for gifted children. But everyone needs appropriate stimulation and understanding throughout their lives, and highly able learners can sadly have their unique talents dimmed by the pressure to fit into environments that simply haven't been properly designed for them." She noted that while Joseph is 'fortunate enough to attend a brilliant nursery [school],' she and her husband hope that Mensa will provide their son with 'a community of peers as a source of further support as his formidable intellect continues to grow and develop.' The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The second-youngest member of Mensa is currently Isla McNabb of Kentucky, who was 2 years and 195 days old when she joined. Read the original article on People
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Mensa welcomes youngest-ever member, Joseph Harris-Birtill, a toddler from the U.K. who "loves a challenge
A two-year-old British boy has become the youngest ever member of Mensa, the exclusive club that only welcomes people with an IQ of 132 or above, according to Guinness World Records. Joseph Harris-Birtill, born on November 23, 2021, was admitted to the organization at the age of just two years and 182 days. "It soon became clear that he was an exceptional little being," Harris-Birtill's mother Rose told Guinness World Records. "He first rolled over at five weeks, said his first word at seven months, and read his first book out loud from cover to cover at one-and-three-quarter years." "He's learning morse code, knows the Greek alphabet, and has recently gotten interested in the periodic table," his mother said. "His interests are vast and varied, and he is always keen to learn more and loves a challenge." Harris-Birtill's parents — who both lecture at Scotland's prestigious University of St. Andrews — told Guinness they first decided to reach out to Mensa to find more support for Joseph after seeing how early he'd started reading. Joseph Harris-Birtill, born on November 23, 2021, of the U.K., has become the youngest ever member of Mensa, the exclusive club that only welcomes people with an IQ of 132 or above, according to Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records "I searched online for any further support available, and saw that Mensa offers resources and membership for highly able children," Rose told the organization. "We hope that this accomplishment can give him a sense of pride when he is older – it's a very unusual accolade and the credit is all his!" Harris-Birtill is 13 days younger than the youngest female member of Mensa was when she was admitted to the prestigious club. American Isla McNabb became the youngest member of Mensa in 2022 and held that overall title until Harris-Birtill came along. The tike has also, by default, taken the title of Britain's youngest Mensa member, topping Teddy Hobbs who achieved that rank at the age of just four in 2023. Rose, Harris-Birtill's mother, said she hoped sharing her son's story would help raise awareness about the unique needs of children like her son. "It is a common misconception that everything is super easy for gifted children. But everyone needs appropriate stimulation and understanding throughout their lives, and highly able learners can sadly have their unique talents dimmed by the pressure to fit into environments that simply haven't been properly designed for them," she told Guinness World Records. "Joseph is fortunate enough to attend a brilliant nursery and has an excellent music teacher, and in Mensa we hope to provide him with a community of peers as a source of further support as his formidable intellect continues to grow and develop."
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
British toddler, 2, becomes the youngest EVER Mensa member - after saying his first word at just seven months old
A British toddler has become the youngest ever member of Mensa - the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. Joseph Harris-Birtill was officially welcomed into the elite club at the age of just 2 years and 182 days. To qualify for Mensa, you must have an IQ of at least 132, putting you in the top two per cent globally. The youngster impressed the society after saying his first word at just seven months old. 'It soon became clear that he was an exceptional little being,' explained his mother, Dr Rose Harris-Birtill. 'He first rolled over at five weeks, said his first word at seven months, and read his first book out loud from cover to cover at one-and-three-quarter years. 'By two-and-a-quarter years old he was reading out loud fluently for 10 minutes at a time, could count to 10 in five languages and could count forwards and backwards to well over 100.' Joseph is even younger than the youngest female Mensa member, Isla McNabb, who was 2 years 195 days old when she joined. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Joseph's parents, both 39, work in academic fields. His father, David, is a Senior Lecturer at the University of St Andrews, while Rose is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the same university and Editorial Director at the Open Library of Humanities. 'He's learning morse code, knows the Greek alphabet, and has recently gotten interested in the periodic table,' his mother explained. 'His interests are vast and varied, and he is always keen to learn more and loves a challenge.' Despite scoring at the 98th percentile, Joseph doesn't realise yet just how clever he really is, according to his parents. 'He is very kind and loving, confident and curious, and incredibly determined,' his mother said. 'He loves a challenge and is really exhilarated by complexity, whether learning chess or poring over new words and concepts that he hasn't come across before.' His parents decided to reach out to Mensa to get more support for Joseph, after it became clear how advanced his reading skills were. His parents decided to reach out to Mensa to get more support for Joseph, after it became clear how advanced his reading skills were 'I searched online for any further support available, and saw that Mensa offers resources and membership for highly able children,' Rose said. 'We hope that this accomplishment can give him a sense of pride when he is older – it's a very unusual accolade and the credit is all his!' Rose hopes Joseph's story will help to raise awareness about highly able learners. 'It is a common misconception that everything is super easy for gifted children,' she said. 'But everyone needs appropriate stimulation and understanding throughout their lives, and highly able learners can sadly have their unique talents dimmed by the pressure to fit into environments that simply haven't been properly designed for them. 'Joseph is fortunate enough to attend a brilliant nursery and has an excellent music teacher, and in Mensa we hope to provide him with a community of peers as a source of further support as his formidable intellect continues to grow and develop.' CAN YOU PASS A HIGH IQ TEST? TRY THESE MENSA QUESTIONS The following questions are taken from Mensa's online 'brain workout' and are similar to those in many IQ tests: Which same three-letter word can be placed in front of the following words to make a new word? SIGN, DONE, DUCT, FOUND, FIRM, TRACT, DENSE If you count from 1 to 100, how many 7's will you pass on the way? 10, 11, 19, 20, 21 There are 1200 elephants in a herd. Some have pink and green stripes, some are all pink and some are all blue. One third are pure pink. Is it true that 400 elephants are definitely blue? Yes or No 2 3 5 7 11 13 ? 14,15, 16, 17, 18 If a circle is one, how many is an octagon?2, 4, 6, 8, 12
