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This is an autobiographical book about the Chinese pianist, Lang Lang. I decided to start with this book because it has been such a motivating book for our family. I originally read this about two years ago and loved it. This winter, as Natalie and Noelle have been trying to climb up off a musical plateau and stretch themselves musically, I decided to read it to them, Amanda and Tanille. They were all enthralled. Seriously, they loved it as much as any novel. I'm sure that had something to do with the fact that it was what they needed at this point.
Lang Lang began playing the piano when he was a toddler. As per the one child law in China, he was an only child and his parents pinned all their hopes and dreams on him. He loved music; he loved the piano. He begged his parents to let him stay home from school when he became old enough to go and they agreed if he would play the piano. He literally sat at the piano the entire day and played! He won his first completition when he was 5 years old against children twice his age. This book chronicles his musical adventure from Shenyang where he was born, to Beijing, to international contests, and finally to study at a musical academy in America where he eventually became a star. He has many awards and has played with symphonies the world over.
Besides being musically inspiring, the story is rich in cultural understanding. We had many great discussions about Chinese versus American attitudes about competition, academics, talent, and success. We learned a lot about China and learned to appreciate America in new ways.
My children are not practicing 8 hours a day, but they do have new enthusiasm. Since we have read the book, Noelle has worked harder on specific techniques that she has struggled with and her teacher has told her that she has made a break-through. So much of our physical work is mental. Natalie has become engrossed in learning about more about China and the Chinese cultural revolution. She has just finished reading "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-Li Jiang. She is now reading "The Diary of Ma Yan: The Struggles and Hopes of a Chinese School Girl" by Ma Yan and Pierre Haski, both excellent books. I have given her a list of five or six more that she can read while this topic is exciting to her. I'll let you know how it goes. At dinner tonight, she explained the cultural revolution to the family, so we know she is learning. That is the important part!
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