Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Why couldn't I have these parents?

What a present! A Brand New Bösendorfer 214VC. I think that costs over $150K. What a head start this kid has.



God Bless,
David

The young lady plays amazingly.

Yes, if there is an example needed of an expensive piano being well earned, this nine year old is it.

She seems like a nice kid, clearly loves playing the piano, loves her parents, and plays beautifully. I imagine Bosendorfer for one couldn't be happier that the piano will be treasured and played well.

Assuming that she started playing at age 3, the 6 years of training paid off. She probably came from a wealthy family. At least rich enough to be able to afford a concert grand and a home large enough to accommodate such an instrument. On top we have a talented young lady who can make use of such an instrument from day 1.

I live in a relatively small space so in my younger days the family had a Yamaha upright. The most I'd wish for is a Boston upright (by Steinway). After buying a high-end piano, it'd take 30 years of intensive practice to get to her level of playing.

Reminds me of a young Chinese-American virtuoso William Zhang from Atlanta, Georgia. His parents were so convinced their son has talent for music that at age 2 they bought him a $20,000 piano. His parents taught him to play baby songs until 4 (because he was too young) before they got a teacher for formal lessons.

I’d loved to have come from a musical family regardless of piano type

I’m glad I didn’t come from a musical family; I was left alone to enjoy practicing and lessons without being prodded every day as some kids are. I don’t know they would have done that, but it would have been a possibility if they would have played any instrument. Some of my teachers have told me parental horror stories involving their lessons or performances.

Wow, she plays REALLY well. More power to her.

The "old" grand in the room doesn't look to be a slouch, either.

If you check Google, she has done very well in a large number of competitions as a teenager.

Mark Twain had a plaque on the wall in his house in Hartford, Connecticut which read:

“The lack of money is the root of all evil.”

I quite agree. I received no musical instruments as a child, not that I would have turned out for be a concert pianist, but childhood would have been a little less bleak.

“Why couldn’t I have these parents?”

I’ve been asking that question for YEARS. Now, you’re just rubbing salt in my wound.

Kidding...I’ll get over it.

That swimming pool in the back doesn't look too shabby, either.

At least the piano won't go to waste. My wife's cousins are very well to do and they brought an expensive Steinway grand that none of the children ended up playing for very long. Now it just sits there as a furniture piece.

Coming from a non-musical family, don't think my parents can tell the difference between a Steinway and a Yamaha so we got the cheaper piano. Even at age 20, I didn't have enough playing experience to know the difference between an expensive and an ordinary piano. Someone enrolled in Suzuki music would get their hands on high end grand pianos at a young age. They'd be on stage playing "Twinkle Variations" in the first recital on a Steinway, Bösendorfer or Fazioli grand. Most average family can't afford such a piano at home but the kids are going to their year-end recital playing high-end instruments.

Looks like the lady would have played on another piano before she got her special gift. When I was younger, I'd need to work my butt off for a few years and play like a pro before mom would consider getting a high-end piano. The first month I struggled to play a C-scale. With limited technical abilities, I wouldn't be able to appreciate an expensive instrument.

A few years ago, someone in my music group wanted to get rid of a Chickering baby grand (second-hand and in good condition). I'd be paying with my own money so even something slightly used would be fine.

There is nothing wrong with buying a piano purely or mostly as a piece of furniture which is not putting it to waste. In addition, some makers, probably especially Steinway, might have great trouble surviving without sales of some pianos purely as furniture.

She plays really well!

Maybe there is room in the marketplace for a high-end, fancy-brand-name Grand which is really just an empty shell; no keys, no strings, no hammers inside. A budget model whose sole purpose is to look nice and serve as a fancy piece of furniture. Guests could pile their coats on it, for example.

I am more than satisfied with the parents I had, GB both, But, I am more impressed with how these two kids played than the pianos.
The unbelievable ability inherent in humans is really not tapped, but too- I guess it depends on what vantage point you're looking from.

My vantage point is this: One man's campfire is another's cathedral.

Guess people in my family have always been practical. If the kids are not taking music lessons, there would be no need for a piano at home. For a brief time there was a Yamaha upright at home. After that the instrument at home is a DP. All my instruments at home (keyboard, violin, flute) can be stored in the closet when I'm not practicing.

A piano would give a large mansion a cozy feel when a person has a lot of money. Some who own expensive residences rarely spend time in any 1 home but keep each residence fully staffed. When there is a gathering, anybody in the party who can play can have fun with the piano in the living room. Otherwise the top can be used as a coffee table. Even a piano that is out of tune makes a room look decorative.

Some would rather prefer a piece of 18th century antique furniture that retains value.

On reflection I think I would've probably been much more inspired to practice and continue musical education as a child had I an acoustic grand at home. My parents invested in a Roland HP2e for my piano tuition and whilst I didn't know any better, playing the acoustic pianos at school was always more rewarding and insipring especially due to how different they felt to play.

Obviously any parent who could afford to would help their child realise their dreams in this way, just a shame we couldn't all have a Bosendorfer, I remember as a teen spending hours just looking at the various art cases on their website (I've Always been a huge Bosendorfer fan and everytime I'm in London I cannot resist visiting Yamaha and talking my way into playing them).

I know my parents didn't have loose cash to pay for the Roland, they paid it off over a few years, and I still appreciate it to this day. I've no doubt the young lady will forever be indebted to her parents for the investment.