The organ market is sluggish in the West but sales are still strong in South-East Asia and the Far East.

There's an abundance of very good to great (young to very young) players in the aforesaid regions that have amazing technical skills and all-around musicianship. What's the secret? Are they just better musicians then their counterparts in the West? No! In fact, the same results can be reached anywhere but there's one thing that is unique to cultures here: one should do one's best when doing something, one has to make a serious effort, be very dilligent. Dilligence is one of the most important values taught to children and it's taken very seriously. The proverb "if you do not study hard when young you'll end up bewailing your failures as you grow up" is installed in children's minds at a very young age.

After I settled down in Taiwan (now Laos and Taiwan) I decided to further my musical studies. I had two teachers who taught me more than I learned back in the Music Academy: Mr. Kobayashi (who hailed from Japan - RIP Kobayashi chan) and Mr. Xiong (Singapore). Their demands were enormous and at times I just felt like quitting. Yet it was like they had ESP and whenever I felt that way they'd give me fatherly advice, and in Mr. Kobayashi's case, inspirational stories with the result that I couldn't wait for my next lesson. Mr. Xiong liked to quote Bruce Lee: "I fear not the man who has practiced 10 000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10 000 times." Once again, be dilligent at what you do, practice until it becomes part you.

These two gentlemen taught me so much and not only about music and musicianship but many other aspects of life. No words will ever be sufficient to thank them enough.

Here are some video clips of very young talent in Japan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivJnJGB8yzI&feature=related
(kindergarten age: so funny but what talent)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-80nauxIuyw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGtgS8huLyM&feature=related
age 8 ~ Toccata and Fugue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIArvnMIbPU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-95ESC6ezFo&feature=related
age 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIwfPfJyQTo&feature=related
age 10, from Taiwan ~ playing her own compostion

Taike

Did the Heart Good.

Thanks

Those of us who attended schools in the US during the 1950's were taught in much the same fashion, my friend.

It is a valuable asset for any society or nation, do not let anybody change that for any reason or suffer the consequences.

We are indeed suffering the consequences for it here.


--Mac

Delightful, dedicated kids!


R.