What a great thread! Threads such as this revive my MUDCAT spirit.

I have two comments to add to the discussion. My 'bestest' friend ever passed away nine years ago. We grew up together. His parents were musicians. He was a child prodigy, violin. He performed with the Seattle symphoney as a youngster. When we kids were growing up, it was the classic scene: he couldn't play baseball now, he had to come home and practice for three hours (true). He had a magnificiant career: concert violist, symphoney conductor (five orchestras) toured most of Europe. He was a driven man ... and Yes, I loved him dearly and we kept in touch all our lives.

But having said that, I've often wondered what his life would have been like if he hadn't been pushed so hard and so early. Sure, that's how we get our surperb musicians. We condition them, train them early, deny them other venues. And we are rewarded for our efforts, by driven musicians who perform brilliantly.

But, what about the other opportunities they missed. Just food for thought. CHEERS, Bob