2023-08-23 12:17:00
Famed violinist David Garrett claims that, having lived through a child prodigy’s typical childhood, he missed nothing and has no regrets. Two other German musical prodigies – the brothers Maddox and Miles Marsollek (Maddox Marsollek, Miles Marsollek) – are at the beginning of their life and career, and their mother devoted herself entirely to the development of her sons’ talent. But can every especially gifted child reach musical heights?
David Garrett: childhood memories of a grown-up child prodigy
Wunderkind David Garrett will turn 43 in early September. Today he is one of the most famous violinists in the world, and journalists estimate his financial condition at 7 million euros. But he became especially popular not as a classical performer, but as a crossover musician. This musical style is a combination of classical elements and pop music. Garrett gathers halls of fans around the world, is the winner of prestigious awards and prizes. And even listed in the Guinness Book of Records: from 2008 to 2010 he was “The fastest violinist in the world” – he managed to play Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” in 65 seconds.
Became a star thanks to his father
David Garrett believes that his father played the first violin in his life. Like most gifted children, the career of a musician developed quite classically. His father, a lawyer by trade, worked as a violin teacher and recognized talent early on in the average of his three children. Under his guidance, David mastered this instrument early and at the age of nine he was already giving solo concerts accompanied by an orchestra. At thirteen, he signed an exclusive contract for the release of an album with the Berlin classical music recording company Deutsche Grammophon. Then he, together with the famous Italian conductor Claudio Abbado, recorded Mozart’s classical violin concertos. Career quickly went up.
Typical fate of a child prodigy
From an early age, David Garrett was called “the most talented violinist of his generation.” However, as the musician admits, his exceptional abilities are inextricably linked with hard work. “Literally every note has been honed for hours. It’s all just worked out to perfection,” David Garrett told DW.
Violinist David Garredd thanks his father for his perseverancePhoto: Frederic Kern/Geisler-Fotopress/picture alliance
He was born in the city of Aachen in western Germany and throughout his childhood, every day, for eight hours, he played the violin. Then he continued his professional education in prestigious educational institutions and with the best teachers. However, Garrett admitted in an interview with DW that all this time he only obeyed the will of his father, who always put a lot of pressure on him. The violinist is sure that not a single, even the most talented child, will practice all day on his own initiative, that “someone’s desires always stand behind this: either moms, or dads, or teachers – one of these three is always above you with a stick.”
When David Garrett was in his early twenties, he left King’s College London due to systematic absences. And then he fulfilled his dream – he went to live with his brother in New York and escaped from his father’s care. At the same time, he continued his professional education. He soon re-established a relationship with his father.
“If You Knew”
In 2022, David Garrett released his autobiographical book If You Only Knew. In it, he spoke about his difficult childhood, including the absence of peer friends. “Definitely, I was an outcast. I had a job, an ‘adult’ job – officially it could be called child labor, although this, of course, is not the case,” David laughs at his comparison. “I was always surrounded by adults. At the age of thirteen, he was already negotiating with record companies, with general directors, conductors, concert organizers and many others. Did he want to get out? “Where?!” Garrett exclaims in bewilderment. “I didn’t even know that I was inside something … to escape from there! I had nothing to compare it to. I’m exaggerating now, but if you grew up in a shoe box and don’t know anyone outside of this box, then this shoebox is the world for you.”
The successes of the young musician were stunning, which, however, did not stop his father from criticizing. “He filmed concerts on video and, right on the way back, listening to the tape in the car, he expressed his remarks.” But in retrospect, the famous violinist believes that without his father’s perfectionism and pressure, he would not have been at the top of the highly demanding music business. “He made my life possible today. In a tough way. But it was not easier for Mozart either,” concludes David.
Simone Marsollek: What is it like to be the mother of geeks?
Childhood, filled with many hours of daily music lessons, develops in two other German musical prodigies – Maddox and Miles Marsollek. Despite their young age, the brothers became widely known as musical geniuses. 10-year-old Maddox has an exceptional talent for playing the piano, while his younger 8-year-old brother plays the violin. Their teacher, manager and friend is their mother, Simone Marsollek.
Geeks by the age of ten play at the level of professional musiciansPhoto: Iris Kaczmarczyk/chromorange/picture alliance
Boys have been playing musical instruments since the age of three. Today they give concerts for violin and piano and participate in various music competitions – Maddox has already won more than a hundred prizes. Due to their outstanding abilities, the brothers do not need to go to school – the mother is allowed to teach them at home. “Maddock picks things up really fast, he doesn’t have to be at school for six hours, he can do it in two, which leaves more time for music,” said the mother of the geeks to DW. But that’s not all she does for her sons. Although it comes with a lot of stress, especially after the sudden death of her husband a few years ago.
Misunderstanding of others
Simone Marsollek, whose goal is to develop the talents of her sons, often has to face criticism and condemnation in her address, especially in social networks: “They write that poor children are protected from real life and are forced to study the piano and violin … I even I read on Facebook: “Yes, yes, the best way to make money is on these little children.” At the same time, no one wants to notice what it costs: time, money, nerves. Marsollek used to be a management consultant, but now she has devoted herself entirely to children. “We have a very busy schedule. Lessons, then one for piano lessons, another for violin, vocals, concert rehearsals and preparation for competitions. Sometimes you need to repair an instrument or buy something,” says the mother of two prodigies at once. When asked if she has time for herself, she answers without hesitation: “No. There is no time for myself.”
Can every talented child become a child prodigy?
Not all especially gifted children go down the path of pressure and deprivation. And not all of them become stars. But they are all united by a common feature – they delight and surprise at the same time. Many researchers of the phenomenon of giftedness are inclined to believe that child prodigies are not just a miracle of nature. “It is clear that such children have, first of all, an exceptional natural gift,” explains American researcher David Henry Feldman. “But besides this, they absolutely need an “accompanying” person who must purposefully support and develop their talent with their efforts.” He is sure that a child can have all the talents of the world, but in the “wrong” family, under the “wrong” circumstances and teachers, his talent will wither. needs for talent development and be ready for any expenses and changes, up to moving to another country.
Often musical prodigies are distinguished from early childhood by their behavior and reactions to music. The scientist suggests that this is because gifted children prefer to communicate with the outside world through music rather than speech. “Their world is not like yours or mine. They have a different experience and learn to deal with it. Therefore, they often isolate themselves in order to better concentrate.”
Who can be considered a musical prodigy? According to Feldman’s theory, this is a child who, by the age of ten, plays at the level of a professional musician and has the appropriate skills. At the same time, the researcher emphasizes that not any talented child can be “brought” to the top, if only he is “properly” dealt with.
Talent and diligence
The first and most famous musical prodigy is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. However, the point is not only in his truly outstanding gift, which no one detracts from. But, perhaps, he would not have been so famous if his father had not created an appropriate image for him in time: public attention was actively supported and riveted to a talented child from the very first years of his life. “For a long time there was an opinion that Mozart was talented in many areas. In fact, he was incredibly gifted in music, but he didn’t know how to do much else. And this is typical of a child prodigy,” says Feldman.
David Garrett absolutely agrees that Mozart is largely the product of a successful image campaign. “The result of a combination of special talent with hard work may seem like a miracle. But if you figure out what is happening behind the scenes, how much work lies behind it, then the child prodigy will no longer look like a miracle,” concludes David Garrett.
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