9/19/2023 0 Comments Alexander piano prodigy![]() ![]() And the young pianist has just released his second album, Countdown, which features major jazz stars such as saxophonist Chris Potter and bassist Larry Grenadier. The trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who was also a child prodigy, sees him as a youth ambassador for jazz. His parents seem supportive rather than pushy, and at an age when most of us were still trying to come to terms with the world, he seems sure of his decision to dedicate his childhood to music.Īlexander is in constant demand as a performer. I think when I practise, I try to create my own sound.”Īs the conversation goes on, Alexander becomes more relaxed and it’s clear that he’s a likeable, well-adjusted kid. You know, my dad is always with me, even when I’m practising, and I always try to do new things. Practice is not always easy, but I think that challenges me to get better through that. I don’t practice that much, but I try to do two or three hours every day. “I think the more I play, the more I learn how to get better. “Well, for sure it’s a process, even now,” he answers thoughtfully. Was there a moment when it all fell into place for him? Then sometime around the age of 9 or 10, he seems to have turned a corner. Watching early videos of Alexander as an eight-year-old, he certainly sounds good but is still just a kid. With the encouragement of Hancock, and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, in 2014 Alexander and his parents (his father is an amateur jazz musician) left the paradise of Bali behind for the bright lights of New York city. I was really happy and a little bit nervous. How did he feel, playing for one of the icons of the music? His big break came at the age of eight when he was asked to perform for pianist Herbie Hancock at a Unesco event in Jakarta. “I’m always trying to improve myself, you know, to be more patient, how I play, how I touch every note, always trying to keep patience in the ‘feel’, so that I’m not overdoing it.” Instead, there is a humility and sense of purpose that takes some musicians a lifetime to learn. There is none of the hyperbole or reductionism you might expect in a teenage boy. When it comes to talking about music, however, it’s obvious that there is a sophisticated mind at work. When we speak, via FaceTime, it’s a few days ahead of his 14th birthday and I ask him if he has any plans for his birthday. He is unfailingly polite, but his answers tend to be short and factual (rather than long and philosophical, which is the approach favoured by his older colleagues in jazz). He is still a 13-year-old teenager, and one who is communicating in a second language. The big question is whether he is as mature in conversation as he sounds on record. He has said in previous interviews how much he dislikes the “prodigy” tag, so I try to speak to him as I would to any other musician. The thing is, Joey Alexander's feet aren't that big, which is what you would expect of a 13-year-old boy. “That is not unusual,” said Sjoerd Hulshof, education director of the TUE bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, in a statement.Joey Alexander has the world at his feet: his first two albums have attracted Grammy nominations his playing partners and musical mentors are some of the biggest names in jazz and he has recently relocated from his native Bali in Indonesia to an apartment in downtown Manhattan. The TUE has allowed Laurent to complete his course faster than other students. “I ate a lot of fish during the pregnancy,” she joked. While Laurent comes from a family of doctors, his parents have so far not received any explanation as to why their child prodigy is capable of learning so quickly. “They told us he is like a sponge,” said Alexander. Laurent was given test after test as teachers tried to work out the extent of his talents. “They noticed something very special about Laurent,” said Lydia. His parents, Lydia and Alexander Simons, said they thought Laurent’s grandparents were exaggerating when they said he had a gift, but his teachers soon concurred. (Photo by Muhannad Fala'ah/Getty Images) Muhannad Fala'ah/Getty Imagesĩ-year-old chess prodigy wins right to stay in Britain Iraqi government announced on August 5, that it intends to remove within 40 days the blast walls erected by the U.S. Iraqi chess players from all over Iraq competed for the second day in a row to win the Iraqi Chess Championship held in Baghdad as the security situation continues to improve in the capital. BAGHDAD, IRAQ, AUGUST 6: Iraqi chess player Maha Leith moves a piece during the Iraq chess championship on Augin Baghdad, Iraq. ![]()
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