Prodigious? You choose!

[Zissou Intern]

I was reading a thread in the General forum about a new Collings model and there was a Julian Lage video imbedded. Julian, like many other young gun musicians, Chris Thile and the like, was child prodigy. If I could be a prodigy with any of my activities, would I choose music?

My students often ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I always tell them, "A mandolin player in touring bluegrass band!" Then I have to explain what exactly that is. In reality, when I was a kid, hockey was my passion. I wanted to be the next Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull, or Keith Magnuson. Then it was bike racing and rugby, and eventually, music. Though, I suppose, cycling still is my main passion.

I know I would've made significantly more money being Fabian Cancellara, Laurent Jalabert or Rob Blake, Ray Bourque, but I'd choose being able to play guitar and mandolin like Norman Blake over anything else.

What about you good people? Prodigious skills...your choice?

[sled]

Originally Posted by Zissou Intern

I was reading a thread in the General forum about a new Collings model and there was a Julian Lage video imbedded. Julian, like many other young gun musicians, Chris Thile and the like, was child prodigy. If I could be a prodigy with any of my activities, would I choose music?

My students often ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I always tell them, "A mandolin player in touring bluegrass band!" Then I have to explain what exactly that is. In reality, when I was a kid, hockey was my passion. I wanted to be the next Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull, or Keith Magnuson. Then it was bike racing and rugby, and eventually, music. Though, I suppose, cycling still is my main passion.

I know I would've made significantly more money being Fabian Cancellara, Laurent Jalabert or Rob Blake, Ray Bourque, but I'd choose being able to play guitar and mandolin like Norman Blake over anything else.

What about you good people? Prodigious skills...your choice?

If I could be a prodigy and do anything, I would play golf on the PGA. Every week, 4 days on a different beautiful golf course with the comradery of fellow competitors.....

[patrickgm60]

We should be careful what we wish for. Fabian Cancellara has likely broken more bones, during his career, than most hockey players.

It is a fascinating idea, though: If I could have world-class talent, in any pursuit, which would I want it to be in?

[flaggerphil]

I would love to have been a prodigy race car driver in my youth. And hopefully have survived the late '60s and '70s doing so.

[Martz911]

Top touring tennis professional. Not gonna happen now, though.

[architype]

I would have wanted to be a prodigy at baseball. Playing baseball as a kid is one of my favorite memories. I played through high school, was an average player and never was exceptional enough to be able to compete at the professional level.

I was a fan of the Baltimore Orioles growing up in Maryland, and Brooks Robinson was one of my heroes. He was famous for making incredible diving catches and throwing guys out from his knees. Unfortunately after Brooks retired a guy by the name of Cal Ripkin Jr took over third base for 21 years and set the record for most consecutive games played. Cal and I are about the same age so I would have had to have been a pretty exceptional prodigy to beat him out.

[Saltamontes]

I was a very good tennis player when I was a kid, ranked very high and won more tournaments than I can count, played and won against players that were ranked among the top in world rankings. Hit with Bjorn Borg and McEnroe and Lendl. Stupid me, turned down an offer to try out for UCLA tennis team. A few years later (past my prime) I gave up the sport as my wife did not want me to play anymore

[Acousticado]

Guitar player...no bout a doubt it!

[Rondoraymundo]

A long time ago I knew a pretty great musician. He was once the understudy to George Szell while Szell was the conductor of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. He applied for the job, and like all the other candidates went through the steps to prove his abilities, which included conducting the symphony in a 20 minute orchestral piece.

After all the trials he was tied with two other musicians for the job....until the selection committee asked them to read a figured bass line with melody and fill in the harmony using all voice leading rules......AS A SIGHT READ on the piano.....and in tempo.

Only my friend could do that. He could also sight read and hear in his head a full orchestral score.

THAT'S a prodigy that I could only dream of aspiring to.

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

Guitar player...no bout a doubt it!

Absolutely. Nothing else comes close.

[Smitty70]

Originally Posted by flaggerphil

I would love to have been a prodigy race car driver in my youth. And hopefully have survived the late '60s and '70s doing so.

Back in the mid sixties I had a hobby car, '50 Ford with a 110 ci flat head V8 I ran at the old Hialeah speedway. It was then I learned that my skills at stock driving would not be "Prodigious". I did all right at the welding trade.

[Shoreline Music]

When I was young, I was a competitive sailor. Our family knew Dennis Connor and his family. I had this dream that one day he would hand over his sailing empire to me, and I'd go win a bunch of America's Cups.

Then, I wanted to be a rock god. I didn't want to be the next Andres Segovia—I wanted flying Eddie Van Halen fingers, packed stadiums, loud music.

Catch is, I was not a prodigy at any of those (or anything else, for that matter).

Nowadays, I'd be happy to be a prodigy at anything—piano, basketball, painting, bike racing, chess, animation, cooking, they're all good. Probably piano if I had to choose only one.

[Acousticado]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

Guitar player...no bout a doubt it!

I'll add that realistically, at my age, I'll settle for being a prodigy at.....Pickleball (if any of you know that court sport)!