Tells Mother’s Side of Raising a Boy Prodigy

Make a ha bit of glancing through the classified advertising columns. They may have a surprise in store for you.

Child prodigies are in the news again. One of the greatest, and certainly one of the most successful of them, Yehudi Menuhin, and his twelve-year-old sister Hephzibah, who recently made a successful debut as a pianist in London appeared this week in a joint recital in New York.

Recently, the newspapers were filled with stories about two unknown Jewish prodigies, possessors of amazing I. Q’s., the letters being the abbreviation for the well-known psychological test given as a measure for intelligence. The ratings of these youngsters would place them above Albert Einstein in intelligence.

About a month ago, young Grischa Goluboff played a $100,000 Stradivarius on a national radio program sponsoring an automobile. And a week ago, eleven-year-old Paul Musikonsky gave his third New York violin recital—his third violin recital at the age of eleven. This youngster had made his debut at the age of nine. There are other prodigies, too. Reviewing a concert given by three of them, Samuel Chotzinoff, well-known music critic, had the following to say:

“This may not be an age of musical creativeness, but it is certainly rich in wunderkinder. So numerous and so extraordinary are child prodigies these days that any aspirant for a virtuoso career who is past the age of nine can hardly hope to interest the public.”

It was thus that I welcomed the opportunity of interviewing Mrs. Abraham Musikonsky. I was interested in finding out the whys and wherefores of prodigies. Her first statement astounded! “Child prodigies,” she said, “are not all glamor and profits as the world seems to think.”

We were seated in the comfortable living room of the Musikonsky’s. Paul, a chunky dark-haired youngster, sat in one corner nervously eyeing the r###rter as she conversed with his mother. He was a perfect example of what the well-mannered young man should be. Quiet, attentive and respectful, he joined in the conversation only when addressed. When he spoke, it was full mouthed and well phrased. Sure of himself, his composure was pleasant to behold. There was nothing irritating about his precociousness, a fact that was readily discernable even before I discovered that, despite the time he devoted to his violin, he had successfully passed the Board of Education’s requirements for a grammar school diploma.

PARENTS’ SACRIFICES

There was an undeniable pride in Mrs. Musikonsky’s voice as she spoke about Paul. “The world,” she continued, “little realizes what parents give up when a child of theirs is an artist of one sort or another. People think it is all headlines, wonderful publicity and amazing profits. Well, there is some pleasure in the publicity but as for profits, we’re not even thinking of them. As a matter of fact, a Carnegie Hall recital for a young artist is a very expensive proposition, a pleasure for which we have to stint ourselves throughout the year.

“Critics,” said Mrs. Musikonsky, “often condemn a parent for allowing a child to perform in public. They call the parents ‘hungry.’ This, though, is not the case. Both Mr. Musikonsky and myself have but one hope, that is of making Paul a great artist. Financial rewards will come later, they will come of their own accord.

“The reason Paul gives public concerts is that it is a part of his musical education. When he grows up, and is the great artist that we hope he will be, he will not be afraid of an audience, that is the reason Paul gives concerts today. If we were to keep him playing in private until he is eighteen, and then make a debut, he would not do justice to himself. All teachers realize this. That is the reason so many young artists give recitals these days. The reason, most assuredly, is not to make profits. Ask me, I know.”

EATS SPINACH

I was interested in learning the daily program of a child soloist. Does he play? How long does he rehearse? Does he eat spinach? In other words, is he a normal youngster? I asked all these questions of Mrs. Musikonsky.

“It seems to surprise people when I tell them that Paul is a normal child,” she replied. “They seem to be of the opinion that a prodigy should be something apart. That belief seems to be just as much a part of the American credo as the one about all artists being temperamental.”

The name of Abba Judan, Antioch philanthropist of the second century, is a Jewish parallel to the name of Maecenas.

Alitryros, Jewish actor at the court of Nero, was a special favorite of the Empress Poppaea.

Make a ha bit of glancing through the classified advertising columns. They may have a surprise in store for you.