Lin, Jennifer, 1990- born in California of Korean mother and Chinese father
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Lin
Jennifer Lin, piano
http://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_lin_improvs_piano_magic.html
ABC News Person of the Week
Jennifer Lin, a 14-year-old pianist, was one of the guests at this year's TED Conference in California focusing on technology, design and entertainment.
At one point, Jennifer asked another guest to pick five musical notes at random that she would use to compose music — on the spot.
"I'm gonna have a moment to think," she said, before launching into her song.
"I'm selfish, I do it for myself," Jennifer said of her piano-playing. "I like listening to myself play and also comparing myself to others and trying to perfect what I'm doing to better myself. That's something that is actually, like, driving you."
Jennifer lives with her parents in Alhambra, Calif. She is a freshman in high school and she draws really good cartoons. But her priority is piano. She is in the latest generation of extraordinary, young talent, following in remarkable footsteps — the violinist Gil Shaham, who was a huge star while he was still a teenager; Sarah Chang, famous at 12; and the violinist Midori, a success at 14.
Family Crucial to Success
"I wonder all the time where it comes from, but I don't know if it's discoverable," said Joseph Polisi, president of the Juilliard School, which teaches some of the great young artists.
He said to be born with ability is never enough — it takes family to instill hard work.
When asked why so many of these young artists are Asian, Polisi said: "I think that mix currently of family, tradition and respect for a type of genre of music certainly does exist in China, Japan and Taiwan, Korea of course. That's a tradition we see less in America today."
After watching a tape of Jennifer playing piano, Polisi was impressed. "Every time I see a young person here at Juilliard or on this tape or in concerts all around the world, that excitement is always there," he said. "To see the ability of these young musicians and their dedication and their future is just life-affirming."
A Bright Future
Jennifer's mother was born in Korea, her father in China. Jennifer was born in California. She was 4 when her parents — neither of whom plays an instrument — signed her up to take lessons.
Recently, Jennifer placed first among pianists her age in Southern California. She thinks she wants it for a life. "There are several paths," she said, "and I've kind of chosen the piano path already, but there are still other paths I can take."
Many young stars flame out before they grow up. The pressure of practice and performance is sometimes too much. Others have everything it takes, including inner strength.
"Music is something that I believe is given to us from God, and it's something that we should really appreciate it," Jennifer said. "And I enjoy music because I'm able to actually create it. And I can make my parents happy, I can make myself happy and I can touch other people, I hope.