![Trevor Philips](https://i2.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1502206719p2/70203329.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
She writes: “From the age of eight onwards, I was performing as soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Massey Hall; the Toronto Philharmonic at the ‘Prom Concerts’ in Varsity Arena; the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in the Eastman Theatre, and the New York Philharmonic in Carnegie Hall. I held t
…more![Laura](https://i2.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1251908555p2/2694983.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
What happened to Patricia, in the early part of her life, would be considered child abuse, by today’s standards, or at least I hope so. But, as I told her, there are still stage mothers who are out there, trying to get their child to practic
…more![James Cory](https://i2.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1501087347p2/69815883.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
Although framed as a musical memoir, Patricia Parr’s book (implicitly) poses the following question for her readers to consider: “How do you raise a prodigy?” Or, in her words, how do you support your gifted child without pushing them into a life they don’t necessarily want?
We live in ambitious times. You need only to go through the New York preschool application process, as I recently did for my son, to witness the hy
…more![Claudine Shaffer](https://i1.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1500223006p2/69512606.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
![Paul Emond](https://i2.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1501460372p2/69944790.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
From the age of eight onwards she performed as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Philharmonic, the Rochester Civic Orchestra,
…more![Sandra Stevenson](https://i0.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1501533423p2/69970656.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
Cut to 2017. My husband and I are attending
…more![Thomas Hamelton](https://i0.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1501687580p2/70025540.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
![Sarah McNally](https://i0.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1500043496p2/69443197.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
While I did find the beginning of the book more interesting than the second half — particularly as it was the “child prodigy” dimension of the book that caught my attention — I enjoyed reading about how her
…more![Marta Kovac](https://i2.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1502289056p2/70235839.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
![Ellis Steinhoff](https://i0.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1500245919p2/69523056.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
![James Gibson](https://i0.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1501761461p2/70052295.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
![Tanya Dali](https://i1.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1501452424p2/69942419.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
Interestingly, the emotional distance in her writing is offset by the incredibly intimate musical performances on the CD, consisting mostly of unedited recordings. So, reading and
…more![Jonathan Nizol](https://i0.wp.com/images.gr-assets.com/users/1496933453p2/68449437.jpg?w=750&ssl=1)
The book is accessible and entertaining. Musical child prodigies often suffer neglect at the hands of their parents – and the author was no exception. I found the early chapters on her privileged, but emotionally unsupportive upbringing, both heart breaking and awe-inspiring. Somehow, despite all the pressure, and isolation, and being shipped away to study the piano at the famed Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, she emerged not only a world-class musician but a more fully formed and well-adjusted person.
In the Toronto music world, the name “Patricia Parr” is practically a household name – especially for those who grew up attending concerts at the Royal Conservatory, Massy Hall, and Varsity Arena. But I had no idea she’d endured so much on the way to becoming Canada’s premiere chamber music pianist. Hers is the rarest of prodigy stories – one with a happy ending (spoiler alert!). I particularly enjoyed the epilogue