Monday, February 6, 2012
Yo Yo Ma By Vivek
Do you play the cello? If the answer is yes, then you probably know Yo-Yo Ma. He is Chinese American musician who is known for his mastery of the cello.
Ma was born in Paris, France on October 7, 1955. Music ran in his family: his mother was a singer, and his father was a violinist, composer, and music scholar. His father trained musically gifted children, like his own son! Some reasons he is popular is that his smooth tones express so much passion, and his technique is almost perfect. Also, he can play the toughest works for the cello with out batting an eye. He is also versatile, playing music like baroque, bluegrass, and Argentine tangos. He first played the violin, but he found his true calling when he switched to the cello at age four. He was a natural even then! Three years later, Ma’s family moved to New York. At age seven, he was one of the youngest students at New York’s prestigious Juliard School of Music. In 1964, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall at nine years old. He was well on his way to becoming the next musical star! After graduating from Harvard University in 1976, Ma began his full time playing career. However, he had to undergo surgery to fix his scoliosis- a condition that results in an unnaturally curved spine. Ma had suffered from it since childhood, and it had gotten so bad that it was threatening his ability to pay the cello. Luckily, the surgery was a success, ans Ma was able to resume his career. 15 of his albums have won Grammy awards. However, he has 75 albums. He has also won the National Medal of Arts.He also made cello solos in the Oscar award winning soundtrack of the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Master and Commander: the Far Side of of the World . He is a cultural ambassador and a UN messenger of peace. He also appears on shows like Sesame Street! He once preformed for president Ronald Reagan! He also met Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple! He also appeared on the Colbert Report, the television show Arthur, and world renowned Italian composer Ennio Morricone!
I hope you have learned a lot about Yo-Yo Ma. Thanks!
Do you play a musical instrument ? Do you know a lot about someone famous?
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18 comments:
Dear Vivek,
Nice Blog!I never knew someone who is such a great musician who met famous people.Did he really meet Steve Jobs!Now that you told me about
Yo-Yo Ma, I could probably search him up and find more facts about him.
Yes, I play an Indian instrument. I never knew about Yo Yo Ma. I have one question. Is he still alive? It sounds that you like music(do you?)
I don't play any instrument but I used to play piano but...... I quit. I've always wanted to play flute though. I don't know a lot about any one famous sadly...:(
I don't play a instrument but I play two instruments witch are flute and piano. I don't know alot about anyone famous.
Cool Blog, Vivek. To answer your questions, I do play a musical instrument. Two, actually. I play the piano and the flute. I am not very good at the flute(I'm just a beginner). yes, I do know a lot about somebody famous. I know a lot about somebody famous, who is Steve Jobs!!
Nice blog,
Mihir
Dear Vivek,
I do play an instrument. I play the piano. Sometimes, I enjoy playing, but most of the time, I don't :) I also "play" other instruments like harmonica, recorder, and the guitar. The thing is ,I don't learn it from a teacher.... I do not know a lot about someone famous.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Li
Yes! I play the...
FLUTE here the story begins:
I first got a really bad quality flute, but then my parents said, "Ok. If you promise to practice flute everyday, I will buy you a new flute." So one night when I was in bed reading at 9:50, my parents were like ok we're buying you a new flute! So we ended up in an apartment. I thought WHY would we be in an apartment if we are buying a flute? Nope, no shops here! Then there was a guy holding a flute. I though it was used at first, but then it was bought, but not used. We bought it for $270. I am now in the Intermediate Band but I can play advanced flute songs from flutetunes.com
I used to play the piano. I started and was like "cool!" but then after a while, it got so boring I quit. I got up to like level nine or ten. I really fail at the theory!
I usually now play duets in flute with Jasmine. We are great together! You can hear us this Thursday because we made the audition for the performance. We are playing Carol of the Bells.
Nice post
-Vivek
Very informational blog! I've learned a lot of facts about Yo Yo Ma.
I do play two musical instrument. I started my first instrument, piano, when I was four years old. The other instrument is flute. For piano I know a few famous composers. (Some were great pianist to) For Example Mozart can play piano backwards and compose very good.
I play piano and used to play violin. I take classes with my piano teacher who goes by name raincat Wang (that is *not* her real name). I used to take violin class, but quit. Then I started again, and quit again. I do not know a lot about anyone famous, but you seem to know a lot about Yo-Yo Ma.
Nice Post, Vivek!
I play the flute. I'm in the intermediate band. I do know someone who is famous, James Galway and Ming Li. I don't know a whole lot about them. Ming Li is also my music teacher. One thing I know about James Galway is he's old and plays really good on flute.
Hey Vivek,
I play an instrument which is called the flute. And I do not know a lot about anyone famous. But I do know a little about Ronald Reagan. Also your blog was very, very informative,interesting AND very nice!
Dear Vivek, I play a musical instrument called guitar I have been playing it for 1 and 1/4 years. I heard of Yo Yo Ma before but I didn't know who he was, his name was different. In what ways you are emphasing about Yo-Yo Ma he must be good with his smooth strokes. I wonder how he bacame so good in the cello and other instruments, maybe he must have practiced so much that he became popular. Nice blog Vivek!!!
Vivek,
I play the piano, but I am still a beginner. I have some knowledge of a couple of famous people, but none of them are musicians. They are those people who fought for freedom and/or rights. I had never heard of a person named Yo-Yo Ma before this, but I had heard a few people say the name when were surprised or shocked. The part I can't get myself to believe was that he was a natural cello player at age 4! It makes sense that he was one of the youngest students. One question: did he compose any of the popular songs we know today?
That is so interesting! Did he play for steve jobs? I play sax and piano, and my keyboard can sound like anything- violin,cello,people,a phone ringing, firetruck-you name it! It's too bad he has sclerosis. The surgery was a success so YAY!
Yo man! That was a musical blog Vivek! I learned a lot about Yo Yo Ma. I use to play guiter,and trombone. Now I play the keyboard. I also like singing. Do you?
I play the piano and the flute. I play the flute on Thursdays after school at band. I started learning the flute in August and started the piano in kindergarten. One of the composers I know about is J.S. Bach. His music did not become popular until he died. He lived during the Baroque period. Flutes, trumpets, and violins are used in Baroque music. All in all, Bach was a great composer.
Great job Vivek! I play the piano and recorder. I know a lot about Gandhi because I did a report about him in 3 grade. I use to like piano a lot then I liked recorder like when he played violin switched to the cello but I still like piano. I wish I could meet Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple but he died. Thanks a lot Vivek!
Yes,I do play a instrument but I don't know anyone famous.Thanks FYI. You told many things. I don't know Yo Yo Ma. What is a cello?
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