"Will my boy amount to something?"

The mother of one of my students came one day to inquire about her son. This student had good musical sense, practiced very well, and was a superior child.

"Sensei (Professor), will my boy amount to something?" the mother asked me, just like that.

I answered laughingly,"No. He will not become 'something'."

It seems to be the tendency in modern times for parents to entertain thoughts of this kind. It is undisguisedly cold and calculating educational attitude. When I hear things like this, I want to reply in a joking way. But the mother was alarmed and surprised by my answer.

So I continued, "He will become a noble person through his violin playing. Isn't that good enough? You should stop wanting your child to become a professional, a good money earner. This thought is concealed in your question and is offensive. A person with a fine and pure heart will find happiness. The only concern for parents should be to bring up their children as noble human beings. That is sufficient. If this is not their greatest hope, in the end the child may take a road contrary to their expectations. Your son plays the violin very well. We must try to make him splendid in mind and heart also. "

- Nurtured by Love, Shinichi Suzuki