Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys
by Lang Lang
List Price:
Our Price: $1.89
You Save: $15.10 (89%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Lang LangContributor: Michael French
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-08
ISBN: 0385735782
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Book Reviews of Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys
Book Review: Wonderful Memoir of a Child Prodigy
Summary: 5 Stars
In his extremely reader friendly format, internationally celebrated Chinese pianist, Lang Lang with the help of well-known author Michael French candidly discusses his young life and his gruelling voyage to success on the global stage.
Written for young readers ages 9 and up, Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys is more than a simple memoir, but rather a vivid and emotional portrait of a child prodigy who believes that making music is like breathing and who cannot fathom life without music.
As we discover, Lang Lang began his musical career at the age of three and today at twenty-six he has performed with some of the most renowned orchestras in the world.
As Lang Lang explains, "maybe it all started with Monkey King and my belief in this supernatural gifts, or my father's pat on the back before I marched onstage, or the 0Chinese belief that certain colors, such as red, or the Chinese numbers, such as 8888, brought power and good fortune. I was an artist who knew that talent alone would never help me realize my dreams. Luck, timing, and connections were up to the gods."
Lang Lang always wanted to be number one and for the most part he had been successful in winning many prestigious piano competitions in China and elsewhere. However, he certainly did not live a normal child's life as he was compelled to practice several hours a day and obey a father who was a very stern and unyielding disciplinarian.
As for his mother, she unfortunately was obliged to live in a different city than Lang Lang and her husband in order to support her family and to enable her son to receive the best possible musical training.
Lang Lang's first huge break when one day he had received a letter from Gary Graffman, the famous concert pianist who had been a child prodigy. Graffman had also been a student of Vladimir Horowitz and was serving as president of the esteemed Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. Lang Lang was invited to submit an application to the school and if accepted he would receive a full scholarship along with free room and board. Lang Lang was triumphant and he and his father spent the next few years in Philadelphia.
According to a press release I received, Lang Lang's natural talent and harrowing story has already captivated young fans all over the world. As he mentions in the final few pages of his memoir, my goal is to "make classical music known to all young children around the world, to make classical music cool!"
Today, as his way of giving something back to society, Lang Lang has established The Lang Lang International Music Foundation with the objective of supporting education for musical training providing scholarships for young people from all over the globe.
Among the many triumphs of this memoir, none surpasses its attestation to how sacrifice, passion, hard work and discipline can go a long way in achieving one's goals.
Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures
Summary of Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys
HE STARTED LEARNING to play the piano when he was three years old in Shenyang, China. Today he is one of the world?s most outstanding pianists. In this engrossing life story, adapted by Michael French, Lang Lang not only recounts the difficult, often thrilling, events of his early days, but also shares his perspective on his rapidly changing homeland. He thoughtfully explores the differences between East and West, especially in the realm of classical music and cultural life. Shining through his rags-to-riches story of a child prodigy who came of age as a renowned musician, Lang Lang?s positive spirit, his dynamic personality, and his enduring passion for music will inspire readers of all ages.Music Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Music Books
Making Music: 6 Instruments You Can Createby Eddie Herschel Oates
Harpercollins; Published: 1995-03; Library Binding; Book
Best price: $293.45
Woody's 20 Grow Big Songsby Woody Guthrie, Majorie Mazia Guthrie
Harpercollins Childrens Books; Published: 1992-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.90
Price in other shops:
Human Heritage, World Music: Cultural Traditions, CDby McGraw-Hill
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill; Published: 1994-08-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $115.28
Choral Connections: Level 1, Treble Voiceby Tower
Glencoe/Mcgraw-Hill; Published: 1997-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $51.85
Share the Music: Grade 2Sra; Published: 2003-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.41
Price in other shops:
Look in the BookAlexandria House; Published: 1987-11; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Click Go the Shears Oe (Fontana picture lions)by Robert Ingpen
Angus & Robertson Childrens; Published: 1986-09-03; Paperback; Book
Mommy Who Made GodWonder Workshop; Published: 1993-04; Audio Cassette; Book
Price in other shops:
Easter Story in Songby Wonder Works
Wonder Workshop; Published: 1994-06; Audio Cassette; Book
Price in other shops:
Collins Christmas TapeCollins Audio; Published: 1992-09-10; Audio Cassette; Book
Similar Books and other products
Lang Lang - Lang Lang Live in Vienna (2 CD/ 1 DVD)Release date: 2010-08-24; Music CD
Best price: $11.94
Price in other shops:
Tchaikovsky / Rachmaninov: Piano TriosRelease date: 2009-10-20; Music CD
Best price: $8.95
Price in other shops:
Lang Lang - Liszt: My Piano HeroRelease date: 2011-10-04; Music CD
Best price: $8.56
Price in other shops:
Lang Lang - Best of Lang LangRelease date: 2010-08-24; Music CD
Best price: $7.53
Price in other shops:
Lang Lang: Live at Carnegie HallUniversal Studios; Release date: 2004-09-28; DVD
Best price: $11.42
Price in other shops:
Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Storyby Lang Lang, David Ritz
Spiegel & Grau; Published: 2008-07-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.70
Price in other shops:
![Lang Lang Live in Vienna [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Lang-Lang-Live-in-Vienna-Blu-ray-B003O2RQKS-X.jpg)
Lang Lang - Lang Lang Live in Vienna [Blu-ray]Sony; Release date: 2010-11-22; Blu-ray
Best price: $11.95
Price in other shops:
Lang Lang: Dragon Songs (Plus DVD)Dragon; Release date: 2007-01-09; Music CD
Best price: $10.31
Price in other shops:
Lang Lang - The Magic Of Lang LangBaker & Taylor; Release date: 2008-02-05; Music CD
Best price: $7.92
Price in other shops:
Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Storyby Lang Lang, David Ritz
Spiegel & Grau; Published: 2009-09-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.98
Price in other shops: