I recently watched a very interesting documentary called Beyond the Practice Room which examined a few teens who participated in the 2004 New York Piano Competition. If I were a parent, I don't know whether I would force my kid to learn the piano or any other instrument. Yet to play at the level the teens profiled in the documentary do, you do have to start at an early age. I think if I had a child, I would introduce him or her to music when they are very young. If they don't take interest in learning an instrument, fine. But if they do take an interest, I'd be soooooooo supportive....

Below are two different trailers to the documentary (available for purchase at the New York Piano Competition website):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vc-sdjyMik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic_J1qJLQ5I

Those look really interestingl thanks a lot for posting them.

What's the website for purchasing the documentary?

Here is the website where you can purchase the DVD of the documentary:
http://www.beyondthepracticeroom.com/

Thanks a lot, I think I will actually purchase it.

I've watched the documentary a couple of times on PBS. It is really quite wonderful, like the New York Piano Competition itself, which has no elimination round, so contestants have the opportunity to play through the entire competition.

I especially loved the scenes with Ruth Slenczynska and some of the performers. She shows so much warmth and respect. It's very poignant when you consider what she went through as a child prodigy.