Neat family examples Kreisler ... but those top-earning Microsoft chappies have found the carrot (dirty lucre) to transform hard work into buying a Ferrari (or a Steinway Grand) ... smart thinking!!

But rocket88 has discovered his own brand of smart-thinking in

"When I have a young person as a student who will not practice, that is the only thing that has ever worked... FIND MUSIC THAT THEY LIKE ".

I agree with Kreisler, smart and hard work is what fosters achievement (and I do find it satisfying, even if others do not - old time Protestant ethic, I guess). Diane, not to worry, I was just teasing our friend btb, 'cause he just loves the idea of being able to sit down and reading through the 32 Beethoven sonatas and have them sound like Kempff the first time through. I love the idea, too, but it's not going to happen in my lifetime!

Whenever Columbo (Peter Falk) extracts a patronizing "my friend" reaction, the wily sleuth always knows that he’s getting under the skin of the yobo ... and close to revealing another ill-hatched plot..

But, thinking aloud ... after selfishly buying a pre-Xmas gift of The Complete Sixth and Seventh Seasons ... with so many glowing tributes to his better half ... wouldn’t it be marvellous to one day actually meet the redoubtable Mrs Columbo ... and find out whether her apparent lack of culinary skill (un-smart C admits to having to do all the family cooking) ... is perhaps due to the diligent practice which Mrs Columbo has to put in before her next piano lesson.

Just thought you chaps ought to know ...
PS Columbo wisely suggests "never say never!!"