The 5 Browns? Who knew kids could do so well with no caffeine?

Check out this video as well as any others concerning The 5 Browns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52AwgDRtOEA&feature=PlayList&p=61907A355ED6EC69&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3

This group of kids is all family members. They were raised as Mormons in Utah. At very young ages each of them became very intrigued and close with the piano. At first their mother just wanted them to learn more about music and understand the piano and they all happened to be child prodigies. This, however, is not what I want to talk about. Yes, each of these children are amazingly gifted and their music is flawless and brilliant but I want to address how these kids were raised and why I think its somewhat wrong what the parents did with them.

At first there was only one piano in the house and after discovering the kids talent their parents bought four more so that each of the Brown children could play on their own at any time they wanted. In a 60 minutes story, by Scott Pelley, he sits and talks with the mother of the family, Lisa. She talks about some things that really set me off while I was watching the interview. At first Lisa Brown said she used to wake her children up at 4:30 am so that they could practice piano before breakfast and heading off to school. What is wrong with that picture? I know grown adults and college students that are not ever up that early! Thats wrong for a child to have to be up so early. After so long Mrs. Brown also chose to take the kids out of public schooling. She said to Pelley that school was a waste of time when they kids could come home for school for three hours instead of seven. That way they could have more time to practice piano. I am not going to bash anyone that has been home schooled but in my opinion kids should be in school whether it be private or public. School is more than just learning for kids. You meet friends, learn about yourself and ideas that you can't get from being at home all the time. Secondly, being brought up Mormon, the kids never got video games, television or caffeine. This was said to Pelley as well by the parents. Again, I don't want to bash on home schooling nor to a want to try to prove being Mormon is wrong or anything of that nature. However, I still feel wrong that these kids got no television, video games or caffeine. Those are three main parts to a kids life, except maybe caffeine, and almost every adult as well, at least the category of television. Third of all, the two oldest girls in the family went to Juilliard to audition and made it in. After a few years when the other youngest girl and two brothers were old enough to try out they did and they all got in. To me this is to much of a publicity stunt. I feel as though after the school knew these kids were a big deal in the media world they chose to allow all of them to make it into their school. That seems unfair to me.

Overall, I do love that the children are astounding pianists, I just think their upbringing could have been a little better. I don't think its right for any child to be somewhat deprived of certain things like the five browns were. Again, this is all just an opinion of mine. If you're wondering they do have their own album out. You can find it here, http://www.the5browns.com/, along with many other photos, merchandise, events and things of that nature.

Like always enjoy your days and check back when you can.