Yo-Yo Ma is one of the most famous classical musicians of our time. In this article, Yo-Yo Ma reflects on the story of his gifts and his passions. In 1998, he founded a non-profit organization that brings musicians together from around the world. He has received numerous awards; Grammy awards, the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As a fellow cellist, I am a big admirer of his.
He points at that he has no idea how he became a great cellist. He says that he is an accident and that it was a series of circumstances that has led him to where he is today. Mr. Ma says that what we hear is only 10 percent of what music is about. It is what lies underneath the sound. Practicing for him could mean a few hours a day or only a few minutes.
He has had to deal with tendinitis, but has been able to overcome it. "Musicians often forget they are athletes and that it's important to stretch before and after practicing or performing." As a musician, I know that to be very true.
Sometimes when someone like Mr. Ma begins training at such a young age, there is a tendency to miss out on other important life events due to the training. He says it's about developing a disciplined imagination. "I often say that to be a classical musician is to be a forensic cultural analyst." I found that to be very interesting as he states prior to that that you need to be able to project your imagination into someone else's mind.
The article goes on to talk about how he deals with traveling as he grows older and is even asked about retirement. About any regrets: "If I were to do it over again I would seriously look at the quality of decisions made during those years."
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