Parent, peer and socio-economic influences on the development of a child music prodigy: case study of Arthur Kam / Nadia Syakila Mohd Zainodin

Parents, peers and socio-economics influence in the development of a child music prodigy (Goldsmith, 2000; Feldman 1986). These factors play an essential role, particularly in a gifted child's early education years. This study is designed to study the parental influences on the development of a child music prodigy, to study the peer influences on the development of a child music prodigy and to identify the socio-economic influences on the development of a child music prodigy. This study was conducted through interview with a case study due to a limited number of a child music prodigy in Malaysia and one selected grown-up child music prodigy to able the subject to review and reflect the result of this study. The subject of this study was chosen from one respondent, Arthur Kam, 27 years old drummer, who was a child music prodigy in Malaysia participated in the study. This subject of this study is a grown-up child music prodigy as selected on his ability to reflect on his early childhood years. The result of this study concluded that parent's support, motivation, family music background, parent's education and socio-economic status influence during his development as a child music prodigy. Meanwhile, peers do not impact his development of being a child music prodigy. This research may enlighten music educators especially on the development of a child music prodigy and help to exceed the support from their parents, peers and socio-economic factors for their future.