Do we give up too easily? French horn player Felix Klieser overcame great challenges to become a top musician. Some think problem-solving is the greatest skill of all.
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The virtuoso musician who plays with his toes
Do we give up too easily? French horn player Felix Klieser overcame great challenges to become a top musician. Some think problem-solving is the greatest skill of all.
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What's happening?
Felix Klieser was only four years old when he told his parents he wanted to play the French hornA circular brass instrument with a large opening at the end. When uncoiled, the horn is a piece of metal around four metres long..
There was just one problem. Most people play the French horn with their hands. But Klieser was born with no arms.
His teacher said: "You will never be a professionalSomeone who does something as their profession, or job. E.g. playing music. horn player." But Klieser kept trying. Today, he plays the horn with his toes and his mouth.
Klieser explains: "When you have something you dream of and a problem arises, most people give up. But I think it is possible to solve every problem in the world".
Find out more
This summer, Klieser is playing in London for the BBC Proms, the world's largest classical music festival. He even led a piece by MozartAn 18th Century classical musician who composed more than 800 works. . He has proved his teacher wrong.
Do we give up too easily?
Yes! If at first you do not succeed, try again. Klieser's life is proof that, through hard work and problem-solving, we can do almost anything we set our mind to.
No! Not every person can solve every problem. If you find yourself a bad fit for a task, change tack. The key is to never stop trying to do new things, even if we give up some of them.
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Keywords
French horn - A circular brass instrument with a large opening at the end. When uncoiled, the horn is a piece of metal around four metres long.
Professional - Someone who does something as their profession, or job. E.g. playing music.
Mozart - An 18th Century classical musician who composed more than 800 works.
The virtuoso musician who plays with his toes
Determined: Klieser was only four years old when he told his parents he would be a horn player. Glossary
French horn - A circular brass instrument with a large opening at the end. When uncoiled, the horn is a piece of metal around four metres long.
Professional - Someone who does something as their profession, or job. E.g. playing music.
Mozart - An 18th Century classical musician who composed more than 800 works.