Yo-Yo Ma

All of us. So I didn't feel that I was particularly special because I didn't play with a lot of friends as a young person. And I never thought I was that special. A lot of people paid attention to me and said, you're this and you're that. And I wasn't sure that that... meant anything or was true or whatever. But I was trying to figure things out. I was actually very confused. About what?

All of us. So I didn't feel that I was particularly special because I didn't play with a lot of friends as a young person. And I never thought I was that special. A lot of people paid attention to me and said, you're this and you're that. And I wasn't sure that that... meant anything or was true or whatever. But I was trying to figure things out. I was actually very confused. About what?

All of us. So I didn't feel that I was particularly special because I didn't play with a lot of friends as a young person. And I never thought I was that special. A lot of people paid attention to me and said, you're this and you're that. And I wasn't sure that that... meant anything or was true or whatever. But I was trying to figure things out. I was actually very confused. About what?

About everything. I'm an immigrant. I was born in Paris. My parents were Chinese. And guess what? When we moved from France to America, our French friends would say, pourquoi? Why you go to America? This is the greatest country in the world. And once we arrived in America, you know, like Americans, this is of course the greatest country in the world. You've arrived!

About everything. I'm an immigrant. I was born in Paris. My parents were Chinese. And guess what? When we moved from France to America, our French friends would say, pourquoi? Why you go to America? This is the greatest country in the world. And once we arrived in America, you know, like Americans, this is of course the greatest country in the world. You've arrived!

About everything. I'm an immigrant. I was born in Paris. My parents were Chinese. And guess what? When we moved from France to America, our French friends would say, pourquoi? Why you go to America? This is the greatest country in the world. And once we arrived in America, you know, like Americans, this is of course the greatest country in the world. You've arrived!

And my parents would say, well, you know, there's Chinese culture, you know, ancient culture, this is so great. And I was wondering, you know, then why are we in America? So I was very confused because people would say, choose, you must be one or the other, whatever. And I thought... Why? Why do I need to choose? Because I love croissant. Do I have to give up croissant for Wonder Bread?

And my parents would say, well, you know, there's Chinese culture, you know, ancient culture, this is so great. And I was wondering, you know, then why are we in America? So I was very confused because people would say, choose, you must be one or the other, whatever. And I thought... Why? Why do I need to choose? Because I love croissant. Do I have to give up croissant for Wonder Bread?

And my parents would say, well, you know, there's Chinese culture, you know, ancient culture, this is so great. And I was wondering, you know, then why are we in America? So I was very confused because people would say, choose, you must be one or the other, whatever. And I thought... Why? Why do I need to choose? Because I love croissant. Do I have to give up croissant for Wonder Bread?

I don't mind rice either, but I love potatoes too. Do we need to make a choice on everything?

I don't mind rice either, but I love potatoes too. Do we need to make a choice on everything?

I don't mind rice either, but I love potatoes too. Do we need to make a choice on everything?

Well, that's assuming that you're doing a comparative thing. I didn't particularly know what I was doing was good, bad, ugly, or whatever. I just did things. Now, yes, there's the part of me from... two, not one, but two tiger parents. You've all heard of tiger parents? You know, Asian household. And that, you know, I had to do, well, I had to listen to them. There's not much dialogue.

Well, that's assuming that you're doing a comparative thing. I didn't particularly know what I was doing was good, bad, ugly, or whatever. I just did things. Now, yes, there's the part of me from... two, not one, but two tiger parents. You've all heard of tiger parents? You know, Asian household. And that, you know, I had to do, well, I had to listen to them. There's not much dialogue.

Well, that's assuming that you're doing a comparative thing. I didn't particularly know what I was doing was good, bad, ugly, or whatever. I just did things. Now, yes, there's the part of me from... two, not one, but two tiger parents. You've all heard of tiger parents? You know, Asian household. And that, you know, I had to do, well, I had to listen to them. There's not much dialogue.

It's a lot of monologue, right? You do this, you're a good boy, you can do this, and this is the right thing to do. And I had a father who was an incredibly gifted teacher.

It's a lot of monologue, right? You do this, you're a good boy, you can do this, and this is the right thing to do. And I had a father who was an incredibly gifted teacher.

It's a lot of monologue, right? You do this, you're a good boy, you can do this, and this is the right thing to do. And I had a father who was an incredibly gifted teacher.

He started a children's orchestra in New York. And he was just a really brilliant teacher, but irascible. And I had a mother who was... who loved music, who was a singer, who actually loved to be moved by music. So I had both the head and heart sort of thing from either parent. And I think there was a lot of emphasis on trying to get things right consistently. So I had fantastic training.

He started a children's orchestra in New York. And he was just a really brilliant teacher, but irascible. And I had a mother who was... who loved music, who was a singer, who actually loved to be moved by music. So I had both the head and heart sort of thing from either parent. And I think there was a lot of emphasis on trying to get things right consistently. So I had fantastic training.