Tian Jiaxin plays from the heart

Compared with Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang, whose musical foundation was influenced by his parents, who wanted him to be a musician, Tian Jiaxin has a different story. Her parents did not want her to follow in their footsteps.

"We know the hardship of learning music, and we've spent our whole lives in this area," says Tian's mother, Wang Yuying, 55, a retired soprano from Opera Troupe of the General Political Department of People's Liberation Army. "We didn't want our daughter to go through it."

Tian's father, Tian Di, who is a composer and conductor from the same troupe, agrees. "It's very natural for our daughter to learn piano but we didn't want her to become a professional pianist. Playing piano as a hobby is good enough."