Without technique, it doesn't matter what your ideas are; you would not be able to do what you want. It's something that you always need to work on. It's also important to never forget the feeling for the music, the imagination.
To be honest, I don't really consider myself a prodigy. Learning the piano, I have encountered some difficulties. There are many challenges in playing and I've grown frustrated at times... But because I like to play the piano, I never thought of giving up. I was always able to overcome difficulties in pianistic techniques. Yes, there might be some 'traffic lights', but they all turned 'green'.
I've always loved performing. It was always very exciting for me. I don't get too nervous when I'm playing, but on every stage, it's a little different. I'm always excited, but sometimes, the level of anxiety to perform is greater.
If one has to conform to a certain taste, he/she might lose his/her own individuality and imagination. But if you don't really care about winning competitions and think of them as chances to learn from the experience, they would become good ways to learn about others and yourself. Competitions are also stages where one becomes known to the public.
Learning and performing music have been rewarding, both physically and mentally. They helped me to mature and grow as a person.
