Rep. Harrison to receive Legislator of the Year award
July 22, 2014Houma Eagle Scout heads to Iceland with Boy Scouts
July 22, 2014
Paul Kraemer is an ordinary 7-year-old who goes to school and does his homework, loves spending time with his friends and playing video games, but Paul has an extraordinary talent that has impressed his family peers.
Paul first learned to play the piano when he was roughly 4 years old. For the past three years, he has been polishing his craft and working hard to get better. Some have even called Paul a prodigy on the keys.
Paul’s mother, Ying Kraemer, and father, Vincent Kraemer, knew their son was uniquely talented from about the age of one.
“We have a little pool table and we were the rolling the balls and I said, ‘I am going to roll you the 13,’” Vincent Kraemer said. “(Paul) said, ‘That is the orange stripe.’ He accurately told me the color and whether the ball was a stripe or solid for every number at (18 months old).”
When Paul was just two years old, he learned the name and number of every president of the United States.
“He learned how to do that in two or three months,” his father said. “After a week, we used flash cards. He would learn about six or seven per day. That was when we knew he had a great memory.”
Paul began taking piano lessons at age 4 after his parents noticed he took serious interest and it was not just a phase. Vincent and Ying Kraemer wanted Paul to learn how to read music properly and get the proper training. Their son still attends lessons once every week where he learns a new piece and practices throughout the week.
In April, Paul performed at a competition at Nicholls State University where he captured a first place award against some of the local children. Last month, he won third place at “The Torgrimson/Swanzy Piano Competition” of the Louisiana Music Teachers at Northwestern State University, which featured children who were all two to three years older than Paul.
Despite being the youngest of the 40 children competing, the Houma youth embraced the competition as his parents watched nervously as this was his first time competing in a state competition.
“I was shaking because I was nervous,” Ying Kraemer said. “Paul tells me, ‘Mom, don’t worry about it. I can handle it.’”
The Kraemers said Paul is competitive, and the big thing for him is winning the trophies. Part of that could come from his mother’s side of the family.
“I do not want to bring my past into it, but I was competitive as a professional athlete, so it could come from that. He always wants to win,” Ying Kraemer said. “I always tell him it is OK if you do not win. It is not easy competing at the state level.”
While Ying is credited for the boy’s competitive side, his mother said he shares his father’s artistic flair.
Vincent Kraemer majored in art at Nicholls State University. Art always been something he is passionate about. He continues to draw, make pottery and work as photographer.
Aside from excelling on the piano, Paul excels in the classroom as well, his parents noted. The competitions are ranked by grades, and Paul is the youngest because he skipped a grade. He will enter the fourth grade at St. Gregory Barbarigo Elementary School, but he should be in third.
Ying Kraemer said that Paul typically gets all A’s in school, but both parents said all they expect is maximum effort.
“If you put in the hard work, you will succeed. That does not mean making all A’s or making a lot of money; it just means that you will be the best you can be,” Ying said. “I always tell Paul to try his best because you can’t get mad when someone gives it their all.”
It’s the same principle he applies when performing – in competitions for for fun. Paul has played locally at a nursing home that happened to have a piano. It was a trip his church group made, and the young boy began playing Christmas music for some of the residents.
“They ate him up, and loved that,” Vincent Kraemer said of the crowd.
Paul also played at the Hercules Tabloid Ball and, more recently, at Kids Day in Houma.
“This was the first time he performed in front of his peers,” Vincent said. “I think it was a different experience for him because he saw his buddies cheering for him.”
“He did not have to worry about technique either. He just got up there and had fun,” Ying Kreamer said.
Paul Kreamer, of Houma, pictured second from left, was the third-place winner at the “Torgrimson/Swanzy Piano Competition” of the Louisiana Music Teachers Association, held June 7 at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.
