When Amy's mother accompanied local violinists, Amy sat motionless listening for hours. But the year was 1869. Long before any feminist movement was in the wind promoting the serious development of girl talent. Modesty was a 19th century virtue in girls, and Amy's family was torn about allowing theirs to "show off" her amazing talents. Not unlike today, when we may pay lip service to "genius," but most parents want their children to be "normal." An accomplished musician herself, Amy's mother Clara had her own musical talents to nurture; the arrival of her musical prodigy daughter must certainly have unnerved and threatened her to some extent. As a toddler when Amy reached for the piano keys, Clara swatted her hands away. It was not until Amy was four, and then due to the intervention of her favorite aunt, Franc, that Amy finally was allowed to touch the piano.