Precocious young talent makes first public appearance aged six, gets first whiff of alcohol at eight, is honking on a crack pipe at 10 and in rehab by 12, primed for an adolescence of redemption and a my wild years are behind me' autobiography. Then they spawn and away we go again.
But classical music prodigies seem to be able to keep their head, as demonstrated by Naoko Miyamoto, now 25.
The first solo concert by this startling violinist was Bach's Concerto for Two Violins with the Sydney Youth Orchestra, at the age of eight.
Since then, she has performed at the Sydney Opera House, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace and has won numerous international prizes and awards.
This weekend, she comes to Epsom Playhouse to perform with the Epsom Symphony Orchestra.
The concert is called This Sceptred Isle, a collection of music by British composers about all things British. It comprises Cornish dances, north country sketches, a London symphony and Bruch's Scottish Fantasy.
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Daryl Davison, the orchestra's musical director, is the man who brokered the union, after scouring the country's top musical colleges in search of young talents.
Being a former child prodigy myself (top scorer for Rainham 84 U12s during the legendary 1992-93 season), I know all too well about expectation. So how has Naoko dealt with it?
"When I was young, I just did it without thinking," she says.
"When I was living in Australia until the age of 18, I did a lot of concerts and, with my mum's help, was well prepared, but it is not so stressful now.
"I have my repertoire under my fingers so, even though I'm learning new pieces, I don't have to practise for hours and hours."
Not one normally for nerves, Naoko is sure to be relaxed for the heroic, romantic Scottish Fantasy on Sunday, commenting that she has rarely been overawed in front of vast crowds: "I have done it from an early age so it doesn't make me too nervous, although I was in a backing orchestra for Elton John at Wembley Arena and having 12,000 people there was just amazing, a great feeling."
Naoko has just received the Tillett Trust Young Artist Platform, which promotes the best young musicians - a real measure of faith, so why not see why Naoko has caught their ear.
Epsom Symphony Orchestra; Epsom Playhouse, March 16, 7.30pm, call 01372 742555/742227 or visit epsom
playhouse.co.uk for booking
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