How did George Gershwin become interested in music as a child?

George Gershwin’s interest in music began during his childhood through exposure to popular and classical compositions he encountered at school and in penny arcades, despite his family and friends not being musically inclined.1

His formal musical journey started at age 11 when his family purchased a second-hand upright piano intended for his older brother, Ira. George surprised his family by fluidly playing a popular song he had taught himself by watching the keys on a neighbor’s player piano. Recognizing his natural talent, his parents arranged for him to receive professional lessons from the instructor Charles Hambitzer, who introduced him to the works of great classical composers and encouraged his development as a musician.1