So here is something I have been thinking about.
I got talking to one guy some weeks ago about instruments and I have mentioned that I play the bass.
His response was something akin to 'i wish I was that talented'.
Being talented...
I don't think having talent is a thing. I think with practice, repetition, studying and playing you can be as skilled at music and playing and instrument as anyone else.
I was watching an interview with Jaco Pastorius and he said that he was born with "it", and you know, maybe he was... But then he said he spent hours upon hours just practicing and playing and studying.
I personally do not believe in talent, it's just work. I would say that I do not have any ability that I have had when I was born, instead I practice and put the hours in and eventually i get better.
The whole concept of being talented and someone telling me that I am talented is lowkey insulting because it implies that I havent worked hard for my ability to play, which I have.
Do you share similar views on this? Or do you believe something else?
Thanks!
I think you have to have some sort of inclination for music, like a good ear, rhthym or dexterity! plus the opportunity to whatever instrument or exposure to it! I always believe if I had been exposed to music early in life, or given the opportunity I think I wouldve flourished!
I used to tell my old boss,when he remarked how effortless Kobe looked when Playing B Ball.
"You dont see him shooting 10,000 free throws & lay ups! Ithink same with playing music! I had to learned a very difficult Song, it was taxing my stamina,brain & dexterity, it was a fairly fast tempo, so you had to figure out your coordination or economize your movements too( right hand aerobics)! It took hours of repeatedly going over & over! After shedding 3 days, I finally got it straight,then at the next rehearsal, the drummer had concerns over if I could perform up to his last bass player(a local monster)! We were auditioning Drummer as he was us! I t was kind of a Mutual try out. we met & agreed on a couple of songs to play at said "Tryout",both drummer & guitarist remarked "Boy, you got that down!" much to my relief! I even surprised Myself! my Guitarist friend said, man you made it look easy! because he struggled with his parts! I told him It took me 2 days just get the timing down & 1 day to get it under my fingers! The drummer said "Its1 of those songs you gotta play 10,000 times! so I wont say im Born with it. Id say if I have the time I can get it or figure it out!
Funny, we gelled but, other opportunites came up & we kinda just disolved! All that Blood, sweat & blisters were for not! But ive heard countless times of how our Heros/ musical phenoms have put in the work( shed) to get "it".
My bestfriend In High School used to get Grounded often! He'd always take that time to improve! after each grounding he'd come out a far superior player! he was a guitar player and just about learned every guitar heros catalog! He was a Randy Rhoads clone! he wasnt "Born with it" but it got grounded into him! so i totally believe with the proper motivation & time you can do anything!!
