do you think you're talented in music?

[LesStrat]

Actually, I have far more talent at blending with other musicians than individual, technical skills on an instrument.

I used to love to play by myself. These days, that is pretty unfulfilling and prefer to play in group settings. I like to find things to add to what is already going on.

[Aceman]

Dr. Aceman here. One of the things I actually know a lot about is expertise. In the literature, the concept of talent is pretty bunch completely debunked. I'm not saying there are not certain "intrinsic" things that may make you better or worse than someone at something, or even completely unable to be successful. Being 5'5" is pretty much going to make you a weak basketball player. Being deaf is pretty much going to rule out a musical performance career. But after the basics are in place, 99% of it is (and I hate to say this...) PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

Talent, or lack there of is pretty much the excuse we use to explain why we aren't that good, why we don't want to invest effort in getting better, or why parents throw a ball to some kids and not others (if they catch it the first few times, we say "Talent!" and throw some more). If they drop it we say "No Talent" and move on to something they can do - and we don't have to pick the ball up over and over.

And it's not just any practice. Sitting and wanking on the guitar in front of the tube isn't going to do it. It's very careful, thoughtful, deliberate "I'm trying to do this, and I'm going to do it until I get it right, and then I'm going to do it 100 (or 1000) more times.

Studies show it takes about 10,000 hours of that kind of practice to achieve expertise in everything from Chess, to Violin, to Tennis, to Medicine. Most really good people keep a journal of their practice, in fact, or are so regular that they can tell you how much and exactly what they do, or have a coach that does it for them.

15? How old are you now? Have you had 10,000 waking hours to practice? And even if you did, was it really good disciplined, feedback laden, intentional practice?

[TimmyPage]

I don't think there's really such thing as talent.. but I have worked hard to get where I am on the instrument.

[Tux789]

I do think there are definitely 'talents' on the creativity side of it. Yes, practice will make a person good at techniques but if you don't have any creative talent then you will only be able to replicate the work of others.

A guitarist can create a song knowing only 4 chords and be fine if they can use those chords creatively. A person can also be able to do every scale and mode at 72 notes per minute but only play what amounts to complex guitar warm-up exercises rather than what most would define as 'music'

[Zhangliqun]

There's definitely such a thing as talent and it is absolutely critical. To think it is all about practice-practice-practice is like saying studying really hard will give you Einstein's IQ. Doesn't work that way. Hard work will make the most of what you do have but it won't give you something you don't have.

Talent isn't enough by itself, but if you don't have at least a little talent, all the hard work in the world won't raise you above garage band hacker*. The other extreme is the child prodigy, who just gets it from the beginning and is blowing away the local masters by age 10. He hasn't even been alive long enough to put in THAT much practice. That is talent in its purest earthly form.

I think we sometimes try to be too democratic and all-men-are-created-equal minded to just humbly recognize and appreciate the genuinely God-given gifts others have that we don't.

*(by which I mean quality of playing -- some hackers actually do make it big, but they're still just hackers)

[GoDrex]

I've seen some guys that can play amazing things very shortly after starting to play. So I definitely think so people have a naturally ability to pick things up (like playing an instrument). I also think that almost anyone can get good at an instrument if they work hard at it. Taking lessons from a good teacher can also help a lot. And then it's certainly possible that some people will never get really great at something now matter how hard they work at it. But it's tough to tell. There's always the question of did they really put the time in and have a good teacher.

I think I have some talent for music. Not an amazing talent, but I can improve with practice. I see it all the time. I just haven't worked really hard at it, and these days I don't have a lot of time or the inclination for focused practice. It's been more something I do for fun than something I work hard at. I decided long ago that I'm not going to be a professional musician. I think you really need to have a burning desire to perform and work at it, and I don't have that.

[nuntius]

I came to the realization that I don't love it enough to make a job of it.

I have fun when I play. I'd like to keep it that way.

Ironically its because I love it so much that I don't want to make a job out of it. Playing music is something I try to do every day and have done most of my life. I rarely 'practice' anymore, I just play whatever reflects my mood at the time I pick an instrument up... If I was forced to have it as a job I don't think I'd have as much freedom to enjoy music as it suits my mood.

Talent on the other hand I don't believe I have. I've played guitar for 8 years now and rarely write stuff I'm proud of for more than a short while, just stuff that reflects what I was feeling like when I booted up some recording software. I generally don't listen to anything I've written after a few days as I only really do it because I feel like it at the time. I can throw together generic recordings in a matter of hours but nothing inspiring. I think I have experience and knowledge with music, but not talent.

[Sludgenutz]

I'm a hack, but I have fun.

[ricc]

i think i have talent but talent gets you nowhere without work (a fact i try to impress on students week after flipping week!!)

[That90'sGuy]

I'm not talented. I have an ear for simple and catchy things. I don't have the determination or dedication to learning one instrument really well. I kinda drift around and just enjoy music for what it is using my ears as a guide. I feel pretty certain 99% of the folks here could play circles around me. For me, I've given up on making music a contest. I've seen so many musicians that can play fancy and I've never cared for much of it, so I'm happy with my limited knowledge of my instruments. I really think anyone can play an instrument if they just sit down and take it one note at a time, I've never felt music was so difficult that only a few talented folks could make it.

[Jackson Distortion]

Yeah, I'm definitely talented in music. I love to compose songs and tweak sounds and have the knack to be totally enthusiatic and immersed in the music, but also be able to step away from the music in order to see if my immersion results in an actual entertaining and moving piece. After all, if it don't work, you won't have any return customers.

And I can play the guitar compentently. Ya don't hafta be great.

[LesStrat]

Dr. Ace, I'm not refuting the reliability of the research. I have to question whether all variables are accounted for, though.

Why do we choose to pursue certain activities?

Often, it is because we have a propensity in that area. Sometimes not.

I have encountered the truly tone deaf folks. I have encountered the rhythmically challenged.

I know several absolutely talented musicians. Yes, practice was required to develop it, yet these same people can pick up a new instrument and almost immediately make music with it.

Talent without practice is wasted. Practice without talent leads to minimal results.

Practice WITH talent can enhance the innate ability.

Analogy: I coached LLB for 10 years. There were players who had a natural propensity for athletics; it was very easy for them to develop their skills. I had players who were "average"; with work, their skills became good. I had players who were not naturally athletic; even with hard work, their development was limited.

Ability+effort=achievement

[DLT]

meh...I used to be good, but the older I get, the less I care if I am some hot guitar slinger. I just play at it now.

[73roadrunner]

I've been told I'm talented, but idk

[mfprh]

I have the chops, but not the creativeness.

[wixedmords]

How did you know I was just watching August Rush?

I guess I am not blessed with AR's level of talent. I know very few that are that blessed. But, I work hard and try to do things over and over until they become second nature. I try to look at the things I do from a different vantage point, hoping to catch something I haven't seen before. I try to learn the process and with practice bring my ear into the picture. When what I am learning becomes second nature, then it becomes a direct link between my hands and ear. Then it becomes more enjoyable.

Do what you do but do it well. It seems as though when you approach it that way, everything becomes a solid building block.

Do something simple bluewiz, make a simple single goal and stick to it until it is done. Enjoy what you have done at that point and create another goal.

Good luck.

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

People tell me I've got talent, that I've got a good ear for melody and all that, but personally I don't like my playing enough.

[NUNOSLASH]

Talent is subjective.

For some people Kurt Cobain was one of the most talented songwriters of history.

For others he wrote crappy easy and boring songs...

But IMO i have a little, everyone that can play SOMETHING with conviction and sound good has talent IMO

[ImmortalSix]

Yeah, definitely, I'm awesome.

[Rainmaker]

No, I do not.