A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:I'm feeling conflicted and sad because I love music more than almost anything on earth. I have played the guitar for most of my life and I would like to do more than just play it as a hobby; I would like to do it on a professional level. My question (doesn't have anything to do with relationships, I know)... is... how do you know if you have musical talent?It's not a matter of I can't accept an honest answer. I'm confused!!!I wish that I'd pursued it when I was younger and I worry that my age will be a detriment, but what really worries me is the fact that someone said some stuff to me that made me doubt myself. When I was at university, I had a HORRIBLE music professor. He used to say really unprofessional things to me. I don't remember what he said verbatim but he said stuff like, I was untalented, I was an idiot with no musical talent, I wasn't smart enough to learn music, basically I was stupid and untalented. These remarks crushed me. I was really miserable and I used to get a stomachache and sometimes throw up before his class. I have a temper, and eventually I lost it and told him what a crappy teacher he was. This was for piano, btw, NOT guitar.I know you're thinking, "You got an answer, it just wasn't the answer you wanted."But, I'm really confused. I've had a series of music teachers, most of whom are honest. I have a lot more faith in them, because I think they're better teachers and more professional. And I've been told by a series of teachers that I'm REALLY talented. I studied the guitar in Mexico, and I had really good rapport with my teacher down there. He didn't just say, but did, a lot of stuff to encourage me.I don't think I have any *natural* talent for the guitar but I've practiced for hours, a day, for most of my life. A lot of people who have heard me play the guitar tell me stuff like "You rip" and "you're probably gonna be famous someday." More than one person has told me I sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan (and he certainly didn't suck). Another person said that I play the guitar and sing better than Susan Tedeschi (she doesn't suck either). They weren't joking, they were serious. One of my college professors in Mexico (I studied abroad there) was in the music business before being a prof and he said I'd be famous someday. If I'm so talented... why did this one professor in USA make all these demeaning comments? Why would someone just make that up? Granted, he was an idiot and a horrible teacher. But why would he invent this stuff? If I'm untalented... why did all those other teachers that I respect tell me that I'm talented? Why would they just make it up? I love music more than almost anything, like I said. But these nasty comments still get me down after all these years. I want to believe the people I trust that seemed to care about me, but I'm a chronic worrier... these feelings of doubt about my abilities invade me. I'm so confused!! How do you know if you have talent?Thanks if you can help me.
View related questions:
crush, my teacher, university Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
male
reader, bharat mehta  +, writes (21 March 2010):
 'No one born with inbuilt talent,' as it is said by Ms Ayn Rand, world's most famous female philosopher. She continued in saying,' man is just able to do what he love to do.' I learn philosophy by my own effort, by reading philosopher's book, by making careful choice. Our mind is most efficient teacher, if we allow our mind to function as teachers. It is true that we learn from others achievement, but after all it is learning, that is most important and principle fact.
I suggest you to read this book; 'Romantic Manifesto', written by Ayn Rand...it is really a great book for artist, or it is bible for artist.
you have my best luck, please go and get what you have dreamed for.
A
female
reader, Libra1963  +, writes (21 March 2010):
 I used to sing and have numerous friends in the industry. Its a tough one and too survive you need to be hard skinned. People will always criticise you and some will praise you. That teacher who knocked you was one of the overly critical ones. Its a shame you have allowed him to doubt yourself.
If you love your music keep at it. Some of my friends were determined to make it and they dedicated their life to it. Go to music college and getthe highest qualifications, if you dont make it star wise you could make it teacherwise.
Good luck! I gave up as I was not strong enough!
...............................
A
reader, anonymous, writes (21 March 2010): The music industry is just like Hollywood..very non-encouraging, and you have to have alot faith in yourself, everyday, because there are only so many outlets and sooooo many other people trying to succeed...there's only so much room.. I've seen some extremely talented musicians who have never went that far, mostly because of lack of exposure or ambition, or they refuse to travel much because of family or other reasons. As far as talent goes, if you have the right teacher and you practise ALOT, and I mean practise ALOT, you don't have to be born with talent, you can achieve it, as well. Usually the student is only as good as their teacher, and I teach music myself, so I know how much impact a teacher makes on the student, even the most unmotivated ones. It's too bad there aren't enough motivated teachers to go around, willing to put all their heart into it. My advice is to keep trying different guitar teachers until you get one that works, because ALOT of them are terrible at teaching, so they will turn around and make it look like it's you that isn't learning properly, when their teaching methods don't allow you to get anything out of it. Some of them will play amazing guitar, but will be absolutely horrible at teaching, and you'll know by how you feel and what you grasp when you try different teachers. Try each one for a few weeks, and move on to the next one if they seem to fall short of teaching you properly. When you get the right teacher and if you have enough motivation, besides your teacher encouraging you, to practice how much they tell you to, you'll do great. It's the love of guitar that will help you the most. Some of the best guitarists out there are ones who never travelled or walked anywhere without their guitar strapped to them, and without playing it constantly. You don't have to be that attached to it, but you do have to practise and make each lesson, as well as go out there and be try to get heard, once you feel learned enough to go places. Don't let heartless teacher bring you down. You seem to have the interest you need, so play when you want to, and learn what you can, and don't be afraid to switch teachers when one seems like they're taking you down the wrong path.
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (21 March 2010): Thanks for your answers!
Hey Jannie,
I was just wondering, you say that one measure is to ask a kid to sing a popular song?
I sing, but when I was a kid, and I would hear a popular song (or a blues song, or a rock song, or a country song, etc.) on the radio, I would play it back on the guitar. I sing now, but I didn't really sing much as a kid; just played guitar. Does that count, lol?
Thanks again.:-)
I read music, both staff and tablature.
...............................
A
female
reader, janniepeg  +, writes (21 March 2010):
 I am a pianist. A good pianist is made, not born. I spent 20 years just learning the mechanics of the hand. That's using kinesthetic talent to produce the sound I want. Before that I need to have a good taste of what good music is. That's combining musical talent and utilizing visual, tectile, and aural skills to produce good music.
The easiest way to tell if someone has a talent is to ask a child to sing any popular song they hear. It's something that doesn't need to be trained if you are already talented.
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (21 March 2010): Moving beyond the feelings of doubt and taking risks is what distinguish successful people from ones who let their doubts keep them from growing. No one can really do that work for you and you won't know if you don't try. It's not anyone else's fault but your own if you don't is what it boils down to. Only a very small percentage of musicians become famous so perhaps you should be realistic and just have a great hobby and get involved in the community and if you have any talent then opportunities will open up for you and if they don't, you still have a hobby you can enjoy.
...............................
A
male
reader, Heartbroken in love +, writes (21 March 2010):
I really feel for you. I too am a guitar player and I absolutley love music. My passion for music goes all the through me. And like you I have felt as though I lacked talent especially on the vocal side of things. From one musician to another let me say that music is played through passion and not talent mostly. Without passion your true talents can not be truely displayed. Let your love of music drive you and all the talent you have been given will be accentuated. I don't care what you teacher said. What you have is something that can't be taught in a classroom and that is the love for what you do. Play with your heart not your hands. People will come to appreciate your passion and love and it will make a better player as well. There are people with physical talent that don't inhibit the love. I pity these people and not the ones with passion but unrealized talent. How do you know if you have talent? God wouldn't give you the love for something without giving you the tools to put that passion on display. You have all the talent in the world but because of what this ignorant teacher (who probably doesn't love what they do) said you have been blocked from realizing it. Please please please never stop doing what you love.
...............................
|
