Interesting post. Having learnt piano aged 10, plateaued out at grade 3-4, gave up - and then every 10 years or so have had another go, only to plateau out yet again at grade 3-4 -- I'm reckoning we are gifted in various ways before being born. Whilst self-discipline (not my strong point, I admit - except when it comes to rowing/walking/running) can get you so far, without a born natural ability/talent one has to learn to be content with whatever level one attains. Perhaps that's the gift in limitation, especially when one otherwise rails against it.
I am intrigued by the gifted before birth. Someone like John von Neumann seems to show that, yet I am also a passionate believer in sticking with something long enough in order to gain 'mastery'. My own belief is that often the adults (and then our inner demon) holds us back.
I'm kind of a fan of George Leonard's book "Mastery" - I like the idea. Perhaps with a wide range of skills I am a 'specialist of the general'. But having a master guitar-builder as one of my friends, I am still envious of those who find 'that one thing' and spend their whole life gaining mastery - and then can charge whatever they want :)
I like George Leonard's book "Mastery" too. The idea of being a generalist is appealing. I used to think it better to be highly skilled in a specific subject, but that is appropriate if you are a kidney surgeon, or furniture carpenter - but having golden hands and able to do multi-things is a skill in itself. I know a few people have achieved mastery and then able to pursue other skills, they tell me 'like everything it is practice and discipline.'
Same as Joshua - found this an interesting post. As a late musician myself, I didn’t start playing live music until after age 40. 44 now. Messed around with a guitar late high school/early college but that was it, never did anything with it. Over the past five years of practicing and hundreds of performances later, I can confirm that Beethoven heard every note with his inner ear, and knew exactly what his composition sounded like without ever needing to hear it aloud. Just like reading these words right now - as a kid learning to read silently, you “speak” the sentences in your thoughts and “hear” them in your head.
That's excellent - you show when we want to do something, we can irrespective of age (40 is young:-)) Beautiful point about Beethoven and his inner ear.
Interesting post. Having learnt piano aged 10, plateaued out at grade 3-4, gave up - and then every 10 years or so have had another go, only to plateau out yet again at grade 3-4 -- I'm reckoning we are gifted in various ways before being born. Whilst self-discipline (not my strong point, I admit - except when it comes to rowing/walking/running) can get you so far, without a born natural ability/talent one has to learn to be content with whatever level one attains. Perhaps that's the gift in limitation, especially when one otherwise rails against it.
I am intrigued by the gifted before birth. Someone like John von Neumann seems to show that, yet I am also a passionate believer in sticking with something long enough in order to gain 'mastery'. My own belief is that often the adults (and then our inner demon) holds us back.
I'm kind of a fan of George Leonard's book "Mastery" - I like the idea. Perhaps with a wide range of skills I am a 'specialist of the general'. But having a master guitar-builder as one of my friends, I am still envious of those who find 'that one thing' and spend their whole life gaining mastery - and then can charge whatever they want :)
I like George Leonard's book "Mastery" too. The idea of being a generalist is appealing. I used to think it better to be highly skilled in a specific subject, but that is appropriate if you are a kidney surgeon, or furniture carpenter - but having golden hands and able to do multi-things is a skill in itself. I know a few people have achieved mastery and then able to pursue other skills, they tell me 'like everything it is practice and discipline.'
Same as Joshua - found this an interesting post. As a late musician myself, I didn’t start playing live music until after age 40. 44 now. Messed around with a guitar late high school/early college but that was it, never did anything with it. Over the past five years of practicing and hundreds of performances later, I can confirm that Beethoven heard every note with his inner ear, and knew exactly what his composition sounded like without ever needing to hear it aloud. Just like reading these words right now - as a kid learning to read silently, you “speak” the sentences in your thoughts and “hear” them in your head.
That's excellent - you show when we want to do something, we can irrespective of age (40 is young:-)) Beautiful point about Beethoven and his inner ear.