01-06-2018, 10:38 AM
Thanks Mr. Ken. I sincerely hope my attempt at humor was not misunderstood in any way by anyone. In no way did I intend any negative connotations whatsoever!
Yeah, when I am trying to figure out how to do something and ask someone how it is done, there are two answers I hate to hear. One is, well, just do it a hundred times a day for thirty years…, and the other is that pesky thing called talent.
Of the two, natural talent is the most elusive. You either have it or not. Skill acquired through practice is more attainable, but sometimes the level of skill required to do something requires a whole LOT of practice even if one is lucky enough to have a little bit of talent to begin with.
I was watching the Olympic Championships women’s figure skating the on TV last night. Those amazing women make jumping in the air, spinning around three times and landing gracefully appear easy. I can only imagine the horrible crash that would occur if I tried to do that no matter how long I practiced. They have both skill and talent.
I knew a girl who had perfect pitch. She would hear an engine running, hum along with its natural harmonic and then say, “C#”. It was amazing. She went on to study at Interlochen, a music school in northern Michigan, and spent the rest of her life studying music. She practiced clarinet many hours every day and became an amazingly skillful player. She was one of those gifted folks with natural born talent who applied her talent to become very skillful at her craft.
Sadly for me, I am neither particularly talented nor skilled at anything, and if I was lucky enough or offer up any insight, well, that was truly by accident!
Yeah, when I am trying to figure out how to do something and ask someone how it is done, there are two answers I hate to hear. One is, well, just do it a hundred times a day for thirty years…, and the other is that pesky thing called talent.
Of the two, natural talent is the most elusive. You either have it or not. Skill acquired through practice is more attainable, but sometimes the level of skill required to do something requires a whole LOT of practice even if one is lucky enough to have a little bit of talent to begin with.
I was watching the Olympic Championships women’s figure skating the on TV last night. Those amazing women make jumping in the air, spinning around three times and landing gracefully appear easy. I can only imagine the horrible crash that would occur if I tried to do that no matter how long I practiced. They have both skill and talent.
I knew a girl who had perfect pitch. She would hear an engine running, hum along with its natural harmonic and then say, “C#”. It was amazing. She went on to study at Interlochen, a music school in northern Michigan, and spent the rest of her life studying music. She practiced clarinet many hours every day and became an amazingly skillful player. She was one of those gifted folks with natural born talent who applied her talent to become very skillful at her craft.
Sadly for me, I am neither particularly talented nor skilled at anything, and if I was lucky enough or offer up any insight, well, that was truly by accident!