In our lives, we frequently witness the flawless performance of someone playing the guitar, piano, drums, or any other musical instrument. We can say that a person is incredibly talented, but often, people skip mentioning the process required to achieve such a result.
In the article, I want to delve into my reflection on the most popular theme: What is the difference between talent and hard work? On the LushGuitar Lessons website, I write all articles based on my personal experience of many years. I consistently devote myself to reading, studying, and comparing information with practical experience.
So, find a warm and cozy spot, open up your favorite device, pour yourself a cup of your preferred tea or coffee into your favorite mug, and let's explore a new topic together.
Unveiling Talent: Navigating Desire, Society, and Passion
I think starting with a slight digression from the topic would be an interesting idea to add depth to the article. I decided to begin with a stereotype prevalent in our society. Why did I add this section to the article? Because talent and hard work are qualities that can be seen. But when a person learns how to play the guitar or any instrument, there is one more thing in the air that we can only see when we are very attentive to the person. It's called desire.
Everyone has a desire for everything, someone likes planting flowers or breeding fish, someone likes computer games or cycling, and someone likes singing in the bathroom. All people try to find what they love to do. And that's very good.
And what a person loves to do by desire contributes to the development of talent. Desire is only your choice, and only you can decide whether you want it or not.
Sometimes society dictates its rules. If a person wants to be true to themselves, the job market often creates conditions where they must abandon their desires. In this realm, passions often transform into mere hobbies. But this is an article about talent, so let's move on to the topic of what talent is.
Cultivating Talent: A Deeper Understanding
Let’s open Wikipedia and check the definition of talent: A talent (or aptitude) is the natural ability to do something better than most people.
The first thing that comes to mind is where this natural ability comes from. We can consider two components; it can be genetic, imitation of example, even from these things, and desire arises from which a person develops a completely natural ability to develop one or another skill without noticing it for themselves.
Let's consider examples from my life:
I have a good friend with whom I went to school and spent a lot of time together. He is a talented equestrian and now a coach in equestrian sports. But how did it happen that he discovered a talent for horses? The thing is, since childhood, his father took him to equestrian competitions, and his whole life was surrounded by horses. It's very interesting because he could never imagine his life without horses. When someone saw him on a horse, they immediately said that he had talent. And it's all very simple, his childhood was filled with this environment, so he naturally developed.
Now let's consider another interesting situation:
Mike loves to walk and sing, especially in the bathroom. He does it simply because he loves it. It brings him pleasure. He has no musical education, but because he sings every day, his skills develop. One day, Mike may meet Jane, who hears him sing and says he has talent. However, our singer has no education and doesn't even think it could be a profession.
Lastly, I'll share an example of talent development concerning my children:
During the early years when the children were very young, around 2-3 years old, I would hold them in my arms and we would listen to music. It could be Mozart's music, as it has a very positive influence on children or any other music, and I would clap with them or even just tap our hands on the table, following the rhythm of the music. We did this from time to time, but then I noticed that they found it very easy. I even said to myself, 'Oh! They have a talent for feeling the rhythm.' Then I realized that I was developing this skill with them and creating a desire to do it together.
One day, when I picked up the kids from kindergarten, I heard such a phrase from the teacher: "Your children have a very good sense of rhythm; they have talent." And then I understood where this talent came from. Now, as they are learning to play the guitar, feeling the rhythm is not a problem for them. The next stop is Hard Work
Diving into the Essence: The Power of Hard Work
The section is Hard Work. While talent can provide a strong foundation, it is hard work that truly drives individuals toward success. Hard work encompasses dedication, perseverance, and consistent effort required to refine one's talents and achieve their goals.
In my opinion, diligence is a more significant trait than talent, although the combination of talent and diligence is an incredibly good mixture. If talent develops due to an innate desire to do something, then diligence is what helps to move forward and achieve goals.
The situation with my student has left a profound impression on me, serving as an exemplary display of diligence and perseverance, which I often share with my friends and students.
"One day, a student approached me and said, 'I want to learn how to play the guitar.' I'm always eager to assist anyone who desires it. We began guitar lessons, and he excelled at exercises and music theory, but I noticed he struggled with feeling the rhythm. When I turned on the metronome, he couldn't even count the beats with me. Then we listened to music ranging from pop to heavy metal. He couldn't feel the beat at all. So, we set a goal to first learn to feel the pulse, meter, and rhythm. We spent two months on this, and I invited him to free extra lessons because I was eager to help him. We worked very diligently. One day, he burst through the door excitedly shouting, 'I feel it! I feel the rhythm!' I was overjoyed. We continued learning to play the guitar, and I can tell you that after two months of rhythm training, he quickly began to make progress in learning to play the guitar. It was an incredible transformation.
I could write many such examples of diligence, but in my view, this situation stands out vividly. It exemplifies how a person, through perseverance and hard work, achieves the desired result. This student could have simply said he lacked talent, but instead, he chose the path of diligence.
An important aspect of your music journey is finding the right person. After all, I was his third guitar teacher and support. Being passionate about my craft, I told him, "We must achieve the goal. I will use numerous approaches or create hundreds to ensure we reach it!."
"We have to achieve the goal. I will use numerous approaches or create hundreds to ensure we reach it!."
I also achieved my goal, as it required me to work diligently, even beyond regular hours, to help him feel the rhythm.
It's time to wrap up the insights from this article. We've explored two key roles: talent and hard work in achieving success. The examples provided demonstrate that even without extraordinary talent or natural abilities, diligence and hard work can lead to impressive outcomes. Given that this is a website about learning to play the guitar, understanding talent and hard work is crucial.
The cornerstone of success lies not only in talent but also in the ability to work on oneself and refine guitar skills and theory knowledge. The examples illustrate that even if the path to success is challenging and demanding, your perseverance can lead you to achieve your dreams.
It's also important to remember the significance of proper guidance and support, which can be decisive factors in improving skills and achieving goals. A guitar teacher is not just someone who demonstrates how to play but also someone who supports, motivates, and offers solutions to challenges. Learning how to play the guitar is an enriching hobby that adds new feelings of joy and satisfaction to our lives, especially when learning alongside those who love what they do.
In conclusion, success is achieved through our perseverance, dedication, and tireless effort.
Wishing you harmony and happiness,
Serge