This Thing Called, “Talent” and Why You Don’t Need It to Learn

One time when I had just finished a performance, someone came up to me and said, “ You’re so talented. I could never do that.” I remember smiling and replying,  “ Sure, you could. It’s only practice. Anyone can do it.”

But she didn’t hear me. She didn’t want to. She just repeated to me and also to herself, “No. I don’t have the talent.”

And to be honest, that bothered me. 

There seems to be this notion that unless something comes easily to you, it is not meant for you. People apply that idea to all sorts of things, from careers to relationships and even to music. 

But can I be open with you? 

Everyone sees you on the stage, but they don’t see you going to lessons, practicing late hours, breaking a sweat, hitting dead ends and trying again. They don’t see you refilling your coffee cup again and again, chipping away at the project piece by piece.

Back when I was first starting out, it was even harder because a lot of the techniques I know now, I didn’t then. But I worked past it. And I completely transformed my life and reignited my love for performance. I did that because, as much as I struggled sometimes, I really loved music. And when you really love something, you can’t be talked out of it. 

“Talent” may mean that you intuitively pick up technique and musicality, but it can only take you so far. Lots of folks had more “talent” than me, but they picked up and packed up when the bar was raised. Why? Because in their minds, they didn’t have enough “talent” to continue. Ironic, no?

So don’t let anyone, including yourself, stop you from pursuing and perfecting something you love. All you need is to put in the work and have a good mentor, and the rest will come to you. It may not happen overnight, but it will happen. And you have to trust in that. Every musician must. I’m glad I did.