Naturally Suited Options

[felicityflute]

Is it possible to be natuarraly good at an instrument or is it just done to hard wotk? I was just wondering
Thanks xxx

[crazy_purple_piano_freak]

For some lucky people, learning a particular instrument may be quite easy and they can just 'do' it but I think for most of us, hard work needs to be put in in order to see some decent results. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[bohemian]

There was a study done which prooved that people who turn out best at instruments often have to put in more hours to achieve the same results that medicore musicians do. I can link to the webpage if anyone is interested.

[nicki_flute]

There was a study done which prooved that people who turn out best at instruments often have to put in more hours to achieve the same results that medicore musicians do. I can link to the webpage if anyone is interested.

Can I have the link?

[bohemian]

http://www.psychol.ucl.ac.uk/david.shanks/..._expertise.html

[Rainbow]

That's really interesting, thanks Bohemian!

[sarah-flute]

I think it's a combination. I don't think it's possible to become really excellent without the hours of work, but on the other hand there's no doubt that some people take to certain instruments relatively quickly whereas others really struggle even given the same teacher and similar amounts of effort put in. So while I doubt there are many or indeed any who can just "pick up" a new instrument and play it very well without much work, some people will probably progress further on one instrument, and others on another.

I forget where I read it, but I understand that we will tend to enjoy and find pleasure in doing something we are good at... so I suppose if a person is good, they will probably enjoy playing, and are likely to practice more... so talent and practice feed off each other. One is unlikely to practice for the necessary 10,000 hours at something one dislikes.

A little like, for example, sports: no amount of practice will turn me into Jonathan Edwards, but he didn't get to be a world-record triple jumper just through athletic talent. Does that make sense?

Regardless, I think it should be the aim of every teacher to teach good sound technique and the best possible habits right from the start. While it's impossible to know in advance if someone will have the talent AND commitment to become very very good, it will certainly give them the best chance if they are taught well from the very beginning!

[mattrattley]

i took to the bassoon very quickly and easily, but it wasn't just that i got the knack of it quite easily, for me it was a combination of:

major amounts of hard work, for obvious reasons;
my respect for the instrument, which made me want to learn how to... 'tame' it;
the fact that, once i'd gotten good, i could join orchestras and ensembles and things (basically rewards!);
my teacher, a legend and a guy i get on with very easily

so, yes, it is possible to be naturally good at an instrument, but, in my opinion, it's not possible to be naturally excellent at an instrument...

[Tess]

Regardless, I think it should be the aim of every teacher to teach good sound technique and the best possible habits right from the start. While it's impossible to know in advance if someone will have the talent AND commitment to become very very good, it will certainly give them the best chance if they are taught well from the very beginning!

Amen! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

so, yes, it is possible to be naturally good at an instrument, but, in my opinion, it's not possible to be naturally excellent at an instrument...

Amen to that, too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[sarah-flute]

so, yes, it is possible to be naturally good at an instrument, but, in my opinion, it's not possible to be naturally excellent at an instrument...

Yes, I agree. Think I was trying to get at something similar, but don't know how well I managed it!

About being naturally suited, kind of links in with what I posted about a friend in the "hardest/easiest" instruments thread... here... I don't think anyone will get to be brilliant without a lot of hard work, but there are definitely those who just click with one instrument and not another...

[Tess]

Bohemian, I just did a rough calculation and guess what? 10,000 hours to be a prof musician in 10 yrs' time would mean for you 3.3 hours a day, 6 days a week, assuming you rest one day a week? You can manage that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[della]

I've read the article and found it interesting. I'd like to make the point that the sample of musicians was taken from a 'Music Academy'. This suggests to me that these musicians had already shown ability in an audition to attend the academy. From these talented students, those who practised more attained a higher standard. If the sample had been those students taking instrument lessons in a 'normal' secondary school, would the same results apply or would some musicians never reach professional standard regardless of the number of hours practised. The trouble is that at the current number of hours I practise a week, I'll be well into my 70s before having amassed 10,000 hours.

[mattrattley]

3h20mins per day, 6 days a week? ! I've been playing in the band for oliver (our school play this year) and that's 2 1/2 hours a day for 4 days - and my face has like seized up!

[Tess]

Mattraley, don't worry, I was talking with Bo there and I know Bo takes the violin so no facial injury there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Della, the sample HAD to be taken from a music academy as the researchers only want to check out music performers and music teachers, not part-time hobbyists. If you start like most kids in the UK at 8 years old as recommended by the UK government in writing as the optimum age, and you want to try to become a musician, I wonder HOW it takes 78 years to reach 10,000 hours if you do 6 days a week? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Are you sure? I'd better stop typing to go and look for my old calculator. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[della]

Della, the sample HAD to be taken from a music academy as the researchers only want to check out music performers and music teachers, not part-time hobbyists. If you start like most kids in the UK at 8 years old as recommended by the UK government in writing as the optimum age, and you want to try to become a musician, I wonder HOW it takes 78 years to reach 10,000 hours if you do 6 days a week? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Are you sure? I'd better stop typing to go and look for my old calculator. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I suppose I was wondering whether one has to have an innate ability to reach the level of a professional musician or whether anyone can make it given enough practise. If some sort of innate ability is required, then only those with that ability would become part of the study. The conclusion I can draw is that a considerable amount of practice is required, but I can't draw any conclusion from that study about the part that innate ability may play.

My calculation was based on half an hour a day for 6 days a week, 50 weeks a year.