The Myth of "Talent"

I was thrilled to read this article yesterday:

Stop Obsessing Over Talent, Everyone Can Sing

(or play piano!)

Talent is such a loaded word. I often have to refrain from correcting others who will say that my students (or myself) are ‘talented.’ Though some things may ‘click better‘ or ‘come more easily‘ to some - no student or musician is riding a ‘talent wave’ devoid of hard work, effort, and the willingness to fail and try again. Complimenting someone on their talent might sound positive, but is, in essence, asserting that this was a gift you were given, instead of a commitment to hours of perfecting one’s craft. Honoring someone’s effort is one of the main jobs I feel I have as an instructor. Raving about the ‘talent‘ my student possesses can actually be detrimental.

One of the ways that this can be detrimental is in the option this gives people that they simply aren’t ‘talented.‘ I agree with the author, Steven M. Demorest, when he attests, “…every child – has musical ability that can be developed into a satisfying and lifelong relationship with music.“ This is my aim as a music instructor: to cultivate each child’s (or adult’s) intuitive relationship with music. Though the author speaks of singing, this can be applied to all instruments and the voice is our first instrument. If you can sing a phrase musically, you can play it on the piano (or other instruments). All of my piano students sing. We use solfege, rhythm words, and folk songs which include lyrics. And this helps them beyond musicality. Singing can also build confidence. When you are able to use your singing and speaking voice to clearly convey an idea, you are building confidence within your body. I have personally found that this can affect posture at the piano and how one actually plays the piano.

I resonated with the author when he discusses the ‘growth mindset.’ Though I am still reading Carol S. Dweck’s book, Mindset, I would highly recommend that every parent, teacher, and person check it out! Dweck’s premise about this ‘growth mindset’ is that a student will persevere if they are wiling to grow and know that they must invest time and effort to get better. A student in a ‘fixed mindset’ will assume that a lack of ease means that they simply ‘don’t have talent‘ and they will give up. Students succeed through diligence, a willingness to try, and consistent effort. Not talent. I feel everyone (regardless of so-called ‘talent’) can learn and benefit from studying music… Singing OR Piano!