A rich collection of insights for cultivating the proper Mindsets and Attitudes towards the notions of “talent” and success in both music and life…
Table of Contents
Talent is Overrated
To reconsider what we mean by the word “talent” and how misuse of the word can channel us all in unhealthy directions.
“Talent” is Just a Six-Letter Word
There’s no doubt that people differ in levels of expertise and performance in various fields that most consider to be extremely difficult: music, art, sports, chess, calculus, quantum physics… to name but a few.
But I cringe every time I hear the word “talent” used as a label. Because doing so can do great harm in many ways. Two ways come immediately to mind: First, labeling someone as “talented” risks discounting their hard-won accomplishments. And second, labelling someone as “untalented” risks inviting them to quit before even trying.
And there is a widespread belief that there are an exceptional few who “have it” and a vast majority of ordinary people who “don’t”. Those who are deemed to “have it” are considered special, fundamentally different from the rest. They are called “gifted”, “talented”, “geniuses”, “naturals”. What are we mere mortals, those of us without sky-high IQs, perfect pitch, photographic memories, exquisite hand-eye coordination, and no fear of being on stage supposed to do?
Labeling Theory & Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Carelessly labeling of people as “talented” (or not) has profound implications per the power of self-fulfilling prophecy… for everyone–the “talented”, “untalented”, and society as a whole as follows:
- Those labeled “talented” may be accorded special attention, opportunities, and rewards that are denied to those who are “untalented”.
- Those who are rewarded for their “talents” may adapt their behavior to maintain such rewards–a dependency on extrinsic reinforcers that is unsustainable and not typically good for their emotional wellbeing.
- The “talent” label invites undue adulation for those who “have it” and unjustified resignation by we mere mortals who “don’t have it”.
- Being labeled “talented” may make one a slave to one’s gifts–by instilling expectations that lead to unhealthy perfectionism and competition.
- Believing that things should come easily to them may lead “the talented” to depression and despair as even “the biggest talents” discover their limitations.
- The “talent” label encourages a culture of stagnation where the “talented” are content to rest on their laurels and the “untalented” are encouraged to quit before even trying.
- Those who believe they are “untalented” may consider themselves unworthy of doing important things. Worse yet, they may believe they are not responsible for doing important things.
Possible Explanations for “Talent”
Let’s begin by admitting that remarkable skill does not necessarily prove the existence of some innate gift. Such may also be explained by a variety of other factors: motivation, personality, character, prior knowledge, problem-solving experience, social supports, work ethic, social pressures, competitiveness, self-confidence, access to excellent teachers and mentors, and the time, health, and safety to pursue one’s interests… to name but a few.
It’s typically not possible to know from someone’s performance alone how they attained their level of competence. And wondering how they got that way naturally begs some questions: Were they born great or made great? Are they a genetically-gifted rarity, a socially-gifted rarity, or a highly-motivated rarity? Can you think of some others?
A Case Study: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart is commonly viewed as an exemplar of the truly gifted prodigy–the existence proof that you either have it or you don’t. But the less-appreciated fact is that he was born into a richly musical and privileged household.
While there’s no reason to doubt that Wolfgang Amadeus was born special, it is less widely recognized that he was also raised special. Mozart’s genius blossomed in an exceptionally nurturing environment that provided both a highly-focused education and unconstrained freedom to pursue his music.
Imagine what kind of music Mozart may or may not have made if his genetic blueprint was born to subsistence farmers in the Tirol, on 52nd Street as Thelonious Monk’s younger brother, or to an Aboriginal tribe in the Amazon this very day. Of course, if his musical DNA was delivered to the same parents as a baby girl we would have never heard of her.
Shestov’s Perspective on “Talent”
“In order to be a virtuoso, a master of one’s art and one’s instrument, it is necessary with a truly angelic or asinine patience to try over and over again, dozens, hundreds, thousands of times, different ways of expressing one’s ideas or moods, sparing neither labor, not time, nor health. Objectionable, tedious, irritating labor– this is the condition of genius, which no doubt explains the reason why men so rarely achieve anything. The majority prefer talent, that medium that lies between genius and mediocrity.” ~ Lev Shestov
Misuse of the Word “Talent”
It’s a tragic mistake to define “talent” only in terms of performance rather than potential… only in terms of inherited predispositions rather than the capacity to learn… only in terms of observable skills rather than character traits… an only in terms of narrowly-defined capabilities rather than a view of the whole person. What, for example, is the fruit of categorizing people based on an IQ test?
Furthermore, it would be a huge disservice to use the word “talent” to discount or diminish the hard-won accomplishments of successful people or to use one’s supposed absence of “talent” as a crutch to justify one’s own lack of accomplishment.
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Implications for “Unremarkable” Humans
Back to the question asked above: What are we mere mortals, those of us without sky-high IQs, perfect pitch, photographic memories, exceptional size and strength, or exquisite hand-eye coordination supposed to do?
We can begin with the following realizations:
- Natural endowment alone typically cannot explain the acquisition of expertise.
- Most talents, however large or small, are latent–waiting to be discovered and nurtured given the opportunity and right kind of support.
- Performance is easy to see, but seeing potential takes love and commitment. Perhaps that is why “talent” seems so rare.
- “Giftedness” often masks “disabilities” as “disabilities” often mask “giftedness”
- A “big” talent does not make you more valuable than others… and a “small” talent does not make you less.
- Success in any endeavor has far more to do with opportunity and hard work than we care to admit. Alas, admitting this truth is not terribly popular… for it renders us all so very responsible–to ourselves and to each other.
- While most of us don’t have extraordinary abilities, we still have so much else to offer. Why not include sensitivity, passion, humility, empathy, curiosity, enthusiasm, industry, courage, persistence, patience, gratitude, honesty, kindness, compassion, diligence, discipline, perseverance, optimism, and devotion? Why are these not considered talents? After all, aren’t these things–these very “ordinary” things–the very things that propel and channel your innate endowments, no matter how humble or exceptional they might be, in service to a life of purpose and meaning?
Myth: The gift is talent; You either have it or you don’t.
Truth: The real gift is LOVE; you either have it or you don’t.
– Frank Peter
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What is Smart? (A Human View of Intelligence)
An invitation to reconsider what we mean by “smart” and to use that new perspective to change how we define success and be inspired to discover and make the most of our latent talents and potential…
Let’s put a poisonous, human-potential-stifling myth to rest. Contrary to the IQ fundamentalist view… that intelligence is biologically-determined and fixed over time… all reputable research shows that intelligence is adaptable and expandable with the right kind of effort. In other words, if you use your brain the right way and expose your brain to the right stuff, you get smarter.
The HUGE Takeaway: Embrace a profoundly human definition of “smart”–an intelligence that thinks, feels, and does in service to a meaningful life…
The Concept of Agency
The you-either-have-it-or-you-don’t school views intelligence in very narrow terms (with a strong bias towards analytical skills that are readily measured using things such as an IQ test) and ignores (or rejects) the crucially important fact that human beings have something called agency.
Agency means that we have the power, if we so choose, to play an active role in the learning process… by seeking knowledge, evaluating knowledge, constructing knowledge, and applying knowledge. Analytical skills are important, but so are many other assets (do I dare to call them talents?)… such as honesty, curiosity, imagination, creativity, conviction, perseverance, passion, empathy, resilience, and devotion, to name but a few.
In this broader view, the most authentic measure of intelligence is the degree to which one is successful at living a meaningful life.
The Concept of Successful Intelligence
Successfully intelligent people are causes, not merely effects. They recognize their strengths and weaknesses and use flexible strategies to achieve their dreams given the unique context of their own lives, with all its blessings and burdens. As such, there is no single definition of “success” and therefore no single way to define or measure “smart”.
In summary, intelligence is not some fixed, measurable quantity. Intelligence is not an essence; Intelligence is a process… an eminently human process in search of meaning… interacting with and influencing one’s world in service to one’s authentic dreams.
The Huge Takeaway: Intelligence isn’t some fixed quantity that’s easy to measure. Intelligence is a profoundly creative, nurturing attitude toward this mysterious opportunity called life.
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The Nature Nurture Debate
The fact that some people are remarkably skilled at something does not necessarily prove the existence of some innate gift…
Such differences may be explained by a variety of other factors: motivation, personality, character traits, prior knowledge, problem-solving experience, access to excellent teachers and mentors, social supports, social pressures, work ethic, self-confidence, as well as the time, health, and safety to pursue their interests… to name but a few.
It’s typically not possible to know from someone’s performance alone how they attained their level of competence. Are they a genetically-gifted rarity, a socially-gifted rarity, a highly-motivated rarity, or all of the above?
Consider this: Mozart is held up as an exemplar of the truly gifted prodigy, the “proof” that you either have it or you don’t.
But the less-appreciated fact is that he was born into a richly musical and privileged household. While is it widely accepted that Wolfgang Amadeus was born special, it must also be admitted that he was raised special.
Mozart’s genius blossomed in an exceptionally nurturing environment that provided both a highly-focused education and unconstrained freedom to pursue his music. Imagine what kind of music Mozart may or may not have made if his DNA was born dirt-poor in ancient Greece or on 52nd Street as Thelonious Monk’s younger brother or to an Aboriginal tribe in the present day. Of course, if the raw materials for his musical brain were trapped in a girl’s body in Salzburg in 1756, we would have never heard of her.
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Who’s the Best Piano Player in the World?
To consider and reconsider the measures by which each of us defines success… not just in music but in life in general.
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Who’s the Best Piano Player in the World? (slideshow)
Click the arrows or swipe the image below…
Who’s the Best Piano Player in the World? (transcript)
The one who play the most technically demanding music?
The most accurate sight reader?
The fastest memorizer?
The best improvisor?
The one who makes the fewest mistakes?
The one with the most perfect pitch?
The one who studies the most?
The one who studies the least?
The one who plays the most “serious” music?
The one who wins the most competitions?
The most famous?
The one with the most concert dates?
The one who wins the most awards?
The one who makes the most money?
So, who’s the best piano player in the world?
What a silly question!!!
The only person you need to worry about is YOU…
Are YOU playing for the right reasons?
Does your music bring joy to you and to others?
Is your music an honest expression of your most deeply held values?
The End.
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From Novice to Expert
Illuminating insights on the attitudes and study habits guaranteed to transform you from novice to expert…
To understand how experts think and behave… and to be inspired to start practicing these habits so that you, too, can become an expert.
Are Experts Born or Made?
Short answer: Research shows–contrary to popular belief–that natural endowment is not the primary contributor and cause of expertise in any field. (ref: Talent is Overrated)
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What Separates the Experts from the Non-Experts?
| Non-Experts… | Experts… |
| Tend to be passive, not active learners. | Are active, not passive learners. |
| Obey rigid rules, not general principles. | Employ flexible principles, not rigid rules. |
| Memorize formulas without understanding them. | Understand concepts rather than isolated facts. |
| “Learn” things using brute-force memorization. | Learn by seeking and assimilating meaningful patterns. |
| Have knowledge without knowing how to apply that knowledge. | Know how to apply knowledge. |
| see complexity where there is none (because they process information as unrelated details rather than meaningful patterns) | See simplicity in apparent complexity because they integrate information into meaningful whole |
| Perform complex motor tasks one-step-at-a-time using the conscious mind. | Perform complex motor tasks all-at-once using the subconscious mind. |
From Novice to Expert
Consider well the following factors beyond just “being smart” that contribute to expertise:
- Nurture (through opportunity, extensive study, disciplined practice, and coaching) is extremely important in the development of expertise.
- Expertise is domain-specific. It is not correlated with general intelligence. In other words, being expert in chess does not make one expert in music.
- Experts do not typically possess extra-ordinary brains that are capable of remembering and calculating far beyond the capacity of “normal” brains.
- Expertise is largely about the mastery of meaningful patterns. Research has shown that chess masters are no better than chess novices at understanding and remembering random arrangements of chess pieces. Chess masters have a deep understanding when the chessboard is arranged in meaningful patterns based on the themes and strategies of chess.
- Expertise is the product of experience–specifically the kind of experience that comes with disciplined work in pursuit of a meaningful goal.
Fundamentals of Expertise
- Expertise cannot be explained by innate talent alone.
- Expertise is the inevitable fruit of meaningful experience.
- Expertise is about internalizing useful patterns.
- Expertise is the inevitable reward for studying and practicing the right things the right way.
- Expertise is born of humility, curiosity, honesty, and discipline.
- Expertise is not a destination, but a never-ending journey.
In summary, all experts, whatever their natural endowment, have one trait in common: LOVE for what they are doing. Such passion fuels the discipline required to study and persevere when things get tough… in other words, after all the non-experts have given up.
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The Power of Studying
A must-read pep talk on The Power of Studying… and the attitudes and behaviors that will transform you into an expert studier… To appreciate the significance of focused attention in the learning process so deeply that it elevates your study and practice habits accordingly.
You’re Too Good to Just Play; You Have to Study!
If you want to master something, you can’t just passively expose yourself to it and hope that it magically seeps in somehow. If you really want to get good at something, you have to study it. The problem is that studying takes effort… but not as much effort as most people think. And once you see the benefits of studying (as opposed to passive learning) you’ll be inspired to adopt expert study habits and become an expert studier yourself.
There are at least four huge benefits of studying:
- Material that is studied, rather than merely “memorized”, is permanently stored in your memory.
- Material that is studied, rather than merely “memorized”, is remembered under pressure.
- Studying makes you smarter in the sense that learning things today makes it easier to learn other things tomorrow.
- Studying leads to mastery and the feelings of competence, self-worth, and confidence that grow with each genuine accomplishment.
How to be an Effective Studier
Effective studiers have no special talent. They simply practice the following attitudes and behaviors:
- They learn how their brain works and change their study habits accordingly.
- They are active participants. They don’t just passively read, watch, or listen. They do.
- They learn new things by connecting them to things they already know.
- They use all, not just some, of their many intelligences.
- They know that one minute of focused attention beats superficial exposure for weeks, months, or even years.
- They know that studying is tiring, but this feeling of effort means that they are learning at a very deep level.
- They know that studying takes effort, but such effort makes learning faster and more enduring.
- They know that studying is harder than not studying, but it’s not as hard as most people think.
- They are motivated by something that all masters have in common: LOVE for what they are doing.
- They know that studying is a choice, not a talent.
The HUGE Takeaway: If you want to get good, you can’t just play; you have to study!
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A Lesson for Us All
An inspiring example and celebration of the human spirit…
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What is Success? (Micro-Lessons)
Pithy insights for cultivating joy, connection, and authenticity in all our music-making (and life in general)…
Your reasons for playing should be BIGGER than the music… Things like creativity, discipline, fun, freedom, fellowship, self-actualization, peace, service, and love of life. ~frank peter
Studying and playing music should relieve stress, not create it. ~frank peter
YOUR yardstick for success is the only one that counts. ~frank peter
Your happiness is more important than what people think of you. ~frank peter
Studying music gives you the opportunity to see that you are smarter and more talented than you think. ~frank peter
Mastery belongs to those who refuse to quit when things seem impossible. ~frank peter
Authentic art is not a commodity to be marketed, consumed, and collected. Authentic art is a vehicle that connects, inspires, and heals. ~frank peter
Happiness is possible when you are the master of, not a slave to, your talents. ~frank peter
Talent alone can take you only so far. LOVE, on the other hand, will take you places you cannot yet imagine. ~frank peter
Don’t play to impress. Play to CONNECT—with the music, with yourself, and with others. ~frank peter
Having fun is more important than being perfect. ~frank peter
Having a life is more important than having a career. ~frank peter
You can only be happy if your music is a way to CONNECT with others, not to compete with them. ~frank peter
Myth: The gift is talent; you either have it or you don’t. Truth: The real gift is LOVE; you either have it or you don’t. ~frank peter
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” ~ Henry Ford
“There are two rules for achieving anything: Rule #1. Get started, Rule #2. Keep going.” ~ E. Howard Hunt
“The easiest way to avoid wrong notes is to never open your mouth and sing. What a mistake that would be.” ~ Pete Seeger
“When you play music, you discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed.” ~ Bill Evans
Let your musical life reflect your deepest values… and you can’t go wrong. ~frank peter
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A Guided Meditation on Gratitude
A time to reflect upon and deeply appreciate what we have and the privilege of making music…
To make gratitude your master attitude… so much so that it becomes who you are as a musician and human being.
Make sincere gratitude a habit every time you sit down to play… allowing it become an enduring part of who you are as both a musician and a human being.
Guided Meditation on Gratitude (Audio / MP3)
A guided Meditation on Gratitude to get you in the proper frame of mind and heart…
Guided Meditation on Gratitude (Transcript)
- Go to the piano… and sit as you normally would.
- Close your eyes… and take three deep breathes… all the way into your belly… slowly in through your nose… and slowly out through your pursed lips.
- With your eyes still closed… reach out with your hands and touch the keys… and realize what a privilege it is to have access to the remarkable instrument in front of you.
- With your eyes still closed… think about the music you love to play… and realize what a privilege it is to have access to such a rich inheritance.
- With your eyes still closed… realize what a privilege it is to have the time and freedom to make music part of your life.
- With your eyes still closed… realize what a privilege it is to have two working arms… and two working hands… and ten working fingers.
- Realize what a privilege it is to have… two good ears to hear… and two good eyes to see.
- With your eyes still closed, realize what a privilege it is to have the opportunity to share your love of music with others!
- Finally, drop your shoulders and breathe deeply… feel your whole body relax… and allow an easy smile to come to your face.
- Now we are ready to begin our work.
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