I sort of believe in talent and also that we are pretty bad at spotting it and even worse at structuring the freedom for it to develop. There is a genetic link to the practice of having sex at younger than average age, and also a likelihood of this being nurtured by parents who also tended this way (and many other genetic- environmental links). Things that went on in grandparents' times also have effects on us - links between famine and diabetes is one. I was the best cricket player in my school in an age group 10 years either side of me, but I'd guess many others would have been better if they had been encouraged or daft-bored enough to play as much as me. Better coaching would have made me a lot better. There were no doubt many contemporaries around the world who would have been better scientists than me given the education and chance. My best mate would no doubt give up his PhD to regain his sight and in retrospect I might have given up my university education to bowl out the Australians, though I would rather have been able to give it all up for more decent reasons than a hill of cricket beans. Some of us get to be very lucky in comparison with many others. What we can be talented in seems far too restricted and rewards for it perverse. My guess is that much we regard as talent is, in fact, the result of massive investment in comparison with what most can get. The rugby teams of today would thrash the ones I played in or against - we were pathetic amateurs in terms of fitness. The key would be to re-address the way we live and what we value to allow a much greater pursuit of happiness and personal fulfilment in terms of what matters - the very idea of massive training for stupid games or being a rich banker seem to show a pretty dire lack of talent.
On 17 Sep, 21:05, Eternity <[email protected]> wrote: > On Sep 16, 5:50 am, Simon Ewins <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I'm not sure that 4 years is enough time. In any event at the age o5 > > Mozart was taken to a cathedral where he listened to a number of > > pieces of music. He then went home and wrote one of them down, having > > only heard it the once. > > But if you have the ability to pay attention, writing the notes played > in a song is not really all that difficult. If you know the starting > note, and which keys play what sound, its not hard. I'm not gifted > with the ability to play any instrument well, but I have been given > the ability to pay attention and notice things. The very 1st time I > picked up a Clarinet in 11th grade I was playing Amazing Grace by ear > inside of 10 minutes. > > I think that is hard to practice. :) > > > > > > > He actually started learning at 3 and his sister later said that he > > was identifying thirds and attempting composition before the age of 5. > > > I could practice a lifetime and not achieve a tenth of what he did in > > a few young years. > > > 2009/9/16 [email protected] <[email protected]>: > > > > Ahhh but I think that perhaps he may have had enough time. > > > > He did not attend school, he was instead taught by his father himself > > > amongst other things a musician. > > > > Lets say that he started to learn music at 4, young enough not to have > > > picked up bad learning habits, and at a stage where the mind is very > > > much conducive to the learning experiance. How many hours a day did > > > his father drum music into him I wonder? > > > > On 16 Sep, 12:38, Simon Ewins <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> I don't think Mozart had enough time to practice to exhibit as he did > > >> by the age of 8. So, yes, some people have talent and some have > > >> extraordinary talent. > > > >> 2009/9/16 Lee <[email protected]>: > > > >> > Well does it? > > > >> > I say no, practice makes pefect, but what do you think?- Hide quoted > > >> > text - > > > >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
