by Zeilver on Sept 6th

Hello Zeilver here, coming to you LIVE from King George’s Music Academy! 

Today we are bringing to you the sixth episode of a series we like to call - The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (The KPI). 

The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing. 

Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that are rarely explored? You have come to the right place!

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THIS WEEK’S

KNOWLEDGE PEARL

What exactly is Music Talent?

There are so many talented musicians appearing on music videos on social media like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube who are able to transform the art of music into a new art form.

Which does beg the question: 
Do I need Musical Talent to play the violin or an electric guitar?

One of the biggest misconceptions in Singapore is that you NEED musical talent to play any musical instruments well, or that music education or a music teacher only benefits those who have shown an innate or inborn musical talent. 

Let me just tell you, 

THAT'S NONSENSE!

Before I go into that, let me just tell you about the types of music talent(s) there are! 

Types of Musical Talents

1) The Prodigy

Throughout the times, there will be people amongst others that show promise and raw natural talent that shines through displaying subtle skills like: 

- the ability to sing in tune with little or no prior music education
- identifying and imitation of the pitch with accuracy
- having the rhythmic ability to tap along perfectly
...and more (perhaps in another KPI?)

People with this type of music talent usually demonstrate the ability to be able to naturally play pieces of music that they have a degree of familiarity while having no problems at all staying in rhythm.

2) The Artisan

The Artisan is a different being in comparison to the Prodigy. Born of a background of meticulously directed musical education, they have the innate ability to read any musical piece presented to them and  play with amazing accuracy (even if they have not heard it before!) 

To quote Thomas Edison: "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration". To paraphrase in the terms of Musical Talent: Genius is 1% talent and 99% perspiration. The Artisan truly personifies this quote with regular practice, the practice of music theory, a music teacher to guide them, or even the following of a music program at a music school.

"We are only Human" 

The Prodigy may seem to have the natural talent to make music playing seem effortless, without the need for extensive practice, or even extensive music education while the Artisan is able to play music without hearing about it before; both of these sets of musical talents are not without their own set of flaws/weakness. 

To illustrate, the Prodigy, being somewhat more of natural musicians, are more likely to experience difficulty reading sheet music as they are usually not bound to a structured music education style to guide them. 
While the Artisan may be a master in music theory, having gone through music programs in music schools or even having a private music teacher may experience problems when playing with others in a group.

Music Education: Should I learn to play a Musical Instrument / Sing?

Why Not?! 

Musical talent presents itself in either form and while it may not be perfectly skewed to a side, YOU definitely have potential for it!

During modern times as such, with the time and resources, anyone can learn to play an instrument! 

With the vast amount of music programs out there, all you need is a music teacher or music school with a music program and the education type that you believe in.

HOWEVER, there's one assumption and belief I would like to break. Many people believe that they are unable to be a whiz just because they were conditioned since young to think that they are unable to reach a prodigious level.

Thinking that if they are not a child prodigy, receiving gifted education programs at an early age can never bring similar results.

THIS. IS. UNTRUE. 

It is not impossible at all to reach mastery in music with skills in: 

- reading of music
- the playing of multiple instruments/singing
- hearing and identifying pitch proficiently 

Shameless Advertisement Plug (lol, JK)

Are you now convinced and wishing to start your music education journey? 

Interested in: 

- learning music theory?
- learning to become a songwriter?
- looking for reliable music school or music teacher for a holistic music education?
- a suitable music program for Any/All age?
- getting musical accomplishment in your life?

Join us today and who knows? The next social media or YouTube sensation I watch might just be You!