Who else has noticed...

[bloke]

...that when really fine musicians end up (for whatever reasons) spending less time with music, that they find something else (either competitive, or "let me see just how much I can accomplish and become an expert at this") to replace the music?

[MikeS]

The focus and drive required to be a successful musician does not disappear when the music stops. A couple of my favorite examples are Queen’s Brian May becoming an astrophysicist and Steely Dan’s Skunk Baxter becoming a missile defense consultant. You see the same thing with professional athletes. A couple years back a few of the Cleveland Guardians started playing chess with each other to kill time on road trips. Now at least three of them have Elo ratings over 1500. If you can thrive in one highly competitive environment you can very likely thrive in another.

[Three Valves]

Yes, and it makes me sick!

Like 10% of the population soaked up 80%+ of the world’s talent.

Equity!

[bort2.0]

I think it's the luxury of TIME, and the luxury of being left the hell alone.

[bloke]

Yes, and it makes me sick!

Like 10% of the population soaked up 80%+ of the world’s talent.

Equity!

My theory is that Three Valves could be an in-demand tuba player if Three Valves was motivated to become one.

I suspect that so-called talent/proclivity might be about 5% or 10% of the formula.

I see it as a just bit of an insult to chalk up someone's accomplishments (in any disciples) to "talent"...

I don't make all that much money every year (at best, "extra money") playing the tuba, and it's because I'm not as motivated as some other people to have continued on promoting myself and presenting myself as a tuba player... including not being motivated to put myself geographically in more advantageous places and/or to associate with more advantageous people...
... and I realize that I'm responding in a serious way to a humorous comment, don't mean any harm by it, and I think you know that.

random response from random person:
" but I could never do what so-and-so has done".
...random person never worked as hard and with as much determination and time/money/emotional sacrifices as so-and-so.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/145790921 ... 7S9Ucbxw6v

[MikeS]

I think we can all agree that Hiram Diaz is a really fine euphonium player. If you want to know why, check out the video below. Yes, I know it’s 42 minutes long but it will not be time wasted if you have it available. He describes a process he uses of recording himself and working out aspects of rhythm, intonation, and style. It is not only time consuming but it is brutally self-revealing. The key phrase in it (to me) is when he quotes JaTtik Clark, “I started becoming successful in auditions when I stopped lying to myself.” If it was easy, we could all do it.

By the way, the Guardians chess players I mentioned above really started getting better when they began practicing with a local high school chess club. They had the drive to learn and improve, and if that meant getting thumped by fifteen year old nerds for a while, so be it.

[bloke]

yeah...but he's so talented...

[Three Valves]

Don’t get me started on talented people who are motivated, successful in nearly everything they apply themselves toward AND are good-looking!

[sweaty]

Mr. Diaz led the Latin Power Quartet at the Army workshop. Amazing, fun, and he is quite the entertainer!

[Doc]

Don’t get me started on talented people who are motivated, successful in nearly everything they apply themselves toward AND are good-looking!

We just can’t help it. Thanks for thinking of me.

[Mary Ann]

Do you know that when I first got on this board, it took me a while to realize that that astoundingly handsome man in your avatar was another Doc? (Someone who never watched much TV takes longer to make the connection!!)
Of course I'm also remembering that the avatar I was using of Debbie Harry was making some of the younger members salivate.