I know many people like to say that a “gift’ of music or being able to create art of some kind is a hereditary, “passed on” trait. It’s a hard thing to really quantify, since I come from a long line of “tone
deaf” visual artists! So, where did this musical gift come from? I feel that it was my ability to “channel” my artistic bent into the musical side of things, as opposed to the visual arts my Dad and my brother and all of my uncles have and had. Still, it took my Dad’s encouragement to get me to understand that the guitar was meant to be my life. He obviously was starting to hear and see the affinity I had for the guitar, and he was extremely observant of this as a father, even though he loved music too, but just didn’t play it. His incredible, unique creativity probably would’ve resulted in his being a great guitarist also, if he had similarly “channeled” his talent into music at a young age, the way he encouraged me to do.
I suppose this beautiful handling of how he treated my early years as a guitarist has spilled over to me and my treatment of not only my children, but also how I handle my young and gifted students when it comes to their playing. But still the question lingers….is it hereditary or encouraged and learned? Well, after so much personal experience and observation in this regard, I really believe it’s all of the above. We must “have it” when it comes to having an ear, but, after all, can’t that be learned, also? Obviously, there are many players these days, who put way too much emphasis on technique, and really lack the ear, or the soul to be great players. And, they know it! They are always coming to me to get those “intangibles” that in a way, can’t really be taught….but they CAN be encouraged, and most of all, inspired! So the jury is still out, but without the encouragement to really move forward in a positive manner as a player, even the best and most gifted people can end up being a “tree falling in the woods!”