Pavarotti Wasn't Born with Golden Pipes

I'm going to say something that might shock you... Luciano Pavarotti wasn't born with golden pipes. He didn't wake up one day able to enthrall millions with that velvety voice. He worked at it, and worked at it, and worked at it, learning all the while.

More and more, people seem to think that polished musicianship is an inherited gift, that practice and study have nothing to do with it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Each of us has received the gift of musicality, but many of us choose not to explore it fully. Why not? We could! We create music when we speak, when we laugh, when we cry, and when we breathe. It's never too late to explore the musician in you, not for the sake of becoming famous or to reach the highest echelons of musical performance, but for the sheer enjoyment of making music for yourself and others.

The very nature of sharing music is an exercise in empathy for our fellow humans. That's pretty great. Private music lessons can offer a safe space to explore the world of music. It can be frustrating to face the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that musical study bring to the fore. However, those challenges provide chances to experience beauty within something you create. Taking pride in something you've created--that's one of the best feelings in the world.

Good teachers build you up and find ways to help and challenge you in a healthy way. They can bring the best out of you. That's why many professional musicians still have a teacher. And why wouldn't they? Music is such a personal and public endeavor. Sometimes, it's weird and difficult. It's also incredible--full of moments that span the enormity of the human emotional spectrum.

Of course, there are extraordinarily talented musicians, Pavarotti being one of them; however, talent can only take you so far. But more often than not, what we call "talent" has its roots in consistent determination, confidence, and disciplined practice. Learning about music is an investment of time, energy, and resources, but absolutely worth it.

I'm not saying that everyone can be Pavarotti, but we can learn from his example and so many others. (Personally, I like his style... a traditional "park and bark" singer. I'd love to be that kind of singer, but I'd also rather people not look at me, like, ever. ... I'm off topic. Anyway...)

Everyone can make music! And everyone should.