Music/Art Genetic or Developed?

FretBored · Post by **FretBored** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006

Music/Art Genetic or Developed?

The answer to this question has been eluding for about 30 years now. A friend of mine who was an artist asked me this question.

Please anybody, DJs, Musicians even Trolls tell me what you think.

Are we born with talent or can anyone develop it?

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006

Good topic, something similar was on here about 2 years ago.

I believe its alot of genetics developed by effort / environment. I also believe that everyone has there own nich, in other words different people pick up different instruments more natural, some drummers can't pick up a guitar, some guitar players can't keep a beat on drums and some people can't sing a note in key to save there lives.

no surrender · Post by **no surrender** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006

vocals.. def born with it. an Axl or Baz are born, not made.

instruments? you gotta be born with passion . thats why i'm here. you shred that AXE and I'm jello! JIGGY! H-I-S-T-O-R-Y

OR, you do your best Hagar or Axl or Baz.. I'm yours! putty in your hands

i really die for those that can belt em out! !!

bottom line..
PASSION

no substitute. and your BORN with it.

SpellboundByMetal · Post by **SpellboundByMetal** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006

I think people are born with a blueprint of what they are automatically capable of. music is something you cant just force on yourself. ive seen alot of people play an instrument for a month and then just say "screw it".
i think anything is possible though.

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006

Genetic ability to start . An extremely strong desire to develope it.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006

Genetics gives rise to inclinations. Some people are inclined towards math, some art, some heavy lifting, etc., etc.

Try to think of these inclinations as building foundations. A person who is genetically inclined to music would have a large building foundation for music whereas a non-inclined person might have a house-sized foundation for music. It is up to the individual to build on that foundation. A non-inclined person may build a "nice big house" on their foundation and become a very good musician. On the other hand, an inclined person might build a "department store" on their larger foundation and become a virtuoso. Of course, a big foundation doesn't do much good if you don't build anything on it.

rocker x · Post by **rocker x** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006

Some may have a genetic advantage or predisposition for the Arts, but it

still needs development to be fully realized. However there have always

been those few with an exceptional gift or affinity for it.

Nature and Nurture with perhaps a little Destiny.

Bert|Evil · Post by **Bert|Evil** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006

rocker x wrote:However there have always

been those few with an exceptional gift or affinity for it.

Nature and Nurture with perhaps a little Destiny.

So, Rocker X, is guitar/ bass playing comparable to your knowledge of computing technologies??

orangekick · Post by **orangekick** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006

I've always thought that people were born with it, but they have to have the desire to push it further. I just know that the first time I ever picked up an instrument I knew that I had found my destiny.

rocker x · Post by **rocker x** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006

Darth|Evil wrote:

So, Rocker X, is guitar/ bass playing comparable to your knowledge of computing technologies??

Yes my master!

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006

You know, I'm not so sure either is correct 100%. I think I was born with an innate ability to recognize patterns and pitch, not sure if that's genetic. I don't claim any real talent, never have and that's not fake modesty, I see it as a passionate desire to soak up everything musical. I was always that way. I started reading at an early age, which led to a voracious appetite for "input"... I've always had a need to learn and experience new things. I was also a very quiet and lonely kid, too, and we all know how music can fill that void... the music has been a good friend.
There was always some kind of music playing in my house, live or otherwise, and musicians on both parents' sides, so it really truly could have been my environment or my bloodline.-------->JMS

Bert|Evil · Post by **Bert|Evil** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006

rocker x wrote:Darth|Evil wrote:

So, Rocker X, is guitar/ bass playing comparable to your knowledge of computing technologies??
Yes my master!

I like it!! Yeah!!!

Bert|Evil · Post by **Bert|Evil** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006

In my learning of the instrument and from teaching it, I think that technical intelligence is necessary initially. Knowing chords/scales in learning and dissecting a song is fundamentally similar to a schooled mechanic diagnosing any given make/ model of car coming of the street and what the problem may be.

Eventually, one’s creative skills will take over, but that can’t happen until he or she learns to conceptualize. I noticed this in a lot of my students at least 7 years or better after the fact. All but one of them can conceptualize, even in how they communicate it to you in a conversation. That other one has plenty of technical intelligence, he couldn’t conceptualize a Barney cartoon if his life depended on it.

As for the genetic ‘thang, I’ve never been sold on that. Obviously, seeing family members play instruments while you are growing up will certainly influence you, but I don’t think that there is a chromosome for this. I can’t speak for girls, but every intelligent male finds and outlet for his skills, whether it be guitar, working on a car, Dungeons and Dragons (which will qualify you for a computer programming job), playing video games, etc.