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Can you completely discount the part played by one's innate ability, though? I have been able to sing in tune and play percussion instruments (mainly the tabla)

Can you completely discount the part played by one's innate ability, though? I have been able to sing in tune and play percussion instruments (mainly the tabla) from a very young age, though I am no prodigy. Sadly, I was never motivated enough to put in the effort to become better at music and am still an amateur. I think I'd have had an (initial) advantage over someone who absolutely sucks at music and is learning to sing or play a percussion instrument. I feel the same thing when I look at people who are much smarter than me when it comes to intelligence.

visakanv 11y ago
That's an interesting perspective. It sounds to me like you did very well at things when you were young, and you maybe became used to being "good" or "smart" or "talented" without having to work very hard at things. As you get older, the only way to sustain that sort of advantage is to work hard at things you're not good at, but that requires stepping outside your comfort zone. Which is unpleasant. And additionally so if you had "innate ability" when you were younger (which I think is usually more about exposure than people realize).
- JoeAltmaier 11y ago
  This is exactly the demographic of Mensa: the highly intelligent non-achiever. For probably just the reasons you lay out.