Talent or not?

Question

Two of my music teachers say I don't have talent but I have drive. It just makes me feel discouraged and lately I have been feeling that I need to find my OWN voice, but I dont know how to. I want to believe that I am talented because if not then why would God put this strong passion in me. And it just makes me feel so down and like I dont have career in music while I am only 14.

Answer 1

Here is the lowdown. You can either sing or you can't. Everyone feels discouraged at some point especially when they have a drive and passion for something, but their talent simply isn't enough to carry them through. I doubt God had anything to do with your passion. You want to sing but don't have the proper vocal chords given to you by Nature. Some have it and some don't. Your peers will tell you to go for it and not let anyone ruin your dream. I am here to tell you that if you are not a singer (a real singer who can hit every note and wow the audience) then your teachers are right, you don't have the talent in this field. Would you want them to lie to you? So many people think they can sing and in reality, they are awful! And many of your peers will tell you your teachers are just jealous and you need to show them you can become the next great singer. Come on, be realistic. DO you really believe you are so talented that no one can see it and everyone is just jealous? Many people here have had their dreams dashed (obvious by their postings), and you need to understand they are going to lie to you and tell you you just have to keep on trying. Along with that comes a realistic approach, and many of them are living in fantasy land. Just watch American Idol if you don't believe this. Try another field. And for heaven's sake, kid, you're only 14, and you have plenty of time to choose a career. It isn't necessary to choose on now, or next year, or the year after. Some people work a lifetime at their career.

Answer 2

Don't get too down on yourself. Drive is a thousand times more important than raw talent. As a band musician, I have more band stories than choral, but they are universal stories anyway.

The guy that plays first chair trumpet in the New York Philharmonic orchestra? He wasn't even in a school music program as a kid. He tried out at Juilliard on trumpet, without even knowing how to read the standard music. They took him because of his passion and love of music, and years of hard work later, he holds what may be one of the most prestigious musical positions in the world.

If you are still 14, then you have plenty of time, if you really have the drive. You have all of high school to develop yourself, and then college is when most professionals develop the most. Besides, it is hard to tell how good a singer is before they finish all of the awkward adolescent years. I've heard puberty ruin great childhood singers, and I've heard so-so kids grow into a full, gorgeous voice.

If you work hard, then God will put you in position to do either what you want, or what He wants. You can't go wrong either way. Maybe if you can't make it as a performer, then you could make it as a teacher. That isn't the most appealing profession to youngsters, but there aren't many nobler professions.

What you need to do is make yourself a valuable commodity. Singers are a dime a dozen. Somebody that can play piano and sing? They could find themselves employed for weekends at a piano bar or something. Someone that can handle piano, guitars, and singing, in various styles such as classical, religious, jazz, etc? You've got yourself a job somewhere. I picked up a Teach Yourself Piano book about 6 months ago, got a small keyboard for my birthday/Xmas present, and now I can handle most modern popular songs on piano. I'm not amazing, but will a little bit of drive, you can teach yourself anything. You just have to turn yourself into the kind of person that someone would want to hire, and you WILL be hired somewhere.

Keep working at it. If you give up because of what people say, then you will certainly never actualize your potential. Nobody knows what you are capable of until you grow up and show them.

Answer 3

You do have drive, and that is enough to get you somewhere good. Sometimes, however, having the drive is not enough to get you exactly where you want to go. Lets say you dont have an excellent singing voice? So what? Pick up a guitar, sit down at a piano, get involved in music. Just because you may not be a professional vocalist doesnt mean you cant have a rewarding career in music. You are young, give it time.

Answer 4

You are only 14. This gives you PLENTY of time to figure out whether you can have a career in music or not. I say study and practice like crazy and go for it (for real, not half-assed). GIve yourself a time frame for achieving a goal in the industry. If it works out, then great. If you can't seem to get anywhere and people don't seem to like what you have to offer no matter what you do, give it up and move on to something else, but not until you have done your best and tried your hardest. Then at least you will be satisfied as to the question of whether you could have done it or not.

Answer 5

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I'm 15, just discovered that i love singing, and have a very average voice. I don't believe in talent, only in hard hard hard work. Work for it. I don't think you've ever heard of Brett Manning, but he's a famous vocal coach, who was once a very average singer. he now has a 5 octave range because he worked for it. Check out his website (linked it down there) and think about buying Singing Success if you're serious about singing. But whatever you do, work hard and don't let anyone tell you you aren't talented, because there's just no truth to it, not if you practice.

Answer 6

If multiple music teachers tell you that you have no talent, than STOP SINGING. Singing is something that you either have or don't have, unlike playing a musical instrument or dancing. Try playing an instrument. No matter who you are you can learn to play an instrument. You don't want to be one of those people that auditions for American Idol and gets laughed at....

Answer 7

Quite a few people have done well having no talent, but a strong drive and good connections. More than half of our singing celebrities can't sing. don't worry about it. Try to find your own style by singing different things into a recorder and playing them back to yourself. Figure out what feels good to sing and what sounds good to you. Good Luck!~

Answer 8

All that means is that you will have to work to sound great, whereas a talented person sounds great without trying very hard. . Don't let it stop you.

Answer 9

Teach yourself. You have the basics now from teachers, so go home, and work hard. Keep your throat open, fill your diaphragm, and just let it all out! You can get there!

Answer 10

you may feel differently at, say 21. by then you will probably be marreid with kids and dreams or not the bills have to be paid.
they always say start young if you want to be successful. start now.
surely it can't hurt.