There is no such thing as a ‘gifted’ musician. A person may have a desire to be a great musician, but the greatness only comes from hours and hours and hours of practice.World class performances comes by striving for a target just out of reach – but with a vivid awareness of how the gap might be breached.
Purposeful practice is about striving for what is just and out of reach and not quite making it. It is about grappling with tasks beyond current limitations and falling short again and again.
Excellence is about stepping outside the comfort zone, training with a spirit of endeavour and accepting the trials and tribulations that will definitely come along. Progress is built upon the foundations of necessary failure. Failure is a part of any learning. If you are not failing, you are not learning and growing as a musician and a person.
Success and failure is found in motivation. Thousands of hours in purposeful practice will help to achieve excellence.
But it is only those who care about the destination, who are motivated that will get there.
The following video is about Lang Lang, a pianist from China. His story is incredible.
He obviously has the desire to be a musician, but you can also see the dedication and sacrifice he and his family have made for him to succeed.