I have no talent - part one

Imagine Grapes. Imagine how the same species of Grape have created Table Wines and Brandy for centuries. And imagine us. We all have these subtle differences between each other. How we thrive in Sport, Careers, Arts, Life depends on many things. Talent is only one thing. We cultivate many different things at the same time. 

Something I used to always notice when I played Gaelic Football was how players that tended to get to County Minor Level (U18 regional teams) usually had support behind them. When I say support I mean they either had a parent following her or him everywhere, coaching them and taking on their commitment with them. I would say this is so important that County teams look for this in players as a means of assessing their character. 

Let's look at musicians now. Some of the most talented musicians are the ones who have built up the neuroplasticity and the familiarity with notes and music. She/He will find an escape in the intensity and endless satisfaction of it all. Music is so consuming. For some, the escape is craved due to their home situation or their struggles in life. For others, it is a course they have been encouraged to take on and love. In both situations, Nurturing a love of Music helps greatly. 

How about a Dairy Farmer? Does the Farmer Father look at his Son and say “Now Son, you are going to wake at 5am every day of your life for 45 years to milk Cows. Here are the keys to the parlour”. It doesn’t exactly happen that way. First, from a young age, the Son accepts the lifestyle of Dairy farming. Second, the identity as a Dairy Farmer is ingrained in him. Lastly, it is of course nurtured. This is what tends to happen in a family who are in the Circus or in a Food Business or Musicians. The money isn’t as important as the passion and the lifestyle and the identity of it all. This is why sons of Millionaire business owners get handed the reins - they too put in the 50/60 hours a week because they have been cultivated like the Grapes in the Vineyard. 

So personally, the energy I feel when I play music is different to the next person. Which is a good thing. I didn’t wake up with any talent. Many of the musical mistakes I have made had nothing to do with music when I delved into them. Should I have been advised and nurtured more of course it would have made a massive impact on me and I would have made less mistakes. But how I process the world has a lot to do with my environment. Like… There is an irony in why I am releasing an Album and Documentary about Ballsgrove. I didn’t always stay there because my musical friends weren’t from there. Music took me away from Ballsgrove. But the sense of right and wrong, the formative experiences, the big mistakes and the learning all happened in Ballsgrove. So I was a product of that environment from a young age. In part two I want to talk about barriers that dub people as untalented. Stay tuned, Seán

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