Originally Posted by Bass Thumper
<...snip...>

Since you play an instrument, I'm curious about your thoughts on the "10,000 hour rule". Here is what Levitin says.

The emerging picture from such studies is that ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert – in anything. In study after study of composers, basketball players, fiction writers, ice skaters, concert pianists, chess players, master criminals, and what have you, this number comes up again and again.

I don't think we can quantize it like that. Some people can master an instrument in less time than that, and some could probably put twice that amount of time and never master it. We all have different talents and abilities.

I've been playing sax since I was a kid, I do this for a living, so I figure I've put a lot of hours at it. Have I mastered it? What does that even mean? I'm very comfortable playing it, it's an extension of me, but I still learn things, too. But that's one of the things I like about it.

Although sax is my primary instrument, I also play flute, wind synthesizer, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals in various levels of competency/incompetency.

I don't think about mastering any of them. I just play, enjoy what I'm playing, and I also enjoy learning new things about each instrument.

One thing I've learned is this: No matter how good you are on your instrument, there is always someone better, and conversely, someone not as good as you. Does that matter to me? Nope, I accept that.

Life is too short. I'm having a good time making a living doing music and nothing but mucic. I didn't make the big time and become filthy rich, and the odds are against that happening now, But I live a modest life without a ton of possessions, but no debt, and I'm rich in enjoyable life experiences.

I consider myself lucky to be able to do what I love and make it my vocation.

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks