Do limits exist?

[db05]

Been reading a lot of etcetra's posts lately, and he does ask good questions pertaining to piano. It boils down to whether the causes of problems can be fixed or not. If it comes from being taught wrongly and/or error in thinking, or lack in natural ability.

This goes far beyond piano playing and to all aspects of life. How would you know if a problem can be solved? If something can be done? Is it all just in the mind, or are there really natural limits? Like starting piano, there are many things in life you may be too late for.......

If I acknowledge the existence of limits, I also have to deal with the possibility that I might not be able to achieve everything I hoped for. I might set my expectations too low. If I don't recognize limits, I am pressured to give 100% and blame myself if I don't accomplish something. Oh boy, this is tricky. 

What do you guys think?

[pianowolfi]

Yes limits do exist. For instance, I could never be a good singer, I just don't have the voice for it. Of course I could take 5 years of voice lessons but it wouldn't make sense, sure that there would be a progress but I would never be able to bring my singing skills up to my expectations. So I concentrate on piano. I think as life goes on, we get to know our limits better and better, which is a good thing because then we can focus more on realistic objectives and put our best efforts into them. And find our own specific path.

Perhaps limits just exist because they have the purpose to slightly and gently direct us to our own self? To what we really want, after all? To our true intentions? In this "world of separation and individuation" we are confronted with limits all the time, every single day. Perhaps they are a sort of stumbling block which makes us more aware of ourselves. (Well, just thinking )

And, perhaps the contrast between our striving for "eternal" and "unlimited" values and our after all temporary limitations is an interesting factor of life.

What I don't believe in (since you are also relating to life in general) is that there are limits to knowledge. I never get tired of fighting against the claim that our knowledge is limited. Sure, it is, but only temporarily and subjectively.

What I believe in: we never should give the discouraging voice in ourselves too much space. We should rather say: "I can't yet" instead of "I can't" (something I use to say a lot to my students), we should rather be inspired than demotivated, we should rather be crazy and creative instead of anxious and super correct. etc.etc..

hope this helps a bit.

[rc]

What I believe in: we never should give the discouraging voice in ourselves too much space. We should rather say: "I can't yet" instead of "I can't" (something I use to say a lot to my students), we should rather be inspired than demotivated, we should rather be a bit crazy and creative instead of anxious and super correct. etc.etc..

Well said wolfi!

Personally, I deliberately don't give my limits much attention.  The only fact I acknowledge is that I want to be a good pianist, and I'm just going to act on that basic motive and not waste energy in doubts.  To make music is a priviledge, while other people may be spending all their waking hours just to feed themselves.  I will do the best I can, and I don't even care if I might somehow not be wired to be a pianist.

[loonbohol]

There should be no limits to polymaths like Jose Rizal

[db05]

Great, sir wolfi!

I guess I'd have to break it up to some people that they won't be able to do some things -at least not as soon as we had hoped- soon as I get out of "retreat". I don't mean to be discouraging, but I happen to be very hard on myself and others already.

Personally, I guess my counselor was right and I should find some things to do besides music. The irony is that you can spend the rest of your life 24/7 on piano and still not learn it all... It feels like spreading myself too thin... 2 instruments and something different entirely.

How it relates to piano playing, well some teachers get too idealistic and demand progress from all students. Not everyone is the same, even if you have the same teacher, you won't come out factory-made pianists.

LOL I feel like dumping the idea of working for a school entirely. It doesn't mean anything, just a name and low wages... Making music is a privilege, and we should enjoy it best we can!

There should be no limits to polymaths like Jose Rizal

He was pretty idealistic, to a fault. Did you know? He was the national hero picked for us by the Americans. Someone who didn't want to claim independence. Not violent at all. Witty at best.

I wonder how can we be polymaths... although i do think i'm more of the Einstein type. Failure comes up with something big in time...