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from audience members. Ultimately, it is to one day learn to play the piano. So read musical notes. This part is not too
the people’s vote that determines who is for my 30th birthday, I decided to sign bad because I sang in choral ensembles
the most talented. up for lessons and see what comes in high school and at least I know what a
But how does it work in the real of it. My piano teacher Bill Rothley* whole note is and realize that crescendo
world? Is there more to it than just is a patient man. My full time job (TV means to increase volume. Bill gives me
being popular among the masses? presenter) spans evenings during the some simple tunes to practice during
Do you have to know someone in the week so I show up for my 30 minutes of the week and I take home a beginner
industry where you want to showcase fame-finding in full TV makeup, wearing book. All day at work as well as the next
your talent? Would singer Kid Cudi (Day a suit. Bill’s eyebrows raise a little but he day, I feel very excited about my piano
and Night) be anything without rapper can tell I am serious about finding the lessons and the idea that yes, one day,
Kanye West? I doubt we’d know Janet right keys to pound. I might be able to perform Beethoven’s
Jackson on a massive international scale I sit down in front of a shiny black Moonlight Sonata’s 1st movement.
if it wasn’t for Michael Jackson. Kelly baby grand piano and my heart starts The week wears on and I search for
Clarkson, 2002 American Idol winner racing immediately. I’ve wanted to do used, full keyboards online. I don’t have
would still probably be a nobody if the this for so many years and I’m shaking a piano at home and most of my friends
American audience hadn’t voted her in inside with nerves. We start out with an laugh when I ask if they have one. By
as the next it-girl. easy explanation of music and how to the time my second lesson rolls back
A trend also following in the
entertainment world is the cross-over
among performers. Jessica Simpson
hit it big as a female vocalist in the
1990s. From there, she continued her
fame with ex-husband Nick Lachey by
starring in MTV’s Newlyweds reality
show. Simpson fans know she then
began accepting small parts in television
sit-coms and big-screen movies. Many
would agree Simpson has talent as a
singer but to some it’s a stretch to say
she has talent as an actress. A big name
though, has movie producers banking
on star’s fame to make a film successful
at the box office despite potential lack of
talent. But are they really fooling movie-
goers and critics?
The Meriam-Webster dictionary
defines talent as: “the natural
endowments of a person” and “a
special, often athletic, creative or artistic
aptitude.” Wikipedia says aptitude is: “an
innate, acquired or learned component
of competency. The innate nature of
aptitude is in contrast to achievement
which represents knowledge or ability
that is gained.” These definitions still
allow for a gray area when attempting
to put “talent” in a box. An “innate
component of competency” suggests
that a high level of skill for a job or hobby
is natural in a person and maybe he or
she just needs to tap into it.
I tried that. My dream has been
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