Tommy Emmanuel V.S. Smokin' Joe Robinson

Joop

Has anyone seen the YouTube clips of Joe Robinson? WOW, this guy was playing Tommy Emmanuel almost better than Tommy at 16, and he is self taught! Why the hell wasn't I born with that much talent? It almost makes me want to give up playing altogether (fat chance!). Can you imagine how good he will be by the time he reaches Tommy's age!

aja

Joop wrote: Has anyone seen the YouTube clips of Joe Robinson? WOW, this guy was playing Tommy Emmanuel almost better than Tommy at 16, and he is self taught! Why the hell wasn't I born with that much talent? It almost makes me want to give up playing altogether (fat chance!). Can you imagine how good he will be by the time he reaches Tommy's age!

If two people are compared:

One picks up the guitar and instantly masters it. A real musical savant.
The other picks it up and makes the cat run away. After years of practice and dedication he manages to spit out a few licks.

So, who has more talent? I say talent is not having the most, but making the most of what you have. Making something out of nothing takes true talent.

If you want to see it like this, Joe Robinson wouldn't have anything to play if Tommy didn't come up with those songs in the first place. So maybe Tommy has more talent since he truly created the music instead of just learning the technique?

But anyway I agree with you! Jealousy makes me nasty ?

AlanRatcliffe

Regardless of your motivation for saying it, I think you're probably right.

Through the years, I've seen a few people who were gifted, who could pick up and play any instrument within a few minutes, or who took to a single instrument and mastered it quickly. Not a single one ever took it anywhere - most didn't have the inclination, either they didn't love the music itself or playing came too easy for them to be able to hold their interest for long. The less talented person who has a love of the music that complels them to work hard and practice will always go further in the long run.

Child "prodigies" are often way ahead of their years, but rarely stay ahead. The oft-touted Mozart is by far the exception, someone who had the magical combination: a natural music ability, a true love of the music and the discipline to apply himself to take it further. The classical music world hates using the word "prodigy", because they know that it creates an unrealistic expectation that the student will continue to excel and move on to big things, which is rarely the case.

The ability to replicate a piece of music is a different skill to composing it in the first place. In the example, Tommy Emmanuel is both the composer and the performer, and that trumps merely being able to perform the piece any time, regardless of age.

Joop

Alan and AJA, you are both right. I guess that also links back to the lack of "true" (and by that I mean original) talent in SA. You have to admit though, the boy can play!!

[deleted]

I have to agree with Aja and Alan

Why Tommy Emmanuel is SO good? He tells a story, he makes you laugh, makes you feel the emotion of the music. I can play a few TE tracks, does that make me brilliant, not even close.. I merely emulate him... alot easier than writing the music and playing it with such passion.

As a performer, I'll say it again.. there is NOBODY on earth better.. IMO of course ?