@Chris Thanks for the question, even though that wasn’t really the main point of the post

Ther are several parts to the answer.

First of all I had several childhood ‘incidents’ where I was publicly humiliated for the unusual, non-regular notes that my singing voice produces. At the age of 11 of 12 you tend to believe your mother and your music teacher when they tell you not to sing because it’s unpleasant to listen to (‘horrible’ was the exact word used). So yes, I did have a limiting belief about it for many years.

I got over it and managed to replace it with a neutral belief. I love to sing. I do sing. Loudly. I get a lot feedback that it’s pretty untuneful so I tend to sing when I’m alone, with people I want to annoy or with close friends/family who can tolerate it. I have no doubt I could train my voice. I also have no doubt that it is not one of my natural talents so came to the sad acceptance that I will not become a famous opera or rock singer (though being able to sing isn’t necessarily a quality needed to be a rock singer).

As for playing an instrument. I can strum a guitar. I could learn to play, and could probably master it technically. But I will never play an instrument in the way Jacqueline Du Pre played the cello. I would have liked to (it would be the guitar though) but I believe there is natural talent and feel for the music that can’t be taught or learned. That’s what make the great artists great.

So I stand by the statement ‘I can’t’. I just don’t think there’s any choice.

@Daphne Did my reply to Chris satisfy you? I know what you mean about ‘can’t’. But I do think it is appropriate for me and singing!

@David I can play (or I could if I wanted). But I don’t think I can play in a way that moves the soul. I would need decades of therapy and motivational coaching to change that believe!

@Mocha Dad Me neither (welcome btw!)

I’ll wait to hear Ian’s response!

PS: Ian, the listener is part of the music equation, so you are partaking in music too, just in a different way!

Of course you can play an instrument. You just don’t know how yet. When it comes to skills, “can’t” means “won’t.”

Have a good weekend.