Three Classes of Players

The London musician Salomon once gave violin lessons to an unusual student: King George III.

One day the king hadn’t exactly impressed his teacher with practice or progress. Salomon decided to offer a “scientific” classification of fiddlers:

“Your Majesty, violinists may be divided into three classes: the first are those who cannot play at all; the second are those who play badly; and the third are those who play well. Sire, you have already reached the second class.”

It’s a great line—and a sharp lesson. On every instrument, most people plateau in that second category. That’s frustrating enough. Worse is how many are perfectly content to stay there, unwilling to put in what it takes to reach the third.

And, Salomon might add, singers don’t escape the math: comparatively few even graduate from “can’t,” and only a small minority ever reach “good.”