In a recent interview, one of the questions was something along the lines of, "What skill or ability do you wish you owned that you don't?"
That's easy. I wish I were musical.
I love music. I love singing. I am even told that I have a good voice. But I don't get music. I don't have that innate understanding of it that so many of my friends and colleagues have. I always feel like I'm on the outside, looking in. Or listening to a language where I recognize a few of the words, but not the sentence structure. I've taught myself to play instruments when I've had to for a show. But the knowledge doesn't stay. It's not in my body.
I can only compare it to swordplay. The first time I picked up a sword, I understood it on a visceral level. The moves fit my body, and while I am more suited to rapier and broadsword work than small sword, I instinctively understand that whole world. In precisely the way I don't understand music.
Which is why I'm in awe of my many musical friends. Because of theatre, I know so many talented musicians, singers, performers, and composers all. I love their work, and watch wistfully from the side, wishing I could speak the language.
