Black Swan.

In Black Swan, they are performing the ballet Swan Lake. This ballet has two main characters, the white swan and the black swan. To play each character, Natalie Portman has to take on two very different styles of dancing. For the white swan, she has to strive for perfection. She has to nail her technique on every move. For the black swan, it's different. The black swan is more of a free spirit. She has to let emotions take control over the technique she knows. An error is acceptable in pursuit of capturing the wild and unpredictable nature of her character.

As I watched, I immediately began to think of how the same contrast in styles comes about in music. I am very much a white swan when it comes to music. I know how to play because I know what note to play when. I can play lead guitar, but only within the limits of the scales I've memorized. I can't just play freely without a plan. I can't stand to mess up.

But, lots of my musical friends are just the opposite. They play freely from whatever feels right. They may or may not know the scale they should be in, but it doesn't really matter. They might play some wrong notes in the pursuit of finding what they want to play, but it only makes it sound that much better.

If you think about it, they're almost always those two general groups you can fit it. You're either naturally pretty good and wing it, or you take the time to prepare and learn how it's done.

Another example is public speaking. I generally wing it. I'll study my subject, make a powerpoint and notecards with some bullets of important points, but I don't really have a cut and dry speech prepared. I just know what I'm talking about and talk. Other people do prepare nearly every word. They practice it multiple times and memorize everything so they can run straight through it.

I don't think either one of the two is better than the other. They're just different styles with their own benefits.

So what are you more of? A black swan or white swan?