This is a question researches have been trying to answer for years...
Is Musical Talent something we are born with, or is it a skill we acquire?
There is a lot of research and debate about this topic, however, no definite answers have yet been given. Some, support that musical talent is something innate, others, that is a skill, an aptitude we can learn.
1. What is the difference between Talent and Aptitude?
Davide Narno and Susanne Maria Reiterer in Musicality and Phonetic Language Aptitude define talent as a characteristic feature, natural endowment, creative aptitude, general intelligence and mental power. On the other hand, they define aptitude as an inclination, a capacity for learning and suitability. Therefore, they conclude that talent is an innate tendency to understand, perform and create music outstandingly. [1]
2. If this is the case, how can we measure musicality and define if one is talented or not?
When trying to answer this case, we need to consider many questions. For example, is talent innate or an aptitude? Is everyone talented or just a few? How many talents can one have? How are these combined? Is talent the same as intelligence? How much does the social environment one is raised in as well as the learning factors contributing to someone's talent? [2]
Take for example, two students that play an orchestral instrument. Even though learning to play the instrument is an aptitude, one of them is considered to be 'talented' whereas the other one, not. However, they both work hard, put a lot of effort in their practising and have reached a very high standard of playing.
Why is the 'talented' one able to receive a standing ovation whereas the other not?
Ellen Winner states that:
'Research on the Nurture hypothesis has failed to demonstrate that giftedness is a product of hard work and intensive training. Research has failed to demonstrate that any particular kind of family environment causes giftedness... To be sure, no research has demonstrated, that hard work, preserverance and pracise is sufficient.' [3]
Talent however, does not survive on its own. There must be a lot of practising and aptitudes acquired in order for it to reach its full potential. Seashore supports that musical talent is a gift of nature and that psycological and mental capacities that cannot be taught, are the difference betwen talent and skill. [4] However, Geza Rèvèz states that 'While aptitude indicates fitness for performance, talent indicates capacities far above the average in a special field of human activity.' [5]
In conclusion, there might not be a definite answer about whether talent falls ubder nature or nurture, however, as Joanne Haroutounian states:
'When we hear a performance, do we only hear what has been developed through training, a gesture bag of tricks or environmental influence? Or is there a unique talent that allows a student to personally interprete through sound a creative way? There is always one student you CANNOT NOT notice' [6]
[1] Dogil, Grzegorz and Reiterer, Susanne Maria, 'Musicality and Phonetic Language Aptitude' in Language, Talent and Brain Activity (Berlin, Walter de Guyter GmbH &Co, 2009) p. 213-256
[2] Dogil, Grzegorz and Reiterer, Susanne Maria, Language, Talent and Brain Activity
[3] Kirnarskaya, Dina, The Natural Musician on Abilities, Giftedness and Talent, (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2009) p.21
[4] Dogil, Grzegorz and Reiterer, Susanne Maria, Language, Talent and Brain Activity
[5] Rèvèz, Geza, Introduction to the Psycology of Music (New York, Dover Publications INC, 2001), p.142
[6] Kirnarskaya, Dina, The Natural Musician on Abilities, Giftedness and Talent, p.21
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