Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)

Experience and guile will always overcome youth and skill.

I recognise A.C. Doyle as genius, but does that make me talented?

Talent incorporates hard work, skill and knowledge. Talented people are not "naturals" at anything, but are instead sharply honed and tuned instruments built from years of work, study and experience.

When I see and hear a child guitar virtuoso playing at eight what I'll never accomplish, regardless of my dedication, I am in awe of raw natural ability that preceded a work ethic.

The kid picked it up and in short order began to master the instrument. Hail the Mousai for bequeathing unto me the genius to recognize such talent.

@mona - Yes mam, it was by wisdom that Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote and played Sweet Home Alabama.

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What about genetics?
Are the inherited characteristics not important whatsoever?

@Prog - My first post was not meant as a rebuttal, but an addition to your observation. This post is a refutation in part.

1. To quote myself: "The kid picked it up and in short order began to master the instrument." Effort, implied in the statement, which, being accompanied by the rare specialized aptitude we call talent, may be relatively minimal compared to typical experiences - results may vary.

2. Nurture from parents is not a given. The child, or anyone for that matter, could have been encouraged by a sense of ease with the new endeavor which worked to spur him to further exploration.

3. Typically, an eight year old child is not disciplined enough to allocate time on their own, unless it involves fun or candy. But for the rarely talented this time may be far more rewarding and enjoyable; something to look forward to instead of a parent directed chore...which is the usual case.


prog quote: " No child just sits down to a piano and knows how to play. That is an absolute statement that I don't believe you can substantiate.
There are autistic savants that can hear a complex composition one time and play it flawlessly

Mozart had written his first symphony by the age of 5. He was a natural.

Though singing can be learned, a naturally gifted singer is just that - naturally gifted, whether or not they develop the talent to its fullest potential

prog quote:
"Saying someone is gifted or a natural as an answer as to how someone has become so accomplished at something belittles the entire process of achievement."

Natural talent is a fact, the development of which is contingent upon a work ethic in varying degrees. Many are the talented failures in this world who lacked the discipline develop their natural skills.
However to refer to one as a natural, recognizing their innate talent does not in my opinion belittle their achievement.

Finally I understand your, but I don't think you understand that it is not an absolute.

Hmm, I was saying exactly that. There is no absolute.

I have not made snide remarks about anyone's ability to understand and yet here is a wonderful example above.

There are solid reasons to doubt this. Mozart was, when one looks closely, one of the first manufactured musical "icons."

"In remarkable musical research conducted in 2007/8 by Luca Bianchini, Anna Trombetta and Agostino Taboga of Italy the theatre score of the first performance of 'Le Nozze di Figaro' (1786) was analysed in detail from microfiches made at the Austrian National Library, together with the background history of that work. A rare event in Mozart research. The result ? This opera has music NOT by Mozart. It was, in fact, only a hastily made arrangement made by Mozart and da Ponte in Vienna of a work already existing in the German language. Which was staged full of musical and textual errors in its new Italianised form in Vienna in May of 1786. A version that was hissed and booed in its short run in Vienna. Mozart was NOT the composer of this music."

For more see -

http://www.lulu.com/content/2710313

http://www.musicalrevisionism.info/view/articles/1/The-Manufacture-of-Mozart- Preface.html


http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message986541/pg1

The music is great, beyond dispute. It's just likely that there was a 19th century version of Disney's studios, where it was produced and edited by artists paid to remain anonymous.

Cheers

@prog - What I meant to convey is that I understand what you mean, but I don't think that I was getting across to you the point I intended.

If I came off as snide then please accept my apology as that was not my intent.

prog quote: "Natural talent is just a result of a lot of different moving parts and variables coming together with a very nice result."

Like a talented race car or boat?

This has a tone, IMO, very demeaning to the actuality of natural talent. Like saying Elvis Pressley or Albert Einstein were merely talented

"Natural talent in a vacuum does not result in anything." I'm not sure what you mean here prog please elaborate.