What Is Talent? Nature, Nurture, and the Myth of the Muse

Are great musicians born or made? Talent is often seen as a mysterious gift, yet musical ability also depends on practice, environment, and culture. Can disciplined effort take us all the way, or are there limits? Can skills such as perfect pitch be learned, or must they be innate? Is it even possible or desirable to measure musical ability. This lecture examines the balance between nature and nurture, challenging the myth of the muse, effortless genius and exploring how creativity emerges through curiosity, persistence, and a hopeless love of music.