Published On: February 11th, 2019|

The Conversation – Kenneth A. Kiewra

Some people think talent is born. The often-told story of Mozart playing piano at 3 and composing at 5 reinforces such beliefs. But here’s the rest of that story: Mozart’s father was a successful musician, composer and instructor. He was devoted to teaching Mozart and helping him practice hard and achieve perfection. Despite all this, Mozart did not produce his first masterwork until his early 20s – after about 15 years of arduous practice and top-notch instruction. Talent, I argue, is not born, it’s made – and parents can make a big difference. (more)