Reconstructed Musical Memories and Adult Expertise

Abstract

The nature/nurture debate with respect to the development of cognitive skills rages ever strong, and musical expertise offers a powerful focus. The democratic view is that everyone has the ability to be musical, it is simply that 'practice makes perfect'. The alternative view, that musical genius is born, not crafted, considers inherited traits to be linked to musicianship. This paper does not suggest that either view is correct, but describes research examining early experience of music amongst people exhibiting different levels of musical expertise. The distinctions in early experience are described together with their implications .