Talent development in Chinese and Swiss music students

Abstract

Musical talent development and the factors that influence it—such as family or peers—have been widely researched, especially in a Western setting. Despite the growing body of research in non-Western cultures and regions, there is still a lack of research comparing the factors and perceptions of musical talent development between Western and Asian settings. This interview study compared Swiss and Chinese music students’ ( N = 19) musical talent development and the factors influencing musical talent during childhood and adolescence, their professional aims, and their perception of internal and external factors affecting talent development. The students had similar opinions regarding the role of their teachers, the roles of internal and external factors in talent development, and their career goals. However, the students from China and Switzerland differed in their experiences of making and discussing music with peers, in the difficulties experienced during their music education, and in their relationship with their families. The results are a starting point for further comparative research on the perception and development of musical talent, and offer material for a mutual understanding of music students’ backgrounds in countries with differing music education traditions.