The Genius in All of Us

In today's excerpt - genius. The popular conception of genius is that it is an inborn
gift, yet an increasingly large body of research suggests the opposite - that genius
is always the product of sustained effort. A case in point - Mozart:
"Standing above all other giftedness legends, of course, [is] that of the
mystifying boy genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, alleged to be an instant
master performer at age three and a brilliant composer at age five. His breath-taking
musical gifts were said to have sprouted from nowhere, and his own
father promoted him as the 'miracle which God let be born in Salzburg.'
"The reality about Mozart turns out to be far more interesting and far less
mysterious. His early achievements - while very impressive, to be sure -
actually make good sense considering his extraordinary upbringing. And his
later undeniable genius turns out to be a wonderful advertisement for the
power of process. Mozart was bathed in music from well before his birth, and his
childhood was quite unlike any other. His father, Leopold Mozart, was an intensely
ambitious Austrian musician, composer, and teacher who had gained
wide acclaim with the publication of the instruction book A Treatise on the Fundamental
Principles of Violin Playing. For a while, Leopold had dreamed of being a great
composer himself. But on becoming a father, he began to shift his ambitions away
from his own unsatisfying career and onto his children - perhaps, in part, because
his career had already hit a ceiling: he was vice-kapellmeister (assistant music
director); the top spot would be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
"Uniquely situated, and desperate to make some sort of lasting mark on music, Leopold
began his family musical enterprise even before Wolfgang's birth, focusing first
on his daughter Nannerl. Leopold's elaborate teaching method derived in part from
the Italian instructor Giuseppe Tartini and included highly nuanced techniques ...
"Then came Wolfgang. Four and a half years younger than his sister, the tiny boy
got everything Nannerl got - only much earlier and even more intensively. Literally
from his infancy, he was the classic younger sibling soaking up his big sister's
singular passion. As soon as he was able, he sat beside her at the harpsichord
and mimicked notes that she played. Wolfgang's first pings and plucks were just
that. But with a fast-developing ear, deep curiosity and a tidal wave of family
know-how, he was able to click into an accelerated process of development.
"As Wolfgang became fascinated with playing music, his father became fascinated
with his toddler son's fascination - and was soon instructing him
with an intensity that far eclipsed his efforts with Nannerl. Not only did Leopold
openly give preferred attention to Wolfgang over his daughter; he also made a career-altering
decision to more or less shrug off his official duties in order to build an even
more promising career for his son. This was not a quixotic adventure. Leopold's
calculated decision made reasonable financial sense, ... Wolfgang's youth made
him a potentially lucrative attraction. ...
From the age of three, then, Wolfgang had an entire family driving him to excel
with a powerful blend of instruction, encouragement, and constant
practice. He was expected to be the pride and financial engine of the family,
and he did not disappoint. In his performances from London to Mannheim
between the ages of six and eight, he drew good receipts and high praise from
noble patrons. ...
"Still, like his sister, the young Mozart was never a truly great adult-level
instrumentalist. He was highly advanced for his age, but not compared with
skillful adult performers. The tiny Mozart dazzled royalty and was at the time
unusual for his early abilities. But today many young children exposed to
Suzuki and other rigorous musical programs play as well as the young Mozart
did - and some play even better. Inside the world of these intensive, child-centered
programs, such achievements are now straightforwardly regarded by
parents and teachers for what they are: the combined consequence of early
exposure, exceptional instruction, constant practice, family nurturance, and a child's
intense will to learn. Like a brilliant souffle, all of these ingredients must be
present in just the right quantity and mixed with just the right timing and flair.
Almost anything can go wrong. The process is far from predictable and never in anyone's
complete control."
Author: David Shenk
Title: The Genius in All of Us
Publisher: Doubleday
Date: Copyright 2010 by David Shenk
Pages: 50-52