I think you have to add a third category: randomness (or dumb lu
i think there is a third element, though, which has nothing to do with training or genes. i firmly believe there are strong aspects of our abilities and personalities that are formed by just random processes as we develop. for example, if someone has a particular dislike of tomatoes, i really don't believe that can be genetic. instead, i think we develop certain thoughts at random, and some stick with us for no explainable reason.
similarly, i think some people develop an ear for music because that is where they choose to take an interest, and that choice seems like a random thing.
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from that point on i think i must have unconsciously clicked on a switch in my brain, because i developed a really weird intuitive grasp of theory that i learned to transfer to the piano without putting much thought into it. of course, at the same time i also started playing piano for two hours a day for 1.5 - 2 years. i think that taught me how to transfer what i heard in my head into music (technical hurdles, which still plague me, aside). the bad part would be that i'm still going off of whatever system of processing theory my brain locked into when i was 13 (i'm coming up on 20 now) which makes it rather difficult when music professors want you to use their method to obtain the same result.
my point being that without any real significant family history of musical talent (my great-uncle was supposedly a fantastic by ear musician but he's the only one; my dad played but never did anything with it) i simply decided that i was going to be a musician. and lo and behold, i'm not half bad, though i would say i'm a better singer than a pianist but it's my first instrument anyway.
i don't know if i had some hidden talent before and it was just below the surface. my theory is that my brain was still young and maliable enough when i decided that i wanted to devote it to music that it burned paths in that it never would have taken otherwise. (i used to be rather bookish and dare i say a little geeky, and now i have long hair and play jazz and rock. bitchin'.) and that facinates me.
i have just realized that none of this probably would have happened if my parents hadn't encouraged me as soon as i started showing some spark. i might have just given it up and gone and done something else. so i guess this is mostly an endorsement for the existance of lucky idiots but also a disclaimer that they wouldn't be what are without nurturing and encouragement from others. however, i would like to differentiate myself and others from the previous two types whom i view and define as:
nature - prodegy or related to one and thus having some inherited genes and talent.
nurture - the ones that have the decision to excel at music made for them when their parents start them on an instrument at 4 and thus whether they care to pursue it or not, have an extremely deep rooted technical foundation. (i didn't have full lessons on the piano until i was 12)
if any of that didn't make sense, or someone would like to share a similar story and/or discuss it, feel free to reply.
danny
i think your example sort of illustrates my point. maybe 'choices' is a better word than randomness, but often choices really do seem random. the person who chooses to be a musician is different than the prodigy or the nurtured musician. i believe this choice can even take place very young. for example, you might have two different kids who are nurtured to be musicians, but only one makes the choice to really take it seriously. this choice doesn't necessarily have anything to do with natural talent. kids can make these kinds of choices even at an early age.
to the music teacher, this choice may seem like natural talent, but i believe it is something different.
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