Giftedness and Talent in Music

Gary McPherson

Using videos of a young child prodigy, this presentation explored the nature and scope of giftedness and talent in music. It included information from a chapter in Gary McPherson's new book (The Child as Musician, Oxford University Press, 2006), and attempted to dispel some of the myths that lead to the commonly held belief that musicans are born rather than made.

A PDF of the presentation is available on the right.
(Do not redistribute or duplicate without the authors permission)


Sources:

Books

Parncutt, R., & McPherson, G. E. (Eds.), (2002). The science and psychology of music performance: Creative strategies for music teaching and learning. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-513810-4.

McPherson, G. E. (2006). The child as musician: A handbook of musical development. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-853031-5 (Hardcover); 0-19-853032-3 (Softcover).



Chapters in Books

McPherson, G. E., & Gabrielsson, A. (2002). From sound to sign (pp. 99-115). In R. Parncutt & G. E. McPherson (Eds.), The science and psychology of musical performance: Creative strategies for music teaching and learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-513810-4.

O’Neill, S., & McPherson, G. E. (2002). Motivation (pp. 31-46). In R. Parncutt & G. E. McPherson (Eds.), The science and psychology of musical performance: Creative strategies for music teaching and learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-513810-4.

McPherson, G. E., & Zimmerman, B. J. (2002). Self-regulation of musical learning: A social cognitive perspective (pp. 327-347). In R. Colwell & C. Richardson (Eds.), The New handbook of research on music teaching and learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press: New York.

McPherson, G. E., & Davidson, J. W. (2006). Playing an instrument (pp. 331-352). In G. E. McPherson (Ed.), The child as musician: A handbook of musical development. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Austin, J., Renwick, J., & McPherson, G. E. (2006). Developing motivation (pp. 213-238). In G. E. McPherson (Ed.), The child as musician: A handbook of musical development. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Mills, J., & McPherson, G. E. (2006). Musical literacy (pp. 155-172). In G. E. McPherson (Ed.), The child as musician: A handbook of musical development. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

McPherson, G. E., & Williamon, A. (2006). Giftedness and talent (pp. 239-256). In G. E. McPherson (Ed.), The child as musician: A handbook of musical development. Oxford: Oxford University Press.



Journal Articles

McPherson, G. E., & Renwick, J. M. (2001). A longitudinal study of self-regulation in children’s musical practice. Music Education Research, 3(2), 169-186.

McPherson, G. E. (2001). Commitment and practice: Key ingredients for achievement during the early stages of learning a musical instrument. Council for Research in Music Education, 147, 122-127.

McPherson, G. E., & Davidson, J. W. (2002). Musical practice: Mother and child interactions during the first year of learning an instrument. Music Education Research, 4(1), 143-158.

Renwick, J., & McPherson, G. E. (2002). Interest and choice: Student-selected repertoire and its effect on practising behaviour. British Journal of Music Education, 19(2), 173-188.

McPherson, G. E. (2005). From child to musician: Skill development during the beginning stages of learning an instrument. Psychology of Music, 33(1), 5-35.