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>>
>>See this interesting video:
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>>http://www.webtvhub.com/ethan-bortnick-on-jay-leno-video-amazing-video-of-six-year-old-piano-prodigy/
>
>Read the book - you will see how this comes about and why :)
>
>Question - does the child only play or also compose original and significant new music?

Hi Jos,

In the show the child played something he created, though I suspect someone who knows may not call it significant. I bet in a number of years he will be really good unless he melts down from the stress.

I haven't got the book you recommend yet. Sounds interesting. I did read Outliers which seems to go along the same line.

In Outliers the author states that "outliers", which are way out of average individuals or populations, have a number of common features: Natural talent or gift, an early opportunity to show and develop the talent which in turn opens additional and snowballing opportunities, plus intense, long and focused practice. 10,000 hours of focused practice he calls it.

The "Making of an Expert" (http://www.eduplaytion.org/uploads/The_Making_of_an_Expert_HBR_article.doc) was published in 2007 and refers to a 1985 book "Developing Talent in Young People", probably the original source of the research we are talking about.

I don;t think these authors imply that talent does not exist or that it is unimportant. Instead, they stress the importance of intense and expert coaching and practice and of the role that chance plays in offering talented people the opportunity to receive early and outstanding training. For example the opportunity Bill Gates got to program *a lot* at a very young age or The Beatles to play *a lot* in Hamburg.

Quote from The making of an expert:

The key characteristics behind the development of "experts" (defined as outstanding leaders in their chosen fields of endeavour") are
- deliberate practice
- outstanding coaching, feedback and mentorship
- A significant investment of effort over time (typically ten years or more)

Deliberate practice includes, focused, concentrated training, techniques of visualisation and scenario planning. It involves systematic efforts to practice and improve performance in any area of activity.

The key point with training and practice is not the length of time spent practising: it is the amount of quality focused practice and training undertaken on a regular basis.