Can Teens Develop Musical Talent?

The Nature of Talent

• When it comes to talent, nurture may play as important a role as nature. Children who have spent their lives practicing an instrument may be technically proficient by the time they are teens, but if they lack innate talent and a feel for the music, they will have little advantage over the kids who pick up an instrument for the first time in high school and connect deeply to the music. On the other hand, it typically takes 10 years or more years of careful practice and discipline to fully develop into a virtuoso musician, so a teen that is newly dedicating her life to the study of music will have to apply herself with an added level of commitment to catch up to peers who have been at it a while.

Developing an Ear

• Even if your teen has no formal background in music, exposure to music from an early age increases the likelihood that she'll possess an aptitude for music. All children can recognize and show preference for different types of music by the time they are two, and with some amount of encouragement or tutelage by their elementary years children are able to develop true musicianship. Eric Clapton first picked up a guitar at the age of 13, but his parents were both accomplished musicians, and he had been exposed to music throughout his childhood. By the time he began lessons as a teen, his ear was already adept at recognizing the various musical structures and tonalities. In that sense, he was merely learning the language to express concepts with which he was already familiar.

Catching Up

• If you believe your teen has latent musical talent that needs to be developed, the first thing you should do is contact the guidance counselor at her school for advice about in-school and after-school music programs. Choir, band or orchestra classes are offered at most high schools, and there are many online resources to help you find local private instructors that can coach your teen one-on-one or in a group setting after-school to help her catch up with her peers. Speak to the high school musical director or band leader about identifying which instruments will best suit your child's talents and level of training. Ask the choir director at your teen's school or place of worship to evaluate your child's singing voice and include her in rehearsals.

Music and Academic Improvements

• Supporting your teen in the development of her new-found musical talent will not only be good for her mood and self-esteem, it may even improve her academic performance. A range of studies have demonstrated a direct correlation between the study of music and higher SAT scores. One report by the U.S. Department of Education states that students participating in instrumental music study demonstrate "significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12." Princeton's College-Bound Senior National Report shows an overwhelming differentiation in SAT verbal and math scoring between teens who have studied music performance or music appreciation and those who have not, with the music students scoring upwards of 57 points higher on language or math tests.