The extent of this influence, with current data, is impossible to determine.Similar cases supporting a genetic
predisposition to a skill are found in studies of athletic ability. In creating these performance
opportunities parents are able to contribute not only to the development of musical skills, but
to the development of a performer with confidence.Elements of the Suzuki environment, associated with Talent
Education, are ones that were found to be quite common to the households of musical
children. They appear to acknowledge the significance of parental support in their response to the
statement, "Musical ability is inherited, as opposed to being learnt". 49% of participants strongly agreed
and 29% of participants agreed with the statement. The questionnaire results used are sound representations
of trends, however, due to sample size, offer limited statistical reliability.When all the song and
dance is done...ConclusionAs research progressed my hypothesis was both fulfilled and exceeded. In Questionnaire 1:
Musical Interest and Ability, 74% of participants agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "I
consider listening to and/or playing music to be common place in my household". Talent identification
and selecting an appropriate partner are therefore logical approaches to creating elite athletes."This quote harbours
the concept of a new role of parents in the development of specialised interests and
skills, or rather, the development of children specialised for certain skills! With genetic engineering technology
on the rise, will parents ever have the opportunity to manipulate the skills of their
children on a genetic level?While there are many stories, theories and ideas regarding the weight
genes carry in the development of specialised abilities in the individual, the is not conclusive
quantifiable evidence. This ultimately resulted in an acknowledgement of the diversity and extent to which
parents play roles in the development of their child's specialised interests and skills.I am currently
a university student studying a Bachelor of Communication. If, or when, a definite genetic influence
is identified for musicality, it is unlikely that it will conclusively describe the extent to
which genetics predispose an individual to a specialised skill. This encouraged my own ability and
the value I place on music as a means of entertainment and creative expression, and
as a source of emotional connection and social interaction with others. These environmental elements
are complemented by information gathered during self reflection, stating that live music was a common
form of entertainment at social gatherings and that music has been a, "quintessential part of
my home environment for as long as I can remember."This is further supported by results
from quantitative and qualitative methodologies. I found that both aspects of influence were considered significant
in musical and athletic ability, and domains of influence that I had not considered became
apparent as research continued. There were some commonalities between my case study and cross cultural
study, such as the values shared by parents motivating their children's interests and skills. Without
these superficial materials, it is doubtful that my interest or ability could have developed from
such a young age, or with such intensity. The concept of the 'born athlete' is
one that supports the social glorification of our sports champions and motivates their high social
status.One of the most interesting and controversial studies of athletic superiority is Jon Entine's book,
Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We're Afraid to Talk About It. Lots
of singing and dancing. This is seen as a means of sustaining the child's interest.
One participant, a vocalist and pianist in her own right, and the mother of 17
yr old vocalist and pianist, was asked if she believed there had been any significant
genetic influence on the development of her daughter's musical skills, she replied, "Most definitely -
both parents are musicians! In my family both my parents love music passionately and sing
in choirs. I value interest because I believe being fit in body can complement being
mentally active and social interaction".A strong value of education was identified in a number of
interviewed parents, and the selection and methods of musical education can have a very significant
effect on the development of a child's musical interest and skill.Suzuki Talent Education is both
a philosophy and a method of music education that embraces the total development of the
child. The home environments of children with specific interests, especially musical ability, are busy
and productive, and in many cases are very focused on the chosen area of interest.
It is a valid conclusion, then, that within African populations there are trends of genetic
difference that predispose members to these skills. However, the researchers were still unable to determine
whether the musicians had developed bigger brains through playing instruments or if having a bigger
brain gave them musical ability. A Bach, matured at 22; a Beethoven, publishing his compositions
at 13 and a Mendelssohn at 15, a Mozart, composing at 5 years, are the
product of a particular protoplasm of whole tenacious qualities we come to realise when we
learn that the Bach family comprised twenty eminent musicians and two-score others less eminent"The presence
of 40 talented musicians in a family, some of the nike tn most famous of which had
musically matured on exiting adolescence, has strong implications for the presence of some genetic influence.
This came as no surprise to Olympic analysts, as no Norwegian has ever topped 10.08
in the 100 meters. In interviews with footballers conducted in his study, all were found
to have learned the game by kicking a ball with their fathers and/or brothers, and
all tennis players were found to have parents who also played tennis.This concept was not
supported by my results from Questionnaire 1: Musical Interest and Ability, in which there was
a fairly even spread of participants who strongly agreed or strongly disagreed with the statement
that "One or both of my parents display a strong interest and/or skill in the
musical field". Nonetheless, Norway could not produce a qualifier for the Sydney games. Hector*, a
17 year old self-taught electric guitarist and trained cornetist, said that his extensive performance opportunities
have, "helped in the development of important and personal ways of dealing with stress and
nerves" and that performance, "builds confidence once you are recognised for your skills...motivates for future
performances" and creates, "a drive to better yourself to further impress your potential audience".The implications
of a love of performance as a motivation for musical improvement place parents at the
forefront of skill development. I found this challenge to the significance of the role of
parents was of great interest, however it was undermined by the identification of many ways
in which participants' parents had provided support in their endeavours.When considering parents as catalysts for
musical and athletic development, it becomes imperative to recognise the values common to the parents
of talented children. With regard to musical interest and ability, these include the value of
education and achievement, rewarding children when they succeed, having high expectations of oneself and others
and have the self-discipline to achieve set goals.Similar values are seen in cases involving athletic
development. When asked what elements of her daughter's environment and lifestyle are suitable to the
development of a strong musical affiliation, she replied, "I ensured that music was playing a
lot. This material, a combination of genes from both parents, contains base instructions for the
individual to be created. All of my siblings have shown some musical ability, and all
have displayed untrained singing ability."This support of a genetic influence did not exclude the idea
that a child's environment plays a very important role in the development of interests and
skills. The basis of the philosophy is that, "man is the son of his environment",
that is that the environment of an individual is an extremely significant influence on that
person's overall development and competencies.Regarding inherited or innate abilities, Suzuki says, "I have no doubt
that people are born with hereditary physiological differences, but I believe that a person's abilities
grow and develop depending on the stimulation from outside."Regarding musical ability, Suzuki states that, "Musical
ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. Neither has
a runner from Finland (10.27), Denmark (10.23), New Zealand (10.27) or Taiwan (10.27). I actively
encouraged interest by providing an environment that allowed music to be listened to and played,
and there are plenty of musicians in my social circle."Will G Hopkins, of the University
of Otago, New Zealand, said the following in regard to the potential genetic influence of
parents:"Genes are responsible for about half the variation in physical performance between individuals in the
population. There was primary and secondary acknowledgement of both arenas; however it appears that there
is far more primary research being conducted in to the environmental influence of parents.A recurring
conclusion, from both primary and secondary research, was that apparently innate, genetic-based abilities were fostered
in the environments created by parents due to a personal interest, a value of the
skill or a value of education. The consolidation of information gathered from both my micro
world and the macro world suggests that the role of parents on an environmental level
is highly significant.The motivation of parents was found to be one based in the presence
of a common interest, a value of the skill, or a value of the development
and process of acquiring the skill.Secondary sources indicate that in the case of both musical
and athletic skill, it is likely that one or both parents of an involved child
show personal interest in the same area. The idea of "social heritage" was explored in
relation to interest in physical activity by Pfister. Darwinian natural selection would suggest that these
genetic differences occurred as a response to the unique African environment.In Questionnaire 1: Musical Interest
and Ability, 65% of participants 'disagreed' or 'strongly disagreed' with the statement that, "Musical ability
is inherited, as opposed to being learnt", and none of the participants 'strongly agreed' with
it . It acknowledges the significance of a genetic contribution, albeit not on of a
directly inherited ability, and implies that if an inherited capacity is nurtured in an individual's
micro environment then that capacity can evolve into an interest and ability.Is it just in
their nature?The Environmental Role of tn requin Parents in the Development of Specialised Interests and SkillsRegardless of
the potential genetic influence of parents on the skills of their children, a child's environment
has fundamental and extensive influence on the development throughout childhood and adolescence of an individual,
and of their personal specialised interests and skills.Some of the potential subjects of this influence,
adolescents in this case, participated in Questionnaire 1: Musical Interest and Ability. I like seeing
my children achieving goals they set themselves. Parents also help to create a loving, encouraging
and understanding environment and attend workshops, concerts and graduations.During childhood and adolescence, the genetic role
of my parents was amplified in the construction of environments and social practices, such as
live music at social gatherings. The study covers the topic from the perspective of both
parents and children and addresses the concepts of a musical brain, the potential genetic influence
of parents, and the motivation and the methods used to create an environment conducive to
the development of these skills.This topic explores my macro world through the study of my
cross-cultural component. Practical parental support ranges from the purchase of instruments, travel to competitions and
lessons. This report was written to fulfil the requirements of the Higher School Certificate. Any
child who is properly trained can develop musical ability just as all children develop the
ability to speak their mother tongue. In this case, I have chosen to study the
development of skill and interest in athletic and sporting activities.My initial hypothesis was that parental
influence would be extensive, and relating to both genetics and the environment, however the degree
and process would vary depending on the values, ideals and circumstances of the family, and
on the chosen skill.Creating Gene-iusesThe Genetic Role of Parents in the Development of Specialised Interests
and SkillsUndoubtedly one of the most obvious and universal contributions to the development of a
child by his or her parents is the passing on of their genetic material. The
validity of this data is questionable, particularly because of the small sample size used, and
so is more indicative of a trend than providing statistics that could be reliably generalised
to a larger population.The concept that the role of a parent can be both environmental
and genetic was further supported in my qualitative research. Also explored in this area of
study was what motivates parents to encourage specialised interests and skills and how they go
about doing so. The potential of every child is unlimited" , and that, "an unlimited
amount of ability can be developed when parent and child are having fun together" .The
second of those quotes is the one most relevant to this area of investigation. This
chapter recognises this significant contribution from parents on a social and cultural level and focuses
on the perceptions of this and on whether or not these genetic instructions extend to
the presence of innate abilities and skills, especially musical and athletic aptitudes.In both musical and
athletic endeavours there has been research in to the ideas of a "musical brain" and
"raw" athletic talents. Having lots of live music at social gatherings and always having instruments
in the house, and talking about music."The creation of these environments and opportunities can be
linked to the more practical roles of parents, in particular those relating to financial support.
A majority of participants, 65%, specified that they 'disagreed' or 'strongly disagreed' with this statement.
These could include equipment, transport and information.The role of parents on an environmental level was
found to be quite diverse and extensive, ranging from buying equipment and social status to
pre-natal care. Parents play a crucial role in Suzuki Talent Education. While the issue of
racism and superior races is frowned upon in sports, Entine's statements are not without justification:"The
qualifying time for the men's 100 meters for this year's Olympics was 10.6 seconds, considered
slow by modern standards. Researchers at Germany's University of Heidelberg studied the nerve cell "grey
matter" in the auditory cortex of professional, amateur and non-musicians and found that musicians generally
had more activity in this area and that even amateur musicians had 65% more brain
matter in this area and the area was 37% more active. This component addresses the
role of parents in the development of other specialised interests and skills. The foundation of
these ideas is the genetic influence of parents on their children.For example, extensive research has
been conducted into the brains of talented musicians, in comparison with non-players. Genes are probably
even more important than training in explaining differences in performance between athletes. However, many participants
were unsure, or unwilling to place one spectrum of influence over another (23%) .The creation
of an environment and the provision of opportunities by parents were addressed in all facets
of research conducted and were identified as some of the most significant influences of a
parent in the socialisation of their child, and the development of that child's specialised interests
and skills. For example, Ben* is a father of three children who all participate in
athletic activities ranging from football and soccer, to ballet. Other research supports the idea of
the chosen interest being incorporated into family activities and outings. Further support is found in
an interview with a mother of an adolescent daughter, who identified the following as her
actions to encourage the development of musical interest and skill within her home environment:"I ensured
that music was playing a lot. Both children and parents recognised the significance of this
influence and offered very thoughtful and insightful qualitative responses. This role extends to attendance of
all lessons, taking notes and becoming the home teacher. Genes also account for half the
variation in the response to physical training. This data is indicative of the large extent
to which individuals acknowledge the environmental influence on the development of skills, which is addressed
later in this report. I predict that, due to the interplay between genetic predisposition and
the environment, this would be a case of continuous variation and a figure would be
difficult to assign to any population as a whole.One of the most relevant quotes found
throughout my secondary research into the role of parents in the development of their child's
specialised interests and skills was that, "Genes don't give some athletes an innate ability...But there
can be no doubt they give them an innate capacity." This statement provides a
concise conclusion to this chapter. Lots of singing and dancing, buying toy instruments and making
learning music fun. When asked what motivated him to encourage the development of athletic interest
and skill in his children, and why he values this interest, he replied that a
"pursuit of excellence and supporting pride in self achievement. This result, however, is challenged by
later questions in the same questionnaire, which results indicate that the majority of participants felt
that, generally, their parents had a significant influence on the development of their chosen specialised
interests and skills, and that they share musical tastes with their parents, suggesting a common
interest.This inconsistency probably shows a flaw in the questionnaire rather than a contradiction, possibly due
to the small sample size used in the quantitative data.One of the most telling of
the questionnaire results was the strong support of the statement "I would still be a
musician if my parents did not display any interest or skill in the musical field"
by participants. Other individuals of my age group were also found to have extensive performance
opportunities, formal and informal, and state this as a significant influence on the development of
their musical achievement and enthusiasm.In my questionnaire, 92% of participants identified that they were actively
involved in performing groups such as bands and theatre groups, or had entered in to
competitions. The children of physically active parents, for example, are much more likely to
take up a sport than children whose parents do not play sport.Parents have great significance
as role models, being the most important people to whom a child relates in their
earliest years. Parents also provide the resources, materials and technology required to further facilitate a
child's creative and specialised interests.I was also given the opportunity to perform to various audiences
from a young age with my father in his work and this active encouragement of
performance developed my skills and boosted my confidence through positive reinforcement, while also demonstrating musical
performance as a potential source of income. In fact, no runner of Caucasian, Hispanic or
Asian descent has ever cracked the 10-second mark in the100 meters"This evidence implies a genetic
predisposition in those of African descent to run faster than those of other racial backgrounds.
The presence of many musical prodigies in one family strongly suggests a genetic link, especially
when outstanding ability is displayed much before environmental influences have had a lengthy time to
socialise the child."This quality is one that develops so early in most marked cases that
its innateness cannot be questioned. Another German study at the University of Tuebingen supports
the latter, again exploring the notion of a musician's brain being "wired" differently for enhanced
sound recognition and ability.Evidence of a musical brain and genetic predisposition to musicality is further
supported by familial case studies such as that involving the Bach family, and also studies
of other musical prodigies. In his book, Entine makes it exceptionally obvious that people of
African descent appear to have a natural flair for running faster and jumping higher than
those of other ethnic backgrounds. Some participants, 23%, were reluctant to place one influence over
the other, one commenting that it "can be both" . Similarly opportunities and conditions for
sporting activities are essential to a developing interest and are often provided by parents. Are
musicians musical by nature, are athletes born to run, jump or swim? Or are these
skills as a result of their environment and socialisation?Generally, it has been accepted that it
is some combination of the two elements of nature and nurture that influence the development
of an individual, and their specific competencies.This study focuses on the significance of parents in
the development of these specialised interests and skills. Musical ability has been chosen as a
case study. Due to publishing requirements, it has been extensively editted..
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