Jeremey McMillan <[log in to unmask]> starts a discussion on the relevance
of intelligence for musical talent.

Let me add that musical talent or ability is rather free set from
intelligence, when defined as the ability to solve logical problems (i.e
what you rate with an IQ-test.  Perfect pitch is a "musical talent" - it is
a function in the brain you have or not have, and also people with low IQ
can have this function.  other abilities than the ability to remember the
tones level are, sence for rythm, meter, melody et al.  I have myself a
talent for melody and I can orchestrate pieces with at least such skill
so I am satisfied myself.  I use to get little over 140 in those IQ tests
I have tried, but I know of people who surely would get better results in
such tests than me, who cannot orchestrate for example.  And I know people
who would surely get a lower result in an IQ test than me, who are much
better than me in feeling the rythm and keeping a tempo the same
throughout, when working in an orchestra.  I was always an awful
performer btw.

But one weak point in discussions like this one is how to define
Intelligence.  Usually IQ tests measure the ability to solve logical
problems, but this is only one of many intelligences.  Do you for example
use the same talent when you solva a mathematical problem as when you tell
a joke in a witty way so you make people laugh? [Question is rethoric;
answer is "no"].

Thereto there is difference in what kind of musical activity you dabble
with.  You will find you use different talents when you listen to music,
perform music, or compose music.  But music is a language that everybody
can understand, all in their own way.  I want to chime in the example that
there have been Idiot Savants who had remarkable musical skill, and to be
rated as an Idiot Savant, you need an IQ on under 65.

Then there is the observation I have made and many with me, that in the
musicschool there are often "intelligent" students.  Most of them belong
to the upper side of the IQ curve.  This does not imply that intelligence
steers musicality!  If you trust such statistics without thinking, you will
also find that intelligence steer if you are good in sports, because also
among sportsmen the individual average IQ lands in the upper side of the
curve.  This phenomenon can be explained with cultural traditions,
education et al.

Then there is another thing that the great composers most often were very
intelligent persons, but intellicence is not enough, you have to have a
good intellectual capacity.  The act of composing music is after all a
very intellectual work.  But one thing doesn't always give another; there
arepersons with good intellectual capacity, who have never succeeded in
learning composition.

Mats Norrman
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