In many areas of expertise ranging from music, dance, art and literature to sports, chess, mathematics, science and foreign-language acquisition, there is abundant evidence that young people differ from one another in their attainments and in the apparent ease with which they achieve them. If,Unless,Though,Evenwithin a family there may be marked differences. For example, a child who struggles at a musical instrument without much,many,few,sosuccess may be overtaken by a younger sibling. It is widely believed that the likelihood become,of becoming,of become,to becomingexceptionally competent in certain fields depends on the presence or absence of inborn attributes variously labelled 'talents' or 'gifts' or less often 'natural aptitudes'. According to an informal British survey, more than three-quarters of music educators who decide that,which,whether,thisyoung people are to receive instruction believe that children cannot do well, unless they have special innate gifts (Davis 1994). The judgement that someone is talented is believed ever help,to help,helping,helpexplain (as distinct from merely describing) that person's success. It is also widely believed that the innate talent that makes it possible for an individual to excel can be detected in early childhood.