Talent Abounds

How can youthful talent become world-class talent? Talent Abounds tells the stories of master teachers and their students who raise performance to peak levels in classical music and conducting, jazz, opera, modern dance, chess, mathematics, swimming and diving, and the culinary arts. The book is unique in its scope and depth of exploration of different fields of endeavor and the individuals who have shaped them. Readers hear the voices of famous performers, from Leonard Bernstein to Joshua Bell and Mark Spitz, as they describe their early family experiences and formative years, the progression of teachers and coaches they had, their performance careers, educational philosophy and teaching practices, and their legacies. Important questions are explored throughout: Is exceptional talent an innate quality? Even so, does its fulfillment depend on the intervention of expert teachers? How do social class, gender, and ethnicity influence access to instructional and performance opportunities? Can lessons learned in one particular national and cultural context or in one performance field be extended to other societies and fields? How does public policy shape the recognition and development of talent? The concluding chapter offers insights into how public education can nurture the talent of all individuals. Introduction; Chapter 1 A Constellation of Stars; Chapter 2 I'll Take You to the Moon and Beyond; Chapter 3 Jazz in the Halls of Academe; Chapter 4 Opening and Extending a Field; Chapter 5 A Bevy of Divas; Chapter 6 Symphony Conductors; Chapter 7 Modern Dance Masters; Chapter 8 A Cross-Cultural and Cross-National Duo; Chapter 9 Prodigious Talents; Chapter 10 Mathematics; Chapter 11 Chess Masters; Chapter 12 Chicago's Master Chefs; Chapter 13 Bringing It All Together;