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Bryan Nichols, Associate Professor of Music, Penn State

Excelling as a musician takes practice and requires opportunities – not just lucky genes

Branford, Wynton and Delfeayo Marsalis perform during a tribute to their father, Ellis Marsalis, in 2019. Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage via Getty Images

What makes talented musicians so good at what they do?

There’s plenty of evidence that people can be born that way. Research findings suggest that about half of musical ability is inherited. Even if that’s true, it doesn’t mean you must have musical talent in your genes to excel on the bass, oboe or drums.

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