Building gifts into musical talents: Introduction One of the most contentious debates in psychology, education, biology, and other related disciplines centers on the source of exceptional ability. To what extent can the remarkable achievements of eminent musicians, intellectuals, visual artists, writers, and so on be explained through "nature" (genetic endowment) or "nurture" (the environment)? How can these achievements, regardless of their source, be identified and fostered? In this chapter, we address fundamental issues surrounding the nature/nurture debate in music and, in doing so, scrutinize much of the folklore that typically accompanies remarkable achievement in music. Specifically, we outline a broad structure that distinguishes between "giftedness" and "talent" and discuss, in turn, six core components of this framework: ◆ Giftedness ◆ Intrapersonal factors ◆ Environmental catalysts ◆ The developmental process ◆ Chance ◆ Talent We then explore the scope and potential for identifying musically gifted children. Throughout, we draw on examples reported by Gagné and McPherson (in press) of highly gifted and talented musicians, including musical prodigies, to elucidate these components.