Potential factors related to untrained singing talent: a survey of singing pedagogues

A national survey was conducted to identify factors associated with untrained singing talent based on perceptions obtained from a homogeneous group of professional singing pedagogues. Survey items included questions related to the perception of singing talent, factors associated with untrained singing talent, and physiological variables that distinguished untrained singing talented individuals from those without obvious singing talent. The survey data suggested that intonation, timbre, and musicality were rated the most important factors associated with the perception of singing talent in an untrained individual. Environmental influences and genetics were rated most important for explaining why one individual would express singing talent and another would not. In addition, the data suggested that abilities related to the control of pitch distinguished untrained talented individuals from those without singing talent more than other physiological variables.