I think it can be the instrument too.
I remember watching a concert years ago at Beverley Festival, where a young local hopeful was starting a concert billed as "rising talent". He had potential but the fiddle was pretty scratchy.
Anyway, he broke a string, and one of the Ridley sisters (who were topping the bill) lent him her fiddle. The transformation was stunning! All of a sudden a good amateur was changed to a marvellous musician.

I hoped his parents were there to hear and that they decided to buy a better fiddle!

Helen