This has been very interesting. There is another thread Descriptive terms. etc, that covers the same ground as this one now seems to have moved on to.

What this thread seems to be confirming to me, is that, THEY (which ever term you prefer) are pretty much the same as WE are. Using music to express feelings, with the same enthusiasm. Not only music but drama, dance, visual arts and more.

Is that really such a surprise?

What happens to us as we grow up, that the society we form part of, generally views this process as in someway, remarkable or strange, in anyone else but children?

As children we sing, paint, act and dance, quite naturally. We then seem to reach a point where we feel there is a choice to be made and that we have to make it. A choice to leave the singing, painting, acting and dancing to just those individuals who show great skills in these areas.

We don't think we have a choice not to use other skills, like arithmetic and grammar, or leave them to those who are particularly good at them? We may leave Quantum Physics to the Einsteins but we still continue to conduct lesser calculations ourselves.

Is this approach an inevitable part of growing up or more a result of our experiences in those institutions of learning, we call schools? Institutions that reinforce the view that a vital part of all of our individual make-up, is in some way optional?

I believe, in truth that this view is changing, but that the damage has been done.