Big Al, just to be clear, it's Malcolm Gladwell with whom you disagree, not me. I too have doubts about what was read to me, but until it's my turn to borrow the book and I've read it, I won't know if the methodology in the cited studies is suspect or not.

For sure it doesn't take 10,000 hours practice to sound brilliant on many stages or around a campfire or song circle. Heart and soul are a significant part of the performer's art, and it will be interesting to learn where (if?) that fits into Gladwell's picture, at least when he's considering musical achievement. As I mentioned, he was looking at excellence in other areas too, not just music.