Intelligence Vs. Classical music

[ladychopin]

I have always been told and thought myself that there is a connection between those two(Intelligence and wisdom to Classical music and playing), how can a human being play something so complex, control every one of the 10 fingers at the same time without having a high IQ never the less a normal one! (i'm myself a gifted girl)
but, now I was speaking to somebody who is 16.5 years old, and he doesn't go to school anymore, so he will have alot of time to practice. I asked him when did he dropped and he said that he doesn't remember ( ), I ask if he is going to studying for a test in age of 18 (i mean senior year) and he said he "will see" ( )in my country it's a bit different so I hope you still get my point.(to apply for university you have to pass them)

then we have talked for like an half hour and he is so stupid! (  ) he answered in a short answers always with spelling mistakes, he doesn't like anything, the only thing that interests him is the piano (and he hates the modern time! the far he is willing to play is scriabin - come on!) how can someone talk to a person like that? he doesn't even likes to talk about music! but I have heard him playing and he plays wonderful! so beautiful and romanticwith great technique... how is it possible?!
you don't have to relate to my story if you didn't understand it... do you think that there is a connection?
(sorry for my english, hope you will get it)

Maya

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I have always been told and thought myself that there is a connection between those two(Intelligence and wisdom to Classical music and playing), how can a human being play something so complex, control every one of the 10 fingers at the same time without having a high IQ never the less a normal one! (i'm myself a gifted girl)
but, now I was speaking to somebody who is 16.5 years old, and he doesn't go to school anymore, so he will have alot of time to practice. I asked him when did he dropped and he said that he doesn't remember ( ), I ask if he is going to studying for a test in age of 18 (i mean senior year) and he said he "will see" ( )in my country it's a bit different so I hope you still get my point.(to apply for university you have to pass them)

then we have talked for like an half hour and he is so stupid! (  ) he answered in a short answers always with spelling mistakes, he doesn't like anything, the only thing that interests him is the piano (and he hates the modern time! the far he is willing to play is scriabin - come on!) how can someone talk to a person like that? he doesn't even likes to talk about music! but I have heard him playing and he plays wonderful! so beautiful and romanticwith great technique... how is it possible?!
you don't have to relate to my story if you didn't understand it... do you think that there is a connection?
(sorry for my english, hope you will get it)

Maya

Of course he responds with short answers and spelling mistakes!

He didn't go to school.

That's not saying he's stupid, he just didn't go to school.

[ladychopin]

yeah but I know a lot of people who didn't go to school and you can just see that they are smart... there is a difference between a boy who doesn't know how to spell then a boy who can't even remember when he dropped (he is 16.5!!)
never mind, relate to the final question please

[outin]

Even people who are brain damaged can make beautiful music. So conventional "intelligence" is definitely not required.

Actually I think for me the habit of overthinking makes it more difficult to do music. Not saying I am not stupid though 

[hfmadopter]

A person can be genius at music or at playing an instrument or in another given field but dull at social skills and academics.

Einstein was an undisputed genius, school was not his forte', not at all and I suspect he may not have been a lot of fun on a date !

[virtuoso80]

Playing piano is a function of multiple areas of the brain, but the movements are governed by the motor cortex, which is capable of extremely complex calculations, even in a 'dumb' individual. They've found that math savants, who can calculate massive numbers in their heads quickly, have somehow managed to move the process into the motor cortex.

Realize that NO ONE consciously thinks about every single note in a fast note run. Practice and repetition allow you to absorb the complex movement into your muscle memory. As I tell my students: It's like learning to walk. Walking is a very complex movement, with many things going on simultaneously. Do you find it hard? You did once, but I bet now you can even do other things while you walk (talk, eat, etc.). Piano is like that. It becomes second nature.

[pts1]

IMO, thinking is highly overrated, especially with regard to piano playing.

I think the walking analogy is great.

Its fortunate that all of us learn to walk when we are toddlers with the help of example, mimicry and assistance from parents.

Aren't we lucky that one learns to walk before verbal and intellectual articulation is within reach.

Imagine the disasters from opportunistic "walking teachers" who formed various "schools of walking".

There would be the "high leg school", the "foot legato school", the "ball of the foot school", the "Heel only school",  the "Anti-pronation school", the "toe school", the "barefoot school", the "shoe school", and so on.

Of course, this would have been a boon for orthopedic surgeons and therapists, and all manner of leg and foot disability would plague people their entire lives.

As for walking repertoire, people would be required to learn to first walk on flat surfaces, then inclines, then declines, then over irregular surfaces, then on pavement, then on grass, then on dirt, not to mention walking on sticky surfaces, slippery surfaces, muddy surfaces and on and on.
(running would only be possible after a four year degree in walking to a select few)

There would be a host of accredited teachers and virtuosos in these various specialties each with followers and dedicated proponents. 

Then there would be the remedial schools that would re-teach us how to walk, those unfortunates who signed up for the wrong primary schools in the first place, not to mention the remedial schools for remedial schools, those dedicated to undoing the damages caused in the re-learning phase.

What a delight it would be all thanks to thinking and human intervention.

And of course, last but not least, we'd all have to bow down to the walking bureaucracy an example of which follows.

[j_menz]

Einstein was an undisputed genius, ..... I suspect he may not have been a lot of fun on a date !

A (very) long string of affairs would suggest he may have been more fun than you give him credit for. 

The fact is, there are a lot of clearly highly intelligent people with no interest in classical music at all, and I have known plenty of classical musicians who have been thick as two short planks. If there is a correlation, it's certainly not a rule.