As parents, we all want to believe that our children are special; in possession of skills or intelligence beyond their years and surpassing those of their peers. However, there are situations in which truly gifted children begin to exhibit signs at a young age. Here are ten signs that your child might be a budding virtuoso.

1. Shows Understanding of Rhythm at an Early Age – Rhythm is an innate ability than can only be taught to an extent. The bulk of a child’s sense of rhythm is inborn, and kids with an exceptional ability will often dance, sway and tap on things in keeping with the rhythm of the radio or other source of music in their early years.
2. Easily Picks Up Melodies – Kids that can recognize melodies and replicate them, with or without lyrics, are showing an aptitude for music. Those who replicate those melodies on pitch the majority of the time may be showing early signs of real talent.
3. A Fascination With Musicians and Instruments – A child that goes wild for the marching band at a football game or the piano player at a wedding may have a natural interest and inclination to play music.
4. Noticing Off-Key Music – Kids that react visibly to a tune played or sung out of key are showing a very strong innate ability to process and understand music. As they get older and are better able to verbalize, they may try to explain that the music sounds “wrong” without knowing the proper terminology if they haven’t had formal training.
5. Singing to Themselves – Kids that hum or sing to themselves when they’re otherwise occupied may have an early appreciation for music that could evolve into actual skills with encouragement and training.
6. Sensitivity to Ambient Noise – Small children that notice the sound of gentle rain falling outside or birds in a nearby tree without being prompted may be indicating an interest and sensitivity to auditory stimulation, one of the early building blocks of musical appreciation.
7. The Ability to Imitate Pitch – The ability to recognize and imitate pitch with any degree of precision at an early age is a relatively rare and impressive one. Kids that show a propensity for imitating sounds accurately should be encouraged to develop their skills, as they are showing signs of innate ability.
8. A Love of Music at a Young Age – Most children show some degree of appreciation for music as they move from toddlerhood into early childhood; however, those that show an avid interest in different types of music without accompanying visual stimulation may have the potential for future greatness.
9. Incessant Questioning – The sky is blue, the grass is green and kids ask questions. It’s one of the irrefutable truths of parenthood that children will question everything in a quest to better understand the world around them. Children whose questions are largely centered around music and sound, however, may have talents that could be developed with training and patience.
10. You’re Supportive and Encouraging – The Suzuki method of teaching young children is built upon the idea that all children can acquire musical proficiency within the right environment and receiving parental support. Those with “natural gifts” are believed to progress further still, indicating that training and encouragement are as essential to the development of musical skill as an innate talent.

Some children with a natural aptitude for music can flourish without formal training, but those who have access to lessons and a strong support system are much more likely to develop that talent to its fullest potential.