Is intelligence required to play an instrument?

Some people think that music is not only used to entertain, but it can also be used to contributing to our personal growth. Some would say that music is a must to develop some abilities, especially during childhood. That's why, most of our learning was done through music, songs and lullabies. Do you remember ABC? The famous alphabet song we learned by heart and that served later on for reading and writing?

Apparently, music is an asset not to neglect. That's also the reason, most asians teach their child how to play an instrument at an early age because it makes them smarter. I think that a child can learn anything or, at least, some of them can? Why is that? Is it because some children are more brainy than others? Is intelligence required in that very moment? Or is age a factor to take into account as well? They say, the earlier they learn, the better it is for children to assimilate...but is that always true? To which extent?

For example, I have a cousin of mine who is unable to play an instrument no matter how much efforts they put in. Around 7 years old, back then. She couldn't learn even when taking lessons of piano with a teacher while my other cousin had never taken a piano lesson, but he could play the piano. Therefore, not like a profressional since he cannot read a music score, but he could find any melody using his right hands. Is it the result of not being smart enough or is it due to another reason that one could play while the others couldn't? I've always thought that some people were more gifted than others when it comes to certain things, like playing instruments. Some people find it easier to play the piano while others would take ages to learn it. Moreoever, there's also the idea that playing an instrument should be funny and not tedious. Can it affect our learning when we find something difficult to do or learn? Does it necessarily mean that one is not intelligent?

I personally think that playing an instrument can be taught, which means that it's something that can acquired, but how many of us can really learn it with ease? There's a lot people who desire to learn how to play later in their life. Although, it takes longer when growing up, some people are more passionate and this can affect their own learning journey positively. For the less passionate, it can have the reverse effect resulting in less results and therefore cause some frustrations.

I personally think that everyone can learn how to play an instrument if they really put their minds to it. Intelligence is not really required, but motivation, discipline, willpower and hardwork necessary to tackle it. I also think that, as I said before, that some people are more talented and gifted with learning things like playing intruments. It goes smoothly for them since they already possess that musical intelligence, which makes it easier for them to learn without much efforts as compared to the others.

To conclude, I believe that intelligence can be shown through our capacity to learn things, but I also believe that not being able to learn how to play an instrument is not an indication of not being smart, but maybe one is less motivated or gifted and this can affect their learning journey. They might be able to learn other things with more ease, but maybe not an instrument for it's not what suit them or their personality. Then it's not only about intelligence, but willpower and our own personal abilities in some things. Intelligence is not necessarily required to play an instrument for hardwork can also do the work (sometimes), but it makes it easier though to stick around your instrument without fighting against it.