Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences are often misinterpreted. These are natural aptitudes; what comes naturally, easy. This is not knowledge in an area. Mozart had a great affinity for music, without formal schooling he knew what sounded good. His music intelligence was high. Other musicians, while not born with Mozart's musical ear, can, through practice and study, finely tune their own ears and create equally gorgeous music. These other musicians have cultivated a great knowledge of the subject, but did not have as high of music intelligence as Mozart.
Gardener measured ones ability to pick up and retain new material. He merely recognizes that there are more intellectual pursuits than the traditional schools recognize: mathematical, spatial and linguistic. I say merely because people often interpret his studies as the unswerving road of genetics, hence fate. He wanted to open the eyes of educators to additional interests and abilities; be sure to recognize all areas. And the different rates students will digest the material. This is not a substitute for hard work. Because you are not born with an affinity to an area, does mean you cannot learn the subject. It may take a little more time than another area or another person, but knowledge can still be digested and etched in to the brain.