Decades of twin studies, including work from our team, have established that musical expertise and other music-related behaviors are partly influenced by genetics, with heritability estimates of around 40%. Only recently, advances in DNA research have made it possible to pinpoint specific genetic variants involved in shaping human traits and behaviors. Our team is at the forefront of studying the genetic basis of music-related behavior using DNA data. Through molecular analyses (e.g. GWAS and polygenetic score analyses), we explore how and through what pathways associated genetic variants contribute to music-related behavior. In an unique example, we analyzed Ludwig van Beethoven’s DNA to highlight the challenges and limitations of making individual-level genetic predictions. Our team at MPIEA is building the first genetic register of expert musicians (alive and death), including some world-famous composers. Additionally, we are among the founders, chairs and key analysts of the international Musicality Genomics Consortium, which conducts a large meta genome-wide association study to identify the genetic variants influencing musical achievement. This collaborative effort aims to deepen our understanding of the genetic pathways that shape musical traits and behaviors.