Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!convex!iex!ntvax!doug
From: doug@ntvax.uucp (Douglas Scott)
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: What is perfect pitch?
Message-ID: <1989Dec4.212824.12841@ntvax.uucp>
Date: 4 Dec 89 21:28:24 GMT
References: <18807@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> <365@bbxsda.UUCP> <1989Nov27.212927.3253@agate.berkeley.edu> <7051@portia.Stanford.EDU> <357@quad.uucp> <25742AAA.56CC@rpi.edu> <362@quad.uucp>
Reply-To: doug@ntvax.UUCP (Douglas Scott)
Organization: University of North Texas
Lines: 34

In article <362@quad.uucp> dts@quad.uucp (David T. Sandberg) writes:

>Is there anyone here who does have perfect pitch as well as good
>relative pitch, and who can testify as to whether he/she can "shut
>one or the other off", i.e., ignore his/her absolute pitch in favor
>of being in tuneful harmony with someone/something else, or visa
>versa?


In the course of my music training it became essential for me to be able
to hear totally (or almost so) in one mode or the other.  Singing in 
choirs can be a real drag for someone who is unable to adapt to the tuning
of the group (and unpleasant for the choir too.)  I think the split ability
started for me when I first became a musician, because I was first a
clarinetist, and of course the clarinet is a Bb instrument.  So, my "C" was
a concert "Bb".  As I learned a bit of piano and took music theory and
eartraining classes, I had to be able to switch back and forth - and
transposing all the time is the pits.

I'm sure that I am not alone...it's just that some people with perfect pitch
take actual pride in their inability to adapt.  In my circumstances it seemed
the natural thing to do.

With regard to learning pitch:  I think it is difficult to prove whether or
not the ability was "there all the time" or not.  Perhaps it is very possible
to learn.  I did not know that I had any ability until I  entered high school,
and even then my skills were shaky for a couple of years until the music
training that I  had sharpened my technique.  I dont know if I "learned" it
or just disciplined it.

________________________________________________________

Douglas Scott
doug@dept.csci.unt.edu


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