Learning Perfect Pitch

[Jordan Marr]

Anyone seen that article on learing perfect pitch? Is this possible? Has
anyone tried this with successful results?

Thanks,

Jordan Marr

[Alex Stevens]

I've heard lots of different theories on perfect pitch...some people say
there is no such thing and that there is only relative pitch which can
be learned over time. For example, lets take two people with "perfect
pitch." One lives in America where the Orchestra tunes to A440 and the
other lives in Europe where the Orchestra tunes to A442...which one of
them has perfect pitch?

Also, my Theory teacher has "perfect" pitch and sometimes she considers
it a curse instead of a gift. For example she can't stand to play a
piano that is slightly out of tune...like it really drives her crazy to
the point to where she won't play at all. If she is seeing herself play
a C on the piano but hears a B, she freaks out and can't do it. But
then again I've seen her do some amazing things...once during class, I
walked over to the piano to test her perfect pitch...I randomly laid my
hands on the keyboard, in no way establishing any kind of tonal center
or anything...basically banged out about 12 random pitches all at the
same time and she named every single one of them from bottom to top.

Basically she says that perfect pitch is a great party gag, but good
relative pitch is invaluable...

So to answer your question...no, I wouldn't buy some program out of a
magazine that claims to be able to "TEACH" you perfect pitch...Instead
do like Jamie Abersol and carry a pitch pipe in your pocket and when you
are walking or driving around play random pitches and try to see if your
ear can become accustomed to hearing them in a realative manner.

Alex

[Donearlsto]

I must say, however, that the David Burge program to which the original poster
is referring, is quite good. I will not spend a great deal of time speaking
about theories and thought one perfect pitch. Suffice it to day, I have seen
the program work, and there are plenty of people who feel absolute pitch is
much more valuable than a party gag.
Donovan

[Jeff Kamen]

Your Theory teacher is on the money! I have what's considered perfect pitch,
and in my opinion it IS a curse. If someone is singing just the slightest
bit sharp or flat, and especially (being a bass player) if I am out of tune
with the guitar, or if the guitar is even slightly out with itself.......all
things that can make me climb the wall!

On the other hand, it has come in handy, especially when I used to sight
read choral music, I could look at a note on the staff, and know what it was
supposed to sound like. Those were the good 'ol days though, my PP is well
out of practice. Someone could hit a note on the piano, and I can still tell
you what the note is, but it will take a lot longer than it used to, when I
was in a music class 9/10ths of the day back in school.

Jeff

[dho...@quixote.com]

In article <7h9nqa$p...@news1.snet.net>,

"Jeff Kamen" <n1xui...@snet.net> wrote:
> Your Theory teacher is on the money! I have what's considered perfect
pitch,
> and in my opinion it IS a curse. If someone is singing just the
slightest
> bit sharp or flat, and especially (being a bass player) if I am out of
tune
> with the guitar, or if the guitar is even slightly out with
itself.......all
> things that can make me climb the wall!

You shouldn't need perfect pitch to object to hearing instruments out of
tune with each other. If the guitar and bass are out of tune with each
other, they'll sound like $#!+ to anyone who isn't tone-deaf. Assuming
that your tuning is OK, tell the guitar player to tune his instrument.
Maybe buy him a cheap tuner if he's so dense he can't be in tune with
the rest of the band on his own. And if that doesn't work, trade him in
for a guitar player who's a bit more competent.

The same goes for out-of-tune pianos (although a good piano can play
around an occasional out of tune note or missing string... I heard a
great story about Billy Joel sitting down at a piano that was missing
some strings and playing it just fine... not just skipping those notes
that were going to be missing, but--in real time, mind you--substituting
different notes to keep his tune sounding full. Now that's a useful
talent. The best I can do is compensate for a single bad note on a
piano).

-dh

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[Jordan Marr]

Billy Joel is the man. :)

[Jeff Kamen]

My point wasn't that I need perfect pitch to tell that the guitar is out of
tune, but that the perfect pitch enhances the fact, and makes it that much
more unenjoyable. The guitarist in my band (my brother) is always in perfect
tune.