[CAUT] Pitch recognition

[Ed Sutton]

Phil-

On their site they mention that no one over 51 has made a perfect score.
You made a perfect score at 51.

One hypothesis is that you are at the top of their genetic skill level, and
that next year you will miss at least one note!  ;-)

But more interesting, I think, would be to ask if tuning pianos regularly
has enabled your brain to "recalibrate" for your ageing basilar membrane.

Similarly, I would hypothesize that musicians with hyperacute perception of
pitch at A4 play instruments that tune to A4, and that the act of hearing
and tuning to that pitch regularly "calibrates" their pitch memory or
perception.   I don't recall any mentions of musicians complaining that D#5 
is one cent flat, the reference pitch always seems to be A4.

I think the theory of changing pitch perception due to changing stiffness in
the basilar membrane might explain some of the problems musicians express
regarding pitch, both musicians with and without absolute pitch.

Perhaps these folks in California would like to test piano technicians as a
subset.

Ed Sutton

>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Phil Bondi" <phil at philbondi.com>
> To: "Ed Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com>; "College and University 
> Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 7:47 AM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Pitch recognition
>
>
>> Ed, I went to the web site and was able to take their test. Here are my 
>> results:
>>
>> Congratulations! You have Perfect Pitch.
>>
>> First name: Phil
>>
>> Last name: Bondi
>>
>> Age: 51
>>
>> AP rank: 1.00
>>
>> Pure tone score: 36.00
>>
>> Piano tone score: 36
>>
>> You may indicate any problems you had taking the test briefly (50 or less 
>> words) in the comments box below. If necessary you may contact us by 
>> email (ppitch at itsa.ucsf.edu).
>>
>> According to them, I'm pretty perfect.
>>
>> -Phil Bondi(Fl)
>>
>>
>>
>> Ed Sutton wrote:
>>> An extremely important study on absolute pitch has been done by the 
>>> University of California, testing over 2000 subjects.
>>> See the report at http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/0703868104v3
>>> Piano technicians who deal with musical authorities (such as teachers 
>>> and conductors) need to read this report.
>>> Accuracy of absolute pitch deteriorates with age.  No one over the age 
>>> of 51 in this study was able to attain a perfect score in a test of 36 
>>> tones, and many people 50 and older reported that they were aware that 
>>> their pitch perception was drifting sharp.  This is probably due to age 
>>> changes in the inner ear which effect all of us.
>>> Many of the situations we deal with may involve hearing changes in 
>>> middle aged people.  I once had an aging choir director claim I was 
>>> cheating her by charging for a pitch raise because the piano sounded 
>>> "right on pitch" to her. My ETD measured the piano as over 20 cents 
>>> flat.
>>>  Ed Sutton
>>
>