perfect pitch/for certain

[Greg Torres]

Carl,

Seeing that I have PP I find your post by far the most 'right-on' I have
read here so far regarding the subject.

Best,
Greg Torres

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Teplitski" <koko99@shaw.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 12:04 AM
Subject: perfect pitch/for certain


> From my observations, perfect pitch is similar to us being able to
> distinguish
> colors. How does one explain the ability to tell one color from another.
> Of course we had to learn the names of these colors so that we could put
> a name to them. Once we knew that green was green, we could tell , but
> we didn't know exactly what shade of green it was, except that it had
> the characteristics  that this particular color had. I believe that
> pitch is the same in respect to frequencies around a certain note are
> closer to that note than to any other note, thus qualifying to be that
> note. If A has a frenquency of 440 cycles per second, then a range
> closer to A rather than to G#, or A# would be recognized as A. If this
> particular persons ability was keen enough to
> hear a difference of one, two, or several cents off 440, their ability
> would obviously be closer to perfect than one who could not hear as
> well. Not all of us have the ability to observe the subtle differences
> in color as others can. In fact, there are many people ( me, somewhat )
> who
> are considered color blind. I knew a fellow who saw all color as a grey
> , so he thought.??
> Maybe, people who have a keen sense of color difference are the ones who
> become artists, and are able to arrange colors much more interestingly
> than , for instance I can. If we don't accept
> the possibility that we have special abilities, then we can't accept the
> fact that some people run faster, jump higher and have a keener sense of
> smell, etc. I think that we are born with a sense
> of pitch, and can't change it much, the same as we can't do much about
> trying to be 6 ft. tall if we're only 5ft. 8". Although, I think that we
> do develope relative pitch to quite a high degree, if we are around
> music a long time and make an effort to try and learn how certain
> pitches affect our senses. ( not quite sure what I just said there )
> I once met a 4 year old who had PP. I knew who he was when he was 4,
> because he played Baa,Baa black sheep very well when he was 4, at a
> festival.He was so little, the M.C. lifted him up unto a box so he could
> be in front of the microphone. He came to my shop for service on an
> instrument when he was about 30 something, and I brought the subject up.
> We talked some, and I tested him. Sure enough, he was able to
> distinguish freqencies very efficiently still. This fellow was very
> humble, and didn't think of himself anything special. As he always had
> this ability, it didn't seem like such a big deal, whereas, to me it
> sure was, and still is. If we look around, we can see many instances of
> special abilities owned by individuals who accept them as normal, for
> them. Some things just aren't splainable.!!??
> Carl / Winnipeg.
>