[pianotech] Perfect Pitch and Temperaments

[Tyler Ferrari]

I think we can use whatever term that we want. We all know what we're really talking about so there's no reason to semanticize about the term. 
"Absolute pitch" is obviously a colloquial term that refers to the
ability to recall a note without a reference. I don't believe that a critical
mind would interpret the term literally, considering the point made about A440
being a reference vs. another frequency.



I see no practical musical use for perfect pitch. Obviously someone reading
this e-mail can come up with a variety of uses, none of which actually improve
the ability to write music, or tune a piano (as already stated).

It is a skill that, if possible, would weigh into an IQ test, or some other
form of measuring intelligence. Just because "pitch" is related to
"music" doesn't mean that being able to name or reproduce a
particular pitch (note) has anything to do with music itself. That, is probably
the most important point to remember.



Just because some of the words and terms are familiar, doesn't mean it actually
fits in to the category of music. It's an impressive skill that does allow a
dissection of something musical, but may in fact be limited only to the actual
act of dissection - not the ability to do anything with the dissection's
results.



-Tyler







Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:13:21 -0700
From: jstan40 at sbcglobal.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Perfect Pitch and Temperaments

Re: [pianotech] Perfect Pitch and Temperaments
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:25 PM



From: "Allan" <allan at sutton.net>



To: pianotech at ptg.org


Why say that?

Wikipedia returns: Absolute pitch (AP), or perfect pitch, is the ability to name or reproduce a tone without reference to an external standard.[1]

Follows a very in depth exposé about perfect pitch, maybe that would answer your questions. 

We are NOT left without "no definition".

I don't have perfect pitch, I wish I had. My son has it and he was very
fortunate to have very solid ear training where the "perfect pitched" were grouped together and given a special program to take this ability into consideration, not letting them go lazy with it, and provide them with the obligation to develop nevertheless a good "relative" way of hearing the relationships ("relative pitch"). (Extraordinary teacher Luce Beaudet at Université de Montréal)

Regards,

Allan

The likelihood is very strong that there is a post from me in the
 archives from 10 years or so ago making this same point concerning "pitch recognition," which is what I've come to prefer calling it.  I agree with the idea that it is a memory thing (though not exactly photographic, always) that allows a person to recall accurately (and that differs, from person to person...it's not just one thing) pitches that have been learned.  (The idea that it is similar to color perception and color blindness rings true.)  Yes, I have it...no, mine is nowhere NEAR as close as some I've heard.
 BUT...I come to this response as a retired Music Theory teacher, having taught Aural Skills all that time and having seen many students try to coast through on their ability to recognize pitches.  My reaction was always..."OK, so you can do that one thing.  Now, can you function as a musician?"  I usually bombarded them with intervals to be identified, quickly enough that it became difficult to make the transfer from pitch to interval value...for most that had some impact.  If not, then we went on to rhythm...!
There was a Music Theory List a while back...it may still be in operation...but it was this very topic that chased most of the veteran Theory teachers off that list.  It degenerated into a flurry of flame-throwing posts which this subject often provokes.  Thankfully, this List has, for the most part, been able to resist this tendency.  There was a time, though, wasn't there....?
Conrad was kept busy for quite a while...anyway, pitch recognition does not a musician make...nor a tuner!  It's just one more thing in the mix for some folks...some use it intelligently, others are into the "Gee Whizz!" use which mainly antagonizes.  Let's not get carried away...


Stan Ryberg 
Barrington IL 
jstan40 at sbcglobal.net
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