Perfect/Tone Deaf

[Patrick C. Poulson]

Hi Gang! I have heard of several examples of varying degrees of "perfect" or
"absolute" pitch, including those in a survey done by a Sacramento Valley
Chapter member, Mark Stivers, of all his clients who professed to have this
ability.  He found that indeed their pitch recognition accuracy did vary, 
when it developed, and the "color" sense that some had associated with it. 
The most accurate degree of pitch recognition I have heard of was Seiji
Ozawa's (if my memory serves me correctly) who could distinguish between 440
and 441.  Still not close enough to pass the RPT test.  My voice teacher had
this ability, but when I asked him to sing an A, he was a bit flat.  He sang
right on pitch when accompanied, however. 
    Tone deafness, I believe, comes from either a total lack of exposure to
and participating in music, or a mental block from a traumatic experience
with music in childhood.  I have talked to many people who have had to
overcome early negative experiences of being shamed by someone else about
their childhood attempts to sing or play the piano, and have only come back
to music as an adult after overcoming those early negative imprints.  There
are probably many more people who have never overcome this "brainwashing",
and have come to believe this.  My wife, who was an art teacher, found this
phenomenon often with painting and drawing as well.
    Patrick Poulson, RPT