Klarinet Archive - Posting 000050.txt from 1999/02
From: "Steven J Goldman, MD" <gpsc@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Perfect Pitch
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 23:22:14 -0500
There are two separate phenomena that are lumped under the rubric of
"perfect pitch". One, IMHO is a curse, the other helpful for playing "in
tune".
The curse is when a person has an unusually acute memory for specific
frequencies. If they have an internal sense that A is, say, 440, they feel
uncomfortable when listening to a performance of a familiar piece at A 430
or whatever. They have problems with any variation from their internal
tuning fork. It's a curse because "standard" pitch is arbitrary and has
changed over time and geographic location, so they are needlessly upset by
these variations. Luckily, this type of perfect pitch is rare.
The more common phenomena is an sensitivity to musical intervals. They may
not necessarily notice variations of the frequency of a note by itself from
one time to another, but they are very aware of changes in temperament, and
thus know when a note is out of tune. These are the people who have problems
with keyboard instruments because of the compromised intervals.
Steven Goldman
624 Huber Lane
Glenview, IL 60025
sjgoldman@-----.com
-----Original Message-----
From: DHmorgan@-----.com]
Subject: [kl] Perfect Pitch
I've been getting back into music lately--when I was in music school years
ago
I suspected I had perfect pitch but I didn't really develop it. I have an
A
tuning fork sitting in my kitchen and every once in a while I've been
hitting
it and trying to remember the tone. I've gotten so that I can get up in the
morning, sing what I think should be an A=440, then I hit the tuning fork
and
I find I'm right on the money. I get pretty easily confused, however, if
I've
been playing or listening to music recently--I'll tend to start thinking
that
the tonic of the piece I was just experiencing is an A when it isn't. But
if
I really clear my mind, the A usually comes to me. Also, I've started
noticing that a lot of car horns honk an A, so I'm able to identify the
pitch.
Is this perfect pitch? Can I develop this? How? And will I end up making
myself crazy because I'll know when a recording is a quarter tone flat and
it'll detract from my enjoyment! I have composed music in the past and may
in
the future--usually at the piano, though I can also compose to a certain
extent in my head.
Thanks once again!
Truly,
Don
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