Comments on: Solfege for Singers - Near-Perfect Pitch http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/ News and Stories from Artist-Teacher-Scholars Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:46:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: agreen http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/#comment-2449 agreen Sun, 23 Dec 2007 03:54:18 +0000 http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/#comment-2449 Yes, Greg! At the same time, I still think there's a big difference between the natural cogenital perfect pitch and the mediocre, learned perfect pitch. Sometimes the natural kind can lead to conditions that can drive people crazy! I've heard stories of people with an absolute pitch so insane that they can't go to sleep at night sometimes because they are thinking about the pitches of the sounds outside. I don't think something like this can be "acquired." Yes, Greg! At the same time, I still think there’s a big difference between the natural cogenital perfect pitch and the mediocre, learned perfect pitch. Sometimes the natural kind can lead to conditions that can drive people crazy! I’ve heard stories of people with an absolute pitch so insane that they can’t go to sleep at night sometimes because they are thinking about the pitches of the sounds outside. I don’t think something like this can be “acquired.”

]]> By: greg http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/#comment-2429 greg Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:51:15 +0000 http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/#comment-2429 Anthony, I've always wondered if one could acquire "absolute pitch." To be honest, I cannot remember a time when I didn't have absolute pitch. I occasionally remind myself of certain pitches and key areas by humming familiar pieces of music. For example, I can easily sing any piece of music in E flat major because of a piece I once played in the fifth grade band! So I suppose that if a person consistently practices and assigns themes to certain keys, he/she will be better able to memorize certain pitches/key areas. Anthony,

I’ve always wondered if one could acquire “absolute pitch.” To be honest, I cannot remember a time when I didn’t have absolute pitch. I occasionally remind myself of certain pitches and key areas by humming familiar pieces of music. For example, I can easily sing any piece of music in E flat major because of a piece I once played in the fifth grade band! So I suppose that if a person consistently practices and assigns themes to certain keys, he/she will be better able to memorize certain pitches/key areas.

]]> By: jdsahn http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/#comment-2423 jdsahn Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:04:09 +0000 http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/#comment-2423 I enjoyed your post. And, I agree that solfege aims, in addition to developing and/or maintaining one's sense of relative pitch, to develop as much as possible, a sense of absolute pitch. I believe that Professor Scripp attempts in his classes to simplify the processes of approaching and learning solfege, in order to do just that. I enjoyed your post. And, I agree that solfege aims, in addition to developing and/or maintaining one’s sense of relative pitch, to develop as much as possible, a sense of absolute pitch.

I believe that Professor Scripp attempts in his classes to simplify the processes of approaching and learning solfege, in order to do just that.

]]> By: Randy http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/#comment-2370 Randy Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:56:10 +0000 http://mieatnec.org/blog/2007/11/20/solfege-for-singers-near-perfect-pitch/#comment-2370 Hi Anthony, Great post. I actually participated in a UCSF study about perfect pitch; perhaps the same one. At the time, the researchers were wondering if perfect pitch was passed through genes; I had to submit blood samples, as did one distant relative in my family who has perfect pitch. No one else in my family are musicians though, so it seemed the testers were just trying to cover all the bases. As a former Solfege student and TA for Larry's solfege classes, I can attest to the cognitive aspect of learning Solfege. I look forward to hearing more about class discussions; hopefully we can get some students from the class to comment on your blog posts! -Randy Hi Anthony,

Great post. I actually participated in a UCSF study about perfect pitch; perhaps the same one. At the time, the researchers were wondering if perfect pitch was passed through genes; I had to submit blood samples, as did one distant relative in my family who has perfect pitch. No one else in my family are musicians though, so it seemed the testers were just trying to cover all the bases.

As a former Solfege student and TA for Larry’s solfege classes, I can attest to the cognitive aspect of learning Solfege. I look forward to hearing more about class discussions; hopefully we can get some students from the class to comment on your blog posts!

-Randy

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