Absolute Pitch Essay - 1113 Words

Absolute Pitch: A Coveted Ability Jennette Folta Physics of Music Spring 2005 The Basics nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Absolute pitch, otherwise known as AP, is a persons ability to identify and produce a given pitch. This is done without the use of a reference tone. Pitch is determined by the number of vibrations per second. There are two types of AP. Passive pitch is when a person can identify the name of the note that is played and active pitch is when a person can sing a named note. Absolute pitch possessors can name a note and denote if the note is sharp or flat. This ability is only displayed in only a small percent of people. It is said that less than one in ten thousand people in the United States possess†¦show more content†¦The study tested seven native speakers of Vietnamese and gave them a list of ten Vietnamese words to read outloud. The computer recorded each of their responses and calculated the differences of the average pitches among the subjects. The average pitch difference was less than 1.1 semitone. More than half of the subjects had pitch differ ences of less than .5 of a semitone. These subjects possess AP. In the second study they compared 15 Mandarin speakers. They compared their responses between the two days to see the differences of the average pitch they produce. The results are seen in Table 1. Table 1. Pitch Differences 1st reading: Day 1 vs. 2nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;4nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;4nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;0 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1 2nd reading: Day1 vs. 2nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;3nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;0 1st vs. 2nd reading: Day 1Show MoreRelatedAbsolute Pitch: An Inside Look696 Words   |  3 PagesAbsolute Pitch: An Inside Look When most people see a wavelength of light, they find no difficulty in associating it with a color. Yet hearing a frequency of sound and associating it with a musical note is a cognitive talent that fascinates scientists. This rare ability is referred to in the scientific literature as absolute pitch (AP) and it allows individuals to effortlessly, immediately and accurately label the pitches they hear with a musical note. AP has been a classic example of the â€Å"nature-nurture†Read MoreBrahms Intermezzo No.3, Op.119 in C Major Analysis8658 Words   |  35 Pagesembodied in the combination of these two components; local harmonic motion proceeds through an expanded LR-cycle, with periodic short cuts from one zone of the cycle to another. The A section unfolds a double-tonic complex while introducing chromatic pitch classes in a carefully planned order; the B section is densely chromatic, featuring interlocking transpositions of the harmonic component. Rhythmic transformations of the motive are also addressed, including a previously unnoted motivic connectionRead MorePsychology of Music654 Words   |  3 Pagesthe laboratory directed by C.D. Creelman, doctoral theses have been produced that deal with the learning of absolute pitch (Cuddy 1965) and the perception of pitch structure in music (Pedersen 1970). As an application of psychoacoustics to music, Pedersen (1965) suggested the possible use of the mel scale in composit ion. L.L. Cuddy has continued her work on the absolute judgment of pitch (1968, 1970, 1971) at Queens University showing the importance of structural relations and musical experienceRead MoreImmanuel Kant s Ethical Theory1527 Words   |  7 Pagesmoral. Another benefit of this framework would be that because its morality is absolute and not based on one s opinion it is just for everyone. Instances where one would assume that acting out of compassion is the right thing to do is a conflict of interest as one s judgment can be clouded with emotions. That is why there is no absolute moral framework that can be applied because it assumes situations are absolute and not contingent on variables. 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