<p>I was reading in a music magazine the other day about a computer software called "Perfect Pitch" </p>
<p>Perfect</a> Pitch Ear Training SuperCourse: Name Notes & Chords by EAR.</p>
<p>Has anyone used it, and is it worth the money?</p>
<p>Perfect Pitch is innate. If there was a legitimate way to "teach" it...my gosh...for $119, I think it would be all the rage, for all musicians, and particularly those in music schools!! </p>
<p>I read the testimonials, but call me a skeptic. ;) I think one can improve to very good relative pitch with lots of practice, but not to perfect pitch. However, if that program is even remotely successful, it is a heck of a lot cheaper than a college course, so be sure to let us know!</p>
<p>^ Ya, I don't have the money either way--good or bad. </p>
<p>Just thought I'd check.</p>
<p>My thoughts are:</p>
<p>Even if it did work (which I really doubt)....who cares and why bother?</p>
<p>Perfect pitch is hardly the answer to any of your problems in life. Having it may help boost your GPA in ear training courses during undergrad, but it has little practical worth beyond that. Some even consider it a curse. Whatever the case, possessing perfect pitch is certainly no indication on one's level of musical depth and ability.</p>
<p>I have perfect pitch. No, it cannot be taught, you can only improve your relative pitch. And yes, it is a curse in certain ways. I cannot go to a concert, or a performance without everything going through my head, "Wow, that guy is singing a 1/4 tone flat", or "wow, they really suck, but the album sounded so good, but they aren't. " People always want to ask you very obnoxious things, such as "what tone is that plane humming on?" I am glad I have it, but it does have its distractions. </p>
<p>Do not waste your money, improve your relative pitch on your own.</p>
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I cannot go to a concert, or a performance without everything going through my head, "Wow, that guy is singing a 1/4 tone flat", or "wow, they really suck, but the album sounded so good, but they aren't."
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<p>One of my husband's violinists in one of his pit orchestras had perfect pitch. Being the kind and understanding soul that he is, he would ice down the triangle before each rehearsal and performance so it would be the right pitch for the piece that had a lot of triangle in it, otherwise the poor gal would cringe throughout the entire number.</p>
<p>I have perfect pitch, too (which may account for my husband's kindness towards his violinist). It's more of a curse than a blessing, unless you're planning on being a conductor, in which case it helps to have a well-trained ear. You can get that through ear training and aural skills classes, though.</p>
<p>Improving pitch isn't that easy for a lot of people (and may be impossible for some). If this software actually helped, even with relative pitch, it might be worth buying for some people.</p>
<p>Aural training is about a lot more than perfect pitch and it is something that must be practiced quite a bit to master - those with relative pitch learn to recognize the patterns and that comes with practice. There are several good programs out there for practicing ear training.</p>
<p>a friend of mines has that program and once as i was visiting i got a chance to watch part of it. Its really those programs that talk about tone colour instead of actual perfect pitch. for example they play one not thats been 'musically treated' with electronics that gives you this specific feel and sound. then they tell you that feel and sound and from then on they tell you that they can't tell you that each person finds every note different. they recommend you go find a feeling for every note, and it doens't work. its really not useful. to develop aural skills like cartera45 i recommend ear training. its alot more practical and pretty much can master most of the skills you need, except for the ones you're born with, which sometimes aren't to useful either. But for those with perfect pitch, congrats.</p>
<p>Everyone has relative pitch, relative to how you train your ears. "Nosce te ipsum" - know thyself (know your ears). Who cares about hearing the difference between a G and a G#. Whats more important is how they "feel", with respect to the key, the melody, the harmony, the root, the preceding note, the note that follows, etc. Listen to chords, pick out individual notes, particularly the root. Listen to intervals both melodic and harmonic harmonic. Most of the programs out their aren't worth the money. Your better off studying with a professional and listen, listen, listen.</p>
<p>I have perfect pitch. But it doesn't matter whether or not you have it. Like Celski said, what you feel is most important. I don't go around and tell people I have perfect pitch because it's simply not important. </p>
<p>Besides, a friend of mine who also has perfect pitch, was asked to hum the starting note in choir (Bb), but instead she hummed an Ab. So the whole choir sang it a whole step lower! Obviously her perfect pitch skills need some refinement! :D</p>