Press Release / Education / Transition from aural to mental pitch control

Transition from aural to mental pitch control

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Transition from aural to mental pitch control
Media Contact: FelixTheCat@listening-singing-teacher.com

By F. Rudin
November 16, 2016

Demystifying Perfect Pitch

In an attempt to demystify the term Perfect Pitch, a scientific grasp has to be found. One of the criteria of Absolute Pitch is: Accurately sing a named note without a reference. Since this is the criterion where most people express difficulty on the road to perfect pitch, it is predestined for a closer look.

First, singing is required. Since Perfect Pitch requires this ability, any scientific approach should include the production of pitch by voice. The criterion in question is: How accurate?

Second, the term “without a reference” implies the time. Since to be able to identify a pitch by its name, you must have heard a reference sound before. The criterion in question is: How long before?

If we want to make a scientific statement, it must be measurable and reproducible. Combining the above two points, we have to fix one point, so we can gradually measure the other.

Measuring abilities is always subject to uncertainty, since the candidate under test is always subject to his current productivity. Therefore, repeatedly testing, and base the results on statistical analysis is a common approach.

Introducing the Pitch Ability Test

To allow the test to return a single indicator for the ability, the test uses for the first criterion a fixed accuracy and uses the second criterion to evaluate the ability in seconds. The test measures the time in a similar way as the height in high-jump sports get measured. This method seems unconventional, but it allows you to measure the retention time of pitch with enough precision. If you select a low enough time, you will always pass, if you come to your limits, the results will start to vary.

The most important point of the test is that it measures your transition from aural to mental pitch control. Since the test requires a silence period, you must have stored the pitch mentally. Taking over a pitch while you hear it, is usually done aurally. That is you control the pitch aurally. However, after a silence period, you are forced to build the sound mentally from memory.

The above discussion, have lead to the development of the Pitch Ability Test. The test is free and can be downloaded for Windows and Macintosh.

For more information visit: http://www.pitch-ability-test.com.

About AlgorithmsAndDatastructures, F. Rudin

AlgorithmsAndDatastructures, F. Rudin is a small company located in Ramlinsburg, Switzerland.
F. Rudin, also known under the Nickname “PitchFeedback” develops software to help individuals to understand music better. The program PitchAbilityTest introduces a new test that measures the basic music skills for pitch take over and pitch retention.

Contact
For more information please visit http://www.pitch-ability-test.com
F. Rudin
Hombergweg 3
CH-4433 Ramlinsburg
Switzerland