Children aged 2-6 successfully trained to acquire absolute pitch (2012) (journals.sagepub.com)

Article summary

The article discusses a study where children aged 2-6 were successfully trained to acquire absolute pitch. The study's findings and methods are not directly available, but commenters reference a teaching method dating back to 1991. The method's details are described on a website, which suggests that absolute pitch can be learned through training. The implications of having absolute pitch on music-making and everyday life are debated in the comments.

Main themes

• absolute pitch
• music-making
• relative pitch
• pitch recognition
• music education
• cognitive abilities

What commenters say

• Absolute pitch can be a hindrance in music-making due to the prevalence of slightly off-pitch instruments and tunings.
• People with absolute pitch may have difficulty transposing music in real-time or playing out-of-tune instruments.
• Relative pitch is often more useful than absolute pitch for music-making, as it allows for greater flexibility and appreciation of different tunings and styles.
• The ability to identify chord qualities independently of pitch is a separate skill from absolute pitch, and some people with absolute pitch may not be as skilled at this.
• Having absolute pitch can be a burden in certain situations, such as when playing with instruments that are not perfectly in tune.
• Absolute pitch is not necessarily a binary trait, but rather a continuum of ability, and people can have varying degrees of pitch recognition.
• The usefulness of absolute pitch depends on the context and the individual's goals, with some finding it helpful for session music work or sight singing, while others find it distracting or limiting.