I was taught for a long time that there was no such thing as being "tone-deaf" and that it was just an inability to coordinate pitching the voice with what was in one's "mind's ear". However, when at university I came across someone who I genuinely believe to be truly tone-deaf. I used to be music director for the university chaplaincy, and a part time chaplain complained once that she found it very hard following and singing some of the music I chose for services. She originally claimed I was choosing very obscure and difficult music (which I obviously didn't agree with). To cut a long story short, I eventually had her try to sing back some easy tunes, which she couldn't do. She couldn't sing back single notes played on a piano. And then, the clincher. I played two different notes consecutively, and she didn't recognise that I had changed notes. She could hear that there was some difference when I got more than a fourth apart, but couldn't actually recognise the pitch. I believe that this is true tone-deafness. I also felt very sorry for her, trying to imagine what she would be missing.
Colin Reed, tenor Newark, UK
>-- Original Message -- >To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com >From: Michelle Albert <drama_diva_au@y...> >Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 13:59:52 +1100 (EST) >Subject: [vocalist] Re: tone-deaf? >Reply-To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com > > > >First off, Congratulations Emily on achieving your masters in voice and best >of luck with your future aspirations. > >Your question was, >>> is there such a thing as "tone deaf"?<<< > >From my experience I don't think it matters whether there is or isn't. Even >judging by the answers you got so far from fellow listers there is no concensus >about the matter, however, personally I remain convinced that there either >is or will be scientific evidence to prove that there is such a thing, no >matter how rarely it occurs in the general population. Lloyd and Randy's >comments corelate with my own knowledge of the matter. >
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