Learning to hear with absolute pitch requires both talent and tenacity. Little talent? Tenacity can help get you there. But if you lack tenacity, then you won’t even have the desire to learn. But focus on the reasons why you want to hear with absolute pitch and you will develop the muscles of tenacity and passion. And that will help you through the frustration of learning a new skill.
The good news is that people who weren’t fortunate enough to have learned absolute pitch at a very early age can learn to hear with absolute pitch through learning the craft of absolute pitch hearing. And with enough passion, dedication, and tenacity, you will also experience first hand the art of absolute pitch hearing.
The Craft of Absolute Pitch Hearing
Like any craft, the best way to learn is to get a teacher, study, and practice. It’s no different from learning to be a carpenter. First you learn the correct way to make things. With practice, you become good and your skills become second nature. Finally, you add your own twist and find your voice. Maybe you innovate new techniques. Most likely, you begin to understand the art of your craft.
The Art of Absolute Pitch Hearing
Nobody can give you this understanding. Art is discovered through curious personal exploration into the world of sound. It is ineffable. It is a deep knowing through experience. It is the vast and fundamental difference between listening and hearing.
Only time spent in the mystery of sound will teach you to understand the art of hearing.
I leave you with the words of a great artist:
All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
-Pablo Picasso
Wendy Bull says
December 21, 2006 at 1:30 PMAll of the above is so relavent.
Take it from a very mature age student, IT DOES WORK if you stick at it.
Wendy Bull
Chris says
February 22, 2007 at 8:19 AMI’ve have spent a year just learning to actually listen to music without even worrying about what the notes are, just simply listening in the perfect pitch way – listening for the individual timbres of each note. Compared to a year ago my ability to listen and hear what is happening has increased 10x and its great. I have taught myself to hear music in score order which is really helpfull aswell. Now, i am going back and am trying to learn to accuratley differentiate pitches absolutly and i was amazed when i realised that without specifically working on note naming i had developed it. I already new what an a C,E,G,A & a B (and Eb, F# & Bb) sounded like quite well!! I was shocked. The others i muddled up a bit but nevertheless it was great to see that it IS AN ATTAINABLE SKILL! In another years time hopefull i might have full absolution? That’d make composing a heck of a lot easier.
We should all atleast TRY and develop our ears to perfection (its not called perfect pitch for nothing!)
bnsk says
September 14, 2010 at 3:21 AMdear chris,
what you have done is absolutely amazing.i have been practising my instrument for a few years without more or less bothering about anything else,and now when i perform in front of my friends they call me a genius.all that matters is only that ummm.. madness that you have if i can put it that way.remember that
“Genius lies in hiding your sources.”bye.
Graham English says
February 22, 2007 at 9:09 AMChris, you’ve done something that too many musicians just aren’t willing to do. It can be a lot of work sometimes. And sometimes it may even same like no gains are being made, or maybe like things are moving backwards. But it all pays off in the end, doesn’t it? 🙂
There’s nothing more important to a musician than improving the ear!
Thanks for the comment!