Elcon

Do you believe it is possible to develop your ear to the point where you can identify each tone, without needing a reference, within a random chord consisting of three tones correctly? Take care, Elcon

First of all, I thought I had long ago noted that I did succesfully go through David Lucas Burge MasterClass 22. For Nosal, I suggest not more then about 30 minutes each session. For PPP's that would like to work and improve their perfect pitch, it depends. It depends on at which sort of level or degree of perfect pitch you are at. If you can already ID "all" tones you hear, I would not suggest this course at all. If you want to work on your Active-AP, his exercise is very simple and anyone can do it: Just think up any desired note and think it up (you can also take 12 cards and write each note on it) then sing it and check if you were correct. If you were wrong you should compare these tones. So listen to the wrong and the correct tone, then hear these tones mentally. That is to compare them mentally, then listen to the difference/compare again. The basic thing he will teach you is to always correct the error. Compare the wrong tone with the correct tone. That is it. Take care, Elcon

Some will say that adults will only be able to eighter memorize the tones, which would be different from perfect pitch and others will say you did not develop perfect pitch but tone recognition. Then there are others whom will say you have developed a very good sense of relative pitch. I am not sure whether this conclusion will do me any harm or good. It is about what you yourself hear and may enjoy. Whatever it is named should not effect the perception of sound and the mental thought of these tones. Well, for those who believe they have or want what is mentioned up above I suggest this following "simple" exercise: You go to a place where there is a properly tuned piano. Not alone but have someone else who is willing to play some random tones for you... Tell him/her to play 2 white keys and 1 black key simultaneously. Before he/she does so you demonstratively turn your back to him/her so you won't be able to see what is being played. Then, after he/she played you 3 tones simultaneously, you name each of these tones correctly. Let him/her now play 2 black keys and 1 white key simultaniously and perform another outstanding very good relative pitch trick. These exercises I highly recommend for anyone wanting to improve their hearing abilities. As you've noticed, I joked a bit about it, but I truely would like to know if being capable of doing such an exercise is a relative pitch task. Who thinks so and why? Take care, Elcon

To PianoGirl: Developing your RP is basically unlimited as I am told. Where does it stop, you know what I mean? All I wanted AP for was just of identifying tones I heard, that's all. Altough I am a singer, I do not want it because of that. I do not care much for RP, altough it may give me much more pleasure in music perhaps. If you want AP just for that, then you won't have to wait untill you believe you have a well developed RP ear. Once again, try the library and see if they may have it. To David: Maybe, maybe not. I am now working on his exercises again. We'll see how far I'll get this time. Take care, Elcon

Hi there, What I have to say about Absolute Pitch is that I do believe it may help in becoming a better musician. The first musical ear one should definately develop is Relative Pitch. Then you may start working on Absolute Pitch if you want to. I have been working on the Perfect Pitch supercourse of David Lucas Burge too, but got stuck on Master class 22, which basically is the last Masterclass to do in order to have developed Absolute Pitch. If you are interested in his PP course you may want to try some libraries first before buying them. PianoGirl, if you are still interested? The reason why I got stuck? Well, D. Burge exercises will start developing your ear in hearing a "phantom" tone, which will be the tone C. This means that when you will hear a tone sounded, you are able to tell which tone it is, because you can somehow hear where the tone C belongs in that scale. Am I now then able to sing or mentally hear the tone C whenever I wish? No! I do not know how it sounds, I do not remember the tone C. It may sound funny and weird, but it is so. Master class 22 is about identifying three tones harmonically, which are a black and two white keys (on the keyboard or piano for example) Well, I was not able to do this because of this "phantom C". I am not sure why not, but it somehow messess up my internal scale, which I used to use in identify my tones with. The "phantom C" was supposed to vanish as I would progress in the exercises of the Master classes, but mine did not. It was too much on the foreground of my hearing. I now know how I may get through this Master class, by following my "feelings" instead of what I hear. This allows me to get the answers correct when practicing. As Burge will tell you, it is eventually all about how it feels to you. Not physically, but as an inner sensation. Well, does this help a little? Take care, Elcon