Absolute pitch does not depend on early musical training.

Full Abstract

The etiology and defining characteristics of absolute pitch (AP) have been controversial. To test the importance of musical training in the development of this skill, we developed a new paradigm for identifying AP that is independent of a subject's musical experience. We confirm the efficacy of the paradigm using classically defined AP and non-AP musicians. We then present data from a nonmusician who nevertheless appears to possess AP. We conclude that musical training is not necessary for the development of AP.

Author information

Author/s: Ross, David A (DA); Olson, Ingrid R (IR); Gore, John C (JC);

Affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. david.a.ross(-atsign-)yale.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (Ann N Y Acad Sci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Nov; vol 999 (issue ) : pp 522-6

Dates: Created 2003/12/18; Completed 2004/02/06; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 14681178, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

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