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From: Debbie Hamper
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 14:32:09 -0400
Subject: Re: Tone Deaf

I just joined this forum so I didn't see the original letter to which Joe
responded. I have a BA in music education. During my undergraduate years, it
was maintained that there was no such thing as tone deafness (so long as
normal hearing is diagnosed as normal). Whether or not this is true, I don't
know, but I believe it. Many students just don't have the exposure to music
enough to identify pitches. Listening and critical listening are two
different things.

Many individuals lack the control over their voices to reproduce pitch
accurately. A patient teacher who works with a 'tone deaf' student can help
him/her gain control over their voice. Once that pitch control is achieved
then tonal identification can happen...sometimes hand in hand, but practice
is a must. Guided activities are easier since the teacher should be
sensitive to the student's register breaks. A self-guided student probably
isn't aware of why some tone ranges are easier than others.

To overcome 'tone deafness,' the help of a piano is beneficial because of
the visual aid of actually seeing 1/2 steps. Unfortunely, the harmonica (and
all other wind or brass instruments) does not have this relivent visual aid
(and, unless solo-tuned, does not have all scale tones.

I was not tone deaf; however, I was far from having 'perfect pitch.' Only
through years of exposure, practice, and knowledge of music theory was I
finally able to identify tones with a good sense of 'relative pitch.' As for
my voice, I can re-create any tone exactly or by transposition if not in my
range. Exposure and practice with a little knowledge truly works.