Summary: Absolute pitches were once considered an innate ability or are only achievable through early childhood training, but may be learnt in adulthood. The researchers trained 12 adult musicians in an eight-week online program, focusing on perceptions of pitch classes rather than specific pitch heights. This training required final level repetition to minimize reliance on relative pitch strategies and mastery of last-level repetition to ensure learning.
Participants showed significant improvements, with some reaching near perfect pitch recognition. Two individuals achieved rapid and accurate identification across all 12 pitches, matching natural talented individuals. These findings challenge traditional views on music cognition and suggest new possibilities for adult learners.
Important facts
Learnable Skills: Adult musicians have learned to identify an average of 7 pitches with 90% accuracy. Example: Two participants learned all 12 pitches at nearby levels. NEW Training Approach: Focused on pitch class learning, minimizing external cues.
Source: Surrey University
It is an unusual gift that is reserved for a small number of people with special genetic gifts and those who began training music in their childhood, where absolute pitch (the ability to identify musical notes without reference) That was a long-standing belief.
However, a new study from Surrey University challenges this and shows that adults can acquire this skill through rigorous training.
This study included a diverse group of diverse adult musicians with varying levels of music experiences participating in an 8-week online training program. Unlike previous research, this training encouraged learning pitch classes (what absolute pitch is actually) rather than a specific pitch height.
We also minimized reliance on relative pitch strategies, such as mentally comparing external cues and feedback during testing to determine the correct answer. Furthermore, participants had to complete multiple final level training sessions to minimize the likelihood of accidental success.
Despite the broad belief that absolute pitches are impossible to learn in adulthood, participants have made significant advances and learn to identify an average of seven music pitches with an accuracy of 90% or more. I’ve come.
In particular, two participants achieved fast and accurate performances on all 12 pitches, comparable to those who naturally own this skill in the real world.
Dr. Yetta Wong, Chief Investigator and Lecturer and University of Surrey, said:
“Our findings provide compelling evidence that absolute pitches are not limited to selected few. Intensive training allows adults to learn other complex cognitive skills, as well as how they can learn about other complex cognitive skills. You will acquire this incredible skill.”
Added Dr. Alan Wong, co-author and senior lecturer of the paper for Surrey’s School of Psychology.
“This research has great significance in understanding music cognition and learning, opening the door for musicians of all ages to explore and develop its full potential.”
About this music and hearing learning research news
Author: Melanie Buttra
Source: Surrey University
Contact: Melanie Batra – University of Surrey
Image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original research: Open access.
Yetta Wong et al. Psychoeconomic Bulletin & Review
Abstract
Learn to quickly and accurately determine absolute pitches in adulthood
An Absolute Pitch (AP) refers to the ability to identify the pitch of a tone without an external reference. It is generally believed that only individuals who have received special genetic structures and early music training at critical times can develop AP.
Recent research has begun to challenge the concept of critical periods by showing the potential for adult AP acquisition.
However, learning effects may be attributed to chroma, extended working memory, relative pitch strategies, chances under repeated attempts, existing AP capabilities, and/or pitch height learning instead of a specific cognitive profile. It has sex. The 8-week online computerized training program was designed to address these concerns and clarify the learningability of APs in adulthood.
On average, 12 musicians spent 21.4 hours completing 15,327 training trials. By the end of training, they learned to name an average of 7.08 pitches (range 3-12) with an accuracy of over 90%, within a response time (RT) window of 1,305-2,028 ms.
After training, 42.7% (2.62 to 1.50 semitones) of the trained tones were 128.1% (.139 to .317 to .317) to match the untrained tones, significantly improving the size of the error and the size of the error has been significantly improved.
Overall, the results provide more compelling evidence for the learningability of AP judgments in adulthood beyond key periods, as well as most perceptual and cognitive abilities.
