Hi Kathryn and all,

My violin teacher can tune the violin without any aid. My friend who doesn`t play any instument but who is a varocious reader (slated for phd) commented that if she`s able to do that she has perfect pitch and people with perfect pitch are born with this ability--either u r born with it or u just don`t have it. That was the first time I`ve heard of the term "perfect pitch". Is what my friend said true?

I am interested, being new to violin, what are the main ingredients to being a great violinist?

Thanks,
Shandy

Kathryn- I agree, there are other factors than being a good violinist other than one`s sense of pitch.
I believe that scientific studies say that only 1 in about 10000 people has perfect pitch, so I wouldn`t call it "common". At my school I was the only person who could do it, and at university there were maybe 4 or 5 people that could that I knew of.

Hmm...Rachel is not wrong...There is such a thing as perfect pitch. And perfect pitch is a gift. It is inborn. If you can identify the notes after you`ve played for some years, Then that is called a definite pitch. There`s a slight difference. And being a perfect pitch is not jutst about being able to tell when yr off pitch, or play and guess the note kinda thing..There`s so much more to that. Those are just 2 basic qualities of being a perfect pitch..If yr per.p, U can tell the key,the modulations, the chord, the note, sight sing in fixed solfege accurately,tune their instruments to the microtone, no matter however tough or tricky the music may be. And this, is a gift. So, when people are struggling with hitting the correct pitch on their instruments, those with perfect pitch are taking off. Simply becaz they had a head start...BUT being perfect pitch doesn`t mean u dun play out of pitch. I still do every now and then, but with this ability, I can constantly correct myself....No hard feelings though..Just some imp. Musical knowledge to share with u, Kathryn....And remember, yr perception is wrong. That is called a definite, not perfect.

No it isn`t at all common. Something like 10% of professional musicians have it so you can imagine how rare it is in the general population. i worked as a music teacher full time for 12 years and never met even one student who had perfect pitch.

That you can train yourself to sing, for example, an A, perfectly every time, is not in dispute, but perfect pitch involves a lot more than that.

Liz

Yes, Elizabeth is correct. Perfect Pitch is a gift. That`s why people goes `WowowowowW!` and `Oooo` and `wuuuu` and `ahhhh` when yr say yr perfect pitch. Becaz that gives u a head start, and slightly, slightly, and slightly a `cut` above the rest. But how well u treasure this gift and how well u developed it and whether u can play well becaz of this, of course is another issue. so if u have it, then treasure it.

As well as helping you play, it adds a whole new dimension to your musical experience- a piece of music will give me goosebumps just because it has suddenly changed to an unexpected key, perfectly in-tune chords sound like the coolest thing in the world, and there are a whole lot of other things that it does which I can`t think of right now.
It also makes it a LOT easier to transcribe music.

My piano teacher says I have perfect pitch, but I don`t think so. I can tell which note is being played (A=440Hz) without any other reference, but I don`t think that`s perfect. Maybe I do have a reference and I don`t know it, like maybe I heard a song some time ago and subconciously remember the key, like how Mozart could remember a tone for hours. Am I being weird?
I don`t think I`ve ever heard a song played in natural temperament. Equal temperament sounds fine to me. How big is the difference?

although it is great you have a perfect pitch that makes you a cut above the others. dont act immature by saying " ha ha i have a perfect pitch and you all don`t" it just makes you look bad. And if you have that attitude about your playing no one will want to listen to you. So try not to put any one down in this forum who don`t have your gift and try to help them.

rachel your kinda arrogant there... easy... no need to say stuff that are boastful and meaningless..

Eric is right Rachel...what you said is rather meaningless...its almost like you are making yourself sound like a condescending person...the joy and meaning of violin is to have fun with the instrument and come upon great discoveries and pieces...not to be boastful and use self-aggrandizement.

I was joking, ok?!!
I don`t think I am better than anyone just because I happen to be able to identify notes by ear.
I am actually full of insecurities about my playing; I just choose not to tell everyone about them.

And I wasn`t trying to put anyone down, ok? Did I ever once say "I am better than you?" or "You are a bad musician?" No.

rachel, just becuz your not DIRECTLY stating you are better than ppl doesnt mean your not implying you believe you think your better than everyone else. Im not angry, im just commenting.

I don`t think I`m better than anyone else. I think of perfect pitch as like, say, a piano player having a 3rd hand- it does make things easier, but it will not necessarily make you a good musician. (Not to mention the fact that you`d look pretty funny with an extra arm sticking out of your chest )
I apologise if my comment offended anyone; it was meant in a spirit of fun, and not to say "I`m better than you".

Apology declined.