If taught at an early age, it's not sorcery. Just like we teach kids to recognize colors as they develop, if you concentrate on teaching them to "hear in color" (something that society never finds important nor has developed an interest in), it is the same as color hearing.
My piano teacher from Detroit (the legendary Howard Lucas), used to amaze me the same way. I could play 3, 4 or 5 note clusters, even tight ones, and he could name the notes within the clusters.
Disagree if you must - "It's Impossible. You must be BORN with the magic talent" - but that's all bunk. Can be taught/learned.
(Ever see a video of those 5 or 6 year old kids on a full drum set, playing like a pro? Were THEY born with MAGIC DRUM GENES, or were they taught at an early age?)
I learned from the David L. Burge courses later in life...not as good as this kid, but did pretty well and amazed others - didn't focus on it nor spend tons of time on it, but slowly, over the years, developed pretty decent color hearing. Helped me immensely as a musician. ---------- The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Apr 03, 2019 5:53 AM
I also believe this can be learned. I didn't start playing music until age 13, and learned to hear the differences in keys. I can tell what key a song is in just by listening, and if someone plays a note on the piano, I can name the note. Perhaps having to constantly blow through box full of harmonicas to find the key helped me learn to hear the differences early on. Maybe some of this ability comes more natural to some (I know a drummer who can do it, and he only plays drums), but I do think it can be learned. It's kinda like recognizing people's voices on the telephone, or as Iceman says, like learning to hear in color. That being said, this kid is pretty amazing. I don't think I could name all of the notes in these crazy chords, but then again, perhaps with practice...
I've seen this kid and his dad before...dad is a music teacher as I remember. There are two different schools of thought on perfect pitch. Some say you are either gifted with it from birth or you're not. Others feel it can be learned. I envy anyone who has the gift from birth. I remember in middle school music class how poorly I did in knowing the scale and identifying keys. I keep working at it...but it still isn't perfect.
