"Does Absolute Pitch Really Exist? That Depends on Where You Live and When You Were Born."
With this intriguing claim, Gerben Makkes van der Deijl began his lecture in November 2024. Absolute pitch is a fascinating phenomenon that has captured people’s imagination for centuries. But what exactly does it mean, how does it develop, and how unique is this ability?
In this blog, we delve into the world of absolute pitch and explore why this topic is not only interesting for musicians but also for scientists and music enthusiasts.
What Is Absolute Pitch?
Absolute pitch is the ability to name or sing a note exactly, without any external reference. People with this skill can, for example, immediately identify a random note as an “A” or “G#” without using a tuning fork or other aid. Additionally, they can instantly identify the key of a piece of music, describe everyday