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SUMMARY:Absolute pitch training for adults: How effective is the “Melody
  Triggers” method? - Sam Leak\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20240423T160000Z
DTEND:20240423T170000Z
UID:TALK216205@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Peter Harrison
DESCRIPTION:*Abstract*\n\nDespite over a century of research into absolute
  pitch (AP)\, musicians and scientists alike\nstill cannot agree on what i
 t is or how it develops. Some researchers hold that it is entirely innate\
 , although there is little compelling evidence for this. Many studies sugg
 est it can be fostered through early musical training. Deutsch (2013) prop
 oses that AP learning is subject to a maturational constraint and may be s
 ubserved by the same brain mechanism as language acquisition. If this is t
 he case\, then it is of interest that adults are capable of learning to sp
 eak a second language to a native-like level (Ioup et al.\, 1994\; Bongaer
 ts et al.\, 2000)\, although this certainly presents a great challenge to 
 them (Hyltenstam & Abrahamsson\,\n2000). Bley-Vroman (1990) suggests that 
 adults undergo a fundamentally different language\nacquisition process to 
 children\, which is broadly symptomatic of general adult learning. This\nm
 ay also be true of AP acquisition and could account for possessors who exh
 ibit only partial\nAP\, usually limited to particular timbres and ranges\,
  and frequently aided by motor memory\n(Ross et al.\, 2005). It is unclear
  whether this is a different ability to 'true AP\,' or merely\nrepresents 
 less proficiency on certain dimensions of the same skill. Many studies poi
 nt to a continuous range of AP performance in the population (Bermudez & Z
 atorre\, 2009\; Miyazaki et al.\, 2018). In light of this\, I have propose
 d an “AP fundamental difference hypothesis.” \n \nTwo recent studies p
 rovide suggestive evidence that adults can learn AP (Van Hedger et al.\, 2
 019\; Wong et al.\, 2020a). Furthermore\, evidence that AP performance is 
 susceptible to recent experience suggests its degree and quality are not r
 igidly determined in childhood for 'native' possessors. There is evidence 
 that non-AP possessing adults demonstrate 'implicit AP' through their abil
 ity to accurately sing the opening pitches of well-known songs (Levitin\, 
 1994). Considering this\, I have tested the theory that adults can learn A
 P through training to associate pitch labels with 'melody triggers' (Aruff
 o\, 2007). I have also explored whether : a) identifying pitches within a 
 musical listening task presents a different (and greater) challenge to ide
 ntifying isolated pitches\; and b) this dimension of AP can be trained.\n 
 \nIn this talk I will present and explore my findings.\n\n*Biography*\n\nS
 am Leak is a London-based Jazz pianist described by JazzFM's Helen Mayhew 
 as 'one of the brightest stars in the Jazz piano galaxy\, a heavenly impro
 viser\, and a brilliant prospect for the future.' His eponymous album 'Aqu
 arium' was listed in MOJO Magazine as one of the 'Top Ten International Re
 leases of the Year\, 2011.' Jamie Cullum has described his cohort as ‘th
 e heavyweights of the British Jazz scene’ and The New York City Jazz Rec
 ord described his most recent album\, 'Adrift\,' as "magical ...constantly
  evolving and engaging."\n \nHe is also a Senior Lecturer and Pathway Lead
 er at Middlesex University\, and a visiting lecturer at various institutio
 ns\, including the University of Surrey and the Guildhall School of Music 
 and Drama. His doctoral thesis (University of Cambridge) explores whether 
 adults can learn absolute pitch.\n\n*Zoom link*\n\nhttps://zoom.us/j/99433
 440421?pwd=ZWxCQXFZclRtbjNXa0s2K1Q2REVPZz09
LOCATION:CMS computer room\, Faculty of Music (11 West Road\, Cambridge\, 
 CB3 9DP)
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