Think You're Tone Deaf?

I wholeheartedly agree with Stephanie Judy's position that tone deafness is a myth. She makes this clear in her book, Making Music for the Joy if It.

It stands to reason, a person who can't hear pitch would probably be unable to understand spoken language. He or she might be able to recognize individual words, but it's unlikely that the meaning of sentences could be understood.

If you stuggle with singing, then you were probably deprived of a friendly encouraging oppotunity to explore singing. You may have become timid because of laughter or ridicule, but as will most skills, there is no way to learn without making mistakes. Good teachers respond to mistakes by providing more opportunities and attainable steps.

Nevertheless many believe that some people are tone deaf. I counter: If you can speak and converse, then you are not tone deaf ... even if you can't "carry a tune." This article explains why.

Consider the following two sentences: "You did fine," and "You did fine?" Each contains the same three words. The only difference between the two sentences is the spoken pitch. The voice lowers throughout the statement "You did fine," offering an expression of reassurance. In the second example the pitch rises through out the length of the word "fine?" thus conveying a questioning expression of surprise or disbelief.

Linguists know that the meaning of sentences change dramatically depending the pitch inflection of various words or phrases. (For instance, as we all know, in English most questions end with an upward inflection) .

We constantly rely on pitch recognition to convey and determine meaning. In order to converse fluently you must be able to hear pitch and speak with pitch. So it follows:

- If you can communicate verbally, you can hear pitch.

- If you can hear pitch, you're not tone deaf.

- And since you're not tone deaf, you can learn to sing, and you can learn music by ear!

There are many instances of pitch in our everyday activities. People sing musical intervals without even knowing it. For instance, when a person hollers out the supper call, "Am—y! … Din—ner!" invariably they sing each pair of syllables in a descending minor third. Ask a self-proclaimed "tone deaf" person (anyone who claims they can't sing) to give a friendly call to their pet from afar. When they yell out the name, "Skip-per! … Skip-----per!" they will probably sing a descending minor third. And if they call twice in a row, they may transpose the minor third a whole tone higher as they "sing" the call the second time. (People don't always sing this a descending minor third when calling — but the longer they hold the first syllable, the more likely they will.)

Indeed this is a lengthy opinion to append to a short book review. But I wish to underscore a significant point. In they're youth many people were told by teachers and choral directors that they were "tone deaf." I've heard so many sad stories. Like the music teacher who asked each student to stand in front of the class and sing to determine if they were qualified to practice along with the class. Those who failed to perform well were instructed, "When we practice and perform, don't sing! Just move your mouths and pretend to sing! The rest of us will carry it."

What's worse, it's likely that some students performed poorly during their singing examination only because they were nervous. Not many people sing their best when asked on the spot to stand up and sing in front of a group of their peers. Probably few of them had ever sung solo before. Other kids failed when a teacher forced them to sing outside of their natural vocal range, or simply because they couldn't quickly find the first note! And some failed simply because they had never heard the song — they'd been absent the previous day when it was taught to the class.

I knew a teacher who labeled as "grumblers" those who she deemed 'tone deaf." She dispensed a firm admonition that they remain silent, the very ones who most needed singing opportunities never got the chance to practice singing during class! By words and opinions such as these, countless people have been discouraged and excluded from developing their musical voices and were made to feel deficient, even though they possessed unlimited potential.

Later in life, out of the shadow of the disbenevolent authorities, some 'grumbers' try to sing. When they do, indeed many find that they have less skill than their peers did long ago. But is probably because their classmates had lots of practice; they didn't. Unfortunately, at some point, many conclude that the teacher was right -- that they aren't good singers.

For many, so it goes throughout life. Their undeveloped potential keeps them from trying, practicing, and participating. Lack of participation keeps them from improving.

How were these students ever to improve under the imposed "lip-sync" restriction? What if a math teacher asked each student to solve a single math problem on the board in front of the class? And of those who struggled to produce the correct answer, what if the teacher instructed them, "You don't do math! Just wiggle your pencil while the rest of us study and work." Clearly this would be a case of a teacher failing to perform his or her job. But somehow, year after year, countless music teachers have brushed aside the very students who needed attention the most.

Perhaps something like this happened to you. If so, it's truly a shame. Much like our innate ability to develop language, people have an innate ability to sing, but for most it flourishes only with good example in a supportive environment, and these skills are most easily achieved at an early age. But it is never too late.

I find it astonishing that the notion of tone deafness ever took hold. If someone has been deprived of the funhearted experimentation required in aquiring a good singing voice, naturally they will have trouble on they're first attempts. But to lable then incapable and tone deaf is entirely shortsighted. If a child were raised by wolves and therefore unable speak, we wouldn't label he or she deaf.

Whatever the case, if for any reason you think you can't sing, or if you've been told you can't, don't believe it. It is a skill that you can learn — and you can do so at any age! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Even if you think your speaking voice is unbecoming, don't doubt your potential for singing. I've heard individuals with an unusual speaking voice who have a fantastic voice in song.

If you pursue singing but have trouble learning to use your voice, have faith. You just need more opportunities, perhaps some good guidance, persistence and patience.

And a final point. Many peope think that if they are unable sing well, instrumental music is out of bounds. They avoid instrumental music because don't enjoy singing, and they don't want to try to learn to sing. While you don't have to sing to play a musical instrument, it's very helpful, on many levels. Nevertheless, I've known many people who don't sing, and won't sing, but make great strides with a musical instrument.