MadSci Network: Other
Query:

Re: Can 'tone deaf' people detect different instruments' sound quality?

Date: Thu Mar 28 12:12:13 2002
Posted By: Kevin Wright, Secondary School Teacher, Head of Science, Chemistry graduate., Mary Hare School for the Deaf
Area of science: Other
ID: 1016754808.Ot
Message:

I don't know the answer to this, but I can give you my opinion and 
experience of working with deaf pupils.
There must be very few people who are completely tone deaf and unable to 
distinguish between tones. Unless they have a degree of hearing-
impairment, I cannot understand any physiologiccal reason for tone 
deafness.
Of course, many people find it hard to sing in tune and describe 
themselves as tone deaf.
Most of us also find it hard to say which is higher when there are two 
tones that are only a few Hz apart. A trained musician is better.
I teach profoundly deaf pupils using oral methods and excellent 
amplification (maximising their use of residual hearing) and, while some 
find it hard to tell an oboe from a clarinet, most can. Of course, the 
more dissimilar the instruments are, the easier it gets. 
If these youngsters can be trained to hear the differences, I'm sure most 
people who claim to be "tone deaf" could also learn!
My experience is that it is dependant on education - many people (sadly) 
don't know the difference between the families of instruments. 
I feel its all a question of careful listening and experience.
Kevin Wright


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