[LAU] OT: Benchmark Your Hearing

[Nigel Henry]

On Wednesday 28 May 2008 20:49, Frank Wales wrote:
> Dave Phillips wrote:
> > One of the best bar-band guitarists here in my town has perfect pitch
> > (as in absolute pitch). He can play and sing exactly like his models
> > (he's a terrific mimic), but he can't improvise a blues worth a damn. He
> > also has little or no sense for composition (though Garage Band lets him
> > think he does). I wish I had his ear, but I wouldn't trade it for my
> > other musical capabilities.
>
> Reminds me of a comment I heard once by a professional symphony orchestra
> musician about some of his conservatory-trained colleagues: "they're
> wonderful musicians, but they couldn't play 'Happy Birthday' without
> the score in front of them."
>
> Makes you wonder what's in their head when they think of music.

Seeing this I think of my dad who played the piano accordian. he couldn't read  
music , but would hear a tune, and just be able to play it. There is 
something to be said for that ability. In later years he bought a Hammond 
organ, and leslie speaker (I think he found it a bit difficult to stand up 
for an hour or so playing the accordian), but personally I found his 
accordian playing had a little something extra, that the organ didn't 
provide.

2¢ worth of memories.

Nigel.