Aug. 26, 2008 Researchers at the University of Rochester's
Eastman School of Music and Department of Brain and Cognitive
Sciences have developed a unique test for perfect pitch, and
have found surprising results. Their research shows that perfect
pitch—the ability to recognize and remember a tone without a
reference—is apparently much more common in non-musicians than
scientists had expected. Previous tests have overlooked these
people because without extensive musical training it's very
difficult for someone to identify a pitch by name, the method
traditionally used for identifying those with perfect pitch. The
new test can be used on non-musicians, and is based on a
technique to discern how infants recognize words in a language
they're learning. The findings will be presented at the
International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition in
Sapporo, Japan on Aug. 25. "Tests for perfect pitch have always
demanded that subjects already have some musical training or at
least familiarity with a particular pi