Are You Tone Deaf Scientists May Have Found the Cure...

Are You Tone Deaf Scientists May Have Found the Cure... Suzy S. Cant match pitch to save your life? Science may have found the cure or, at least some initial findings that could help adults learn new skills, including music and languages, later in life. Absolute pitch, the ability to identify and produce specific pitches without a reference point,  has long been studied by musicians, psychologists, and neuroscientists. Some people believe its something you have to be born with or, something that must be cultivated at an early age in order to stick, such as through  early life exposure and rigorous training in music. But now, preliminary research has shown that pitch-perfect comprehension may just be a neural tweak away. In one recent study, scientists used valproate, a chemical compound typically found in mood-stabilizing drugs, on subjects with no musical training, coached them on the basics of matching pitch, and then tested them on the material weeks later. As it turns out, these tone deaf subjects scored significantly higher on the tests than those who took a placebo.  Essentially, the drug re-created that critical period in brain development, allowing for new information to be absorbed just as easily as when the subjects were youngsters. Check out the NPR interview here  to find out more,  or read the research findings  from  Frontiers. Of course, this is just the beginning of a long road ahead. If youre looking for a quick fix for your next karaoke night, youre out of luck. While the findings may be interesting well stick with the traditional music training! Suzy S., TakeLessons staff member and blogger Are you looking for a private music teacher? Search our roster  of local and  online teachers to get started. Find Your Perfect Teacher You might also like Rockstar Rules: The Word Stevie Nicks Wants You to Stop Saying What Music Should You Listen to at Work? [Infographic] Infographic: From Vinyl to Vinyl in 50 Years Photo by JoshSemans