[Jon S.]

Ask a room full of kindergarteners, "Who can sing?," and every hand will go up.

Twenty years later, ask the same people the same question and you'll be lucky to see one hand rise.

What changed? Did the people forget how to sing?

No, the world told them, "You're not perfect so you can't."

And they bought it.

It ain't me, babe. I can and do sing.

Not only that, I've both gotten better the more I do it, and I'm as willing to use Melodyne to smooth my rough edges as I am to use a walking stick in rocky terrain.

You can sing, too.

[lbpesq]

I sing. And my voice has improved as I’ve aged. (It also had significant improvement when I quit smoking cigarettes). I agree that everyone can attempt to sing, but if you believe virtually everyone can sing, you never met my father, Mr. Tone Deaf himself! Or, put another way, everyone can sing, but some people’s singing is more enjoyable to listen to than other’s.

A clip of me singing:

https://vimeo.com/1105369428/496d10cabd?fl=pl&fe=vl

Bill, tgo

[Jon S.]

In truth, very few people are truly tone deaf. Those who are merely poor singers can, as with any life skill, improve with training and practice:

Understanding Amusia

True “tone deafness” is scientifically known as amusia, a musical disorder characterized by a defect in processing pitch. It is a neurological condition, distinct from poor singing ability or lack of musical training, impacting how the brain perceives and processes musical sounds. Individuals with amusia experience specific cognitive deficits affecting their engagement with music.

These deficits include significant difficulty detecting fine-grained pitch changes. Individuals may struggle to recognize familiar melodies or remember tunes, even with normal hearing and intelligence. Amusia can also affect the ability to produce musical sounds, such as singing in tune, or to follow a rhythm. It is a measurable impairment in the brain’s ability to handle musical information.

Prevalence and Characteristics

The percentage of people with congenital amusia is lower than often assumed. While older estimates suggested rates as high as 4%, recent large-scale studies indicate a prevalence closer to 1.5% to 5% of the population. This condition is present from birth, distinguishing it from acquired amusia, which results from brain damage like a stroke.

Individuals with amusia often struggle to tell if a note is higher or lower than another, or to detect an out-of-tune note in a melody. Despite these musical challenges, people with amusia typically have normal intellectual and memory skills in other areas. For some, music may even be perceived as unpleasant noise, affecting their social interactions in musical settings.

Causes and Common Misconceptions

Congenital amusia is linked to differences in brain structure and connectivity. Research suggests genetic factors play a role, as it often runs in families. Brain imaging studies show individuals with congenital amusia may have reduced density of connections in the right side of the brain, particularly between the temporal and frontal lobes, which are involved in pitch processing.

A common misconception is that anyone who sings poorly is “tone deaf.” Most people who believe this simply lack vocal training or experience, not the neurological condition of amusia. True amusia is a persistent neurological condition without a known cure. However, individuals who are not truly amusical can often improve their pitch perception and singing ability through ear training and vocal lessons. Even some individuals with amusia may experience limited improvements with consistent practice, though a complete cure is not possible.

https://biologyinsights.com/what-percen ... e_vignette

[lbpesq]

Don’t know much about amusia, but my dad attempted to play a baritone Ukelele we had in the living room. After about twenty years he progressed to the point where he could play the first seven notes of “Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley” and get it right two out of three tries. Whatever musical talent I possess came from my mom.

Bill, tgo

[Slewfoot2000]

Any excuse to post this SNL sketch is always welcome! :^)

https://youtu.be/zSnCjyoMNgs?si=QgNleGEp1_2NxOWm

[RiverRat]

And so tonight we'll raise our voice in song
Not to make it perfect, but more nearly right than wrong