Los Angeles, February 14, 2015 - It is estimated that only two to five percent of the population is considered to be medically tone deaf. However, there are varying degrees of tone deafness. For example, a person who simply sings off- key, even frequently, may not be truly tone deaf. Moreover, there are numerous other possible reasons for his or her inability to sing on key.

In the medical community tone deafness is known as “amusia.” It is characterized by an inability to discriminate between musical notes, or to identify changes in melody, despite having ‘normal’ hearing. Technically speaking, it is an auditory processing problem in which the internal hearing of the individual has not developed the ability to recognize when his or her pitch deviates from the desired note to be sung.

Studies have shown that while poor singers were equally accurate as good singers in recognizing or in identifying changes in pitch, they were not as accurate as good singers at vocally reproducing notes. Proper vocal training can help poor singers to learn to sing more accurately the notes that they are able to discern.

One study showed that most “off-pitch” singers are more than just a little off when asked to repeat notes, whether they are given a few notes in sequence or just a single note. In most cases, they were off by a semitone or more, therefore singing a dramatically different note than what they were hearing.

What Causes Pitch Errors?

More often than not, people confuse persistent pitch problems with tone deafness. However, the problems that that cause an individual to have poor pitch perception can be traced to a number of different factors. In some cases a person can’t sing back notes quickly or accurately after they have heard them. This can be attributed to bad hearing or bad memory. Poor control of the vocal system can also hinder their ability to produce a note, even though they heard it correctly.

Another reason some people who are not medically tone deaf sing poorly is that they haven’t made a conscious effort to actually LEARN TO SING. Without proper coaching and a desire to learn, the singing voice will most always fail to live up to its full potential.

Some people, perhaps even at an early age, have been told they can’t sing, carry a tune or they’ve been told their voice is unpleasant or perhaps even annoying. This kind of criticism and mockery can wound someone psychologically and cause them to develop a defeatist attitude and in the end accept that they can’t sing no matter what they might try.

Singers who have developed severe constrictions of the vocal tract over the years may also find themselves “pitch challenged.” The consequences of these constrictions often make the singing voice sound even worse because tone is made to sound unpleasant. This, in turn, can make the singer self-conscious about singing in front of others which makes them nervous and more likely to hit sour notes. This may lead to an extreme loss of confidence and can make the singer give up any hope of correcting the way that they sing by means of their hearing.

Many untrained singers develop a comfort zone that they prefer that usually involves singing in the middle and lower parts of their ranges. This too can cause a psychological “hang up” that may make a singer nervous and apprehensive about their ability to hit the higher notes. Even if they do try, they usually sing a few notes below the correct pitch.

Out of the many causes of pitch error, the one most common among new students is the incorrect navigation of register shifts. Since they are untrained, or improperly trained, they tend to get stuck at the same pitch. They can’t seem to get any higher because they don’t or can’t stretch the vocal folds enough to produce the desired note. Proper training, including a study of vowel modification is almost always successful in eliminating these problems, enabling the singer to gradually and smoothly transition into the higher register without a noticeable register break or a pitch error.

Another source of unplanned pitch deviation amongst singers, especially new students, is poor breath management. Proper breath management allows the singer to steadily regulate the flow of air leaving the lungs, as when the singer moves suddenly and air is pushed out rapidly. If this air flow is not properly regulated it can not only affect the tone of the voice, it can affect pitch as well. This typically causes the vocal folds to respond by vibrating at a faster rate, which causes the pitch of the voice to automatically rise.

Statistically, the chances are very low that any given individual is medically tone deaf. An individual may need to hone their ability to listen and to hear more accurately, and to train the voice to more accurately produce the more pleasing tones and correct pitches. A reputable Vocal Training Program can help you to maximize your singing potential and develop your voice to the fullest.

For more information on Vocal Training and Proper Pitch: http://KenTamplinVocalAcademy.com/