Absolute Pitch Education

[losvedir]

I've been playing the new Absolute Pitch Blaster a lot lately because it's actually quite fun!

Basically I want to make sure that as I play the game I'm learning right, or at any rate, that I'm not learning wrong. Is there something I should be doing or thinking while playing, or something I shouldn't be? Or is it fine as long as I just keep playing and getting better? I'm just worried about playing it a long time only to realize later that all I've done is firmly ingrain in my mind some sort of crutch that I will have to unlearn later.

Thanks!

[aruffo]

I'm glad you're enjoying the game! As I was creating it, I wrote the note-generating routines and the game play separately, and even before I connected the two I had a lot of fun just moving the base around and blowing up the little aliens.

After reading Lazy Vegan's post, I'd have to agree with you that that's a legitimate concern (getting locked into the wrong thing). For starters, check out what I wrote today about Melody Words; that's important.

My initial supposition is that no, I don't think there's any danger of getting locked into something, because the game isn't employing any tricks (such as triggers) or tangential sensory strategies (such as recognizing an F# because it "sounds twangy" or because it "feels like" a visual color), either of which would, I expect, distract from the process of chroma recognition by focusing on a different psychological process. Absolute Pitch Blaster merely coaxes your mind into doing what it does naturally.

And as long as you begin discovering that the skill actually begins showing itself in your musicianship (as has been reported by some people using ETC, myself included), I don't think there's any worry that you're wasting your time.

Naturally, though, anything is possible; theoretically, you're not locking into anything unproductive, but if you discover something not working or, worse, working against you, by all means tell me!

Keep an eye out for my next main-page article; I ran into a high-school teacher at a barbecue a couple days ago and our conversation really gave me some important food for thought.

[Vargas]

I deem this thread fit for spreading my views on the program. I've enjoyed what I've worked with so far. Took me a bit to get used to, but other than that I find it to be solid. I give my thumbs up of approval.

[Guest]

I've only checked out the demo version so far.
In regards to applying strategies, the skulls that store your previous correct answers sure make it a lot easier. They enable you to apply relative pitch, or just pitch comparison. What's their purpose ? Why not use the Melody Word instead ?

[aruffo]

There are many answers to your question scattered all around the site, but by whatever coincidence I just this moment uploaded a new article which addresses it directly.

Check it out; let me know if it doesn't answer your question--!



(skulls? Goodness.. yes, I suppose they do look like skulls, don't they...)