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# Six Surpising Facts About Perfect Pitch
- URL: https://ghost-new.utheory.com/six-surprising-facts-about-perfect-pitch/
- Published: 2022-03-02T19:34:42.000Z
- Updated: 2022-04-05T14:49:15.000Z
- Description: What is perfect pitch and why do some people have it when others don't? How does it work and is it possible to learn it? In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth West Marvin answers these questions and more.
- Author: Leah Sheldon
- Tags: NotesFromTheStaff, Teaching Tips, #Import 2026-10-25 20:37

- There are many types of perfect pitch: for certain notes, certain ranges, and even certain instruments.
- Perfect pitch can drift with age.
- It's nearly impossible to acquire perfect pitch after age 6.
- There's a close relation between perfect pitch and synesthesia.
- It's possible there's a perfect pitch gene.
- Some animals have perfect pitch.

In this episode of [Notes From The Staff](https://notesfromthestaff.podbean.com/?ref=ghost-new.utheory.com), we chatted with [Dr. Elizabeth West Marvin](https://www.esm.rochester.edu/theory/elizabeth%5Fmarvin/?ref=ghost-new.utheory.com), Professor of Music Theory at the Eastman School of Music, about perfect pitch. Dr. Marvin’s research encompasses the areas of music cognition and music theory and pedagogy, and she's known for her textbook series [Musician’s Guide to Theory and Analysis](https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393442403?ref=ghost-new.utheory.com). Here are six quick facts from our conversation about perfect pitch. To hear each one explained (and more), listen to the full episode on [Demystifying Perfect Pitch](https://notesfromthestaff.podbean.com/e/demistifying-perfect-pitch-with-elizabeth-west-marvin/?ref=ghost-new.utheory.com).

[Notes From The Staff](https://notesfromthestaff.podbean.com/?ref=ghost-new.utheory.com) is a podcast from the creators of [uTheory](https://utheory.com/teach?ref=ghost-new.utheory.com). Join us for conversations about pedagogy, music theory, ear training, and music technology with members of the uTheory staff and thought leaders from the world of music education. Subscribe to Notes From The Staff on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.