Welcome to the Perfect Pitch Project - Free Music Lessons for Sharper Ears and Brighter Brains
ABOUT THE PERFECT PITCH PROJECT
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📽 Watch Here: Perfect Pitch Explained, Our Students Demonstrating the Skill, Our Parents Discussing Blake Kearney's Approach.
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The Perfect Pitch Project (PPP) is a free local music initiative for kids and families in the Eastern Beaches. It’s a fun and engaging opportunity to explore musical pitch training as part of early musical development.
A limited number of young people — from preschoolers to teens — are invited to take part in a free program designed to help local children develop the musical skill of Absolute Pitch (also known as Perfect Pitch),
This is a unique opportunity for children to gain a rare musical advantage while participating in an exciting community initiative that explores both the level of musical fluency they can achieve and how enjoyable and engaging the experience is for young learners. The outcomes will also help inform the design of a research study within a music-based Neuroscience Master’s degree.
​What is Absolute Pitch?
Absolute Pitch (also known as Perfect Pitch) is the ability to name musical notes by ear — for example, hearing a note and saying, “That’s a C.” This is not the same as having a good ear or being able to sing in tune. Mozart and Beethoven had Absolute Pitch - and without it, we might not know their names today. The skill is closely associated with high-level musical ability and musical memory.
When Should Children Start, and What Will They Study?
Pitch training in music lessons can begin in early childhood through fun, tuneful, and play-based activities that integrate music and language. For little kids, the approach is similar to Play School or Sesame Street, moving to more age-appropriate pop for teens. The material includes simple melodies and short listening exercises to guide students in recognising and labelling musical notes. Students will receive free access to the learning materials, along with a tailored system designed for easy use at home. There will also be opportunities for free in-person group pitch lessons held at the school, and/or via Zoom.
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Who Is Running the Program, and Who Developed the System?
Participants will use the CLEAR system, developed by local educator and international pitch expert Blake Kearney. Blake is a New York–trained jazz musician with a degree in classical music and is currently completing a Master’s in Neuroscience, focusing on pitch perception, early language acquisition in music, and the cognitive benefits of music education.
What Will Students or Families Need to Do?
There is no need for students to communicate directly with the school if working at home. Families are welcome to provide informal feedback on their child’s progress and are free to withdraw at any time. Feedback is voluntary, anonymous, and used solely to improve the educational method as it transitions into a formal research project.
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How Will This Project Help Shape the Future of Music Education?
This early-stage work is part of a broader effort to contribute meaningful insights into music education. The study aims to help establish the design and feasibility of a proposed research project exploring the effects of pitch training on music students. It may also expand to examine the potential cognitive benefits associated with music and pitch study. In addition, the findings will assist in refining the research questions that will form part of a neuroscience Master’s thesis.