The Arcane Society

Chapter 22

July 15th: 9:48 AM

Piano, Math and Hearing

Playing on the piano is the best feeling ever. That is if you don't miss one single note. I mean, if my hearing detects something slightly off, I'll stop. This isn't just super sharp hearing, it's something called absolute pitch.

Absolute pitch: The ability to read or repeat a pitch instantly without "hunting" for it. Only 750,000 people (or 0.1% of the world) have the ability to do so. The cause of this phenomena is still debated between nature (were you born with this?) versus nurture (were you raised with this?)

I come from a slightly musical family. Dad plays guitar. My 1st other brother brother and myself play the piano, I play the oboe as well, and my 2nd older brother plays the bassoon. My mom didn't do any instrument. I'm also debating whether I just raised by me singing songs to myself. I was always humming to myself as a child. (At least I think I was, my memory can only carry me back to when I was...three.)

Somehow, I read somewhere that people who are good with music are really good at math. Now, let me tell you something about math. I. Absolutely. Dislike. Math. As much as I'm in "accelerated" math, I really don't like dealing with math formulas. They just really bother me.

Let me take you back a couple months to show you what I mean.

January 2014: Band class

Math and Music Combine

Now, I'm in class, slightly new initiated oboe player with 2 months of experience, doing surprisingly well. And my tracher, is yelling at us about tempo. She got so mad, she got off the podium. And that usually means you messed up horribly

"Guys, stay put, I want to go get something." Her tone was a annoyed one. I sat in patience, fingering my music. I've had the recent habit to air finger any oboe part I hear. Suddenly, I hear the familiar ticking of a metronome. It was enough to cut through the excited chatter. Since I've heard the metronome for eight years or so, it didn't surprise me that she was going to reteach us about the difference between Largo and Presto. Uggghhhh.. Not this again... The teacher held up her phone, the screen facing her. Ohh, so you're using a metronome app. How original.

"Can anyone tell me how fast this metronome is ticking?" She asked. Since I was considered the "Musical Genius" next to Lauren, everyone's eyes turn towards me. Everyone whispered to eachother 112 beats per minute. I started tapping my lap. I alsokinda picked up the habit of tapping my lap in 4/4 time.

"Elisabeth?"

"110 beats per minute."

The teacher's face turns into pure shock. A bit of her color drained as well. "Did you look at my phone!?"

"Excuse me? Of course not." I looked at her with a face of confusion and irritation. How dare she?? I was fingering the music the entire time. I don't need a repeat of 2nd grade music class.

"Because you guessed the exact number! You have a fantastic gift, Elisabeth." Some classmates gave a collective gasp. I saw a face of disgust from a couple clarinet players. I shone a look of superiority at Julia. Take that, Julia! You aren't so high and mighty, aren't you?

I was then a bit skeptic and humble to admit that, thinking it was just sheer luck. "Umm, thanks?"

Seems I'm just more than a regular student.