Definitely tone deaf?Definitely tone deaf?
All In The Mind
Are you a good singer, or are you only comfortable singing in the privacy of your shower? We explore a condition called congenital amusia—also known as tone deafness—and track a self-confessed bad singer trying to get back in tune.
28:52•31 Dec 2017
Definitely Tone Deaf? Science, Shame and Finding Your Voice
Episode Overview
- Many people who think they are tone deaf do not have congenital amusia; they are simply untrained or lacking confidence.
- Congenital amusia involves difficulty detecting small pitch differences, even though hearing at the ear level is normal.
- Childhood comments and poorly pitched music lessons can convince children they cannot sing and silence them for life.
- Choirs and supportive teachers can help adults match pitch and enjoy singing, even if their voices are far from perfect.
- Research suggests the brain can adapt with training, but true amusia may mean starting from a tougher baseline and needing more effort.
“"The brain is a very flexible machine and it will adapt to training."”
Curious about how others handle being told they "can't sing"? This All In The Mind episode looks at so‑called tone deafness through the story of Tim Faulkner, a music lover who has been labelled a bad singer since childhood and went looking for a scientific explanation. Tim talks about the sting of being asked not to sing in school and the embarrassment of friends laughing at his voice.
His journey leads him to soprano Catherine Carew, who tells him he has "a good voice" but is on the wrong notes, and then to neuroscientist Professor Isabelle Peretz’s lab in Montreal, where he’s diagnosed with congenital amusia. Tim learns that "basically if two tones are within half a semitone I can't tell them apart"—and that his whole family shares the condition. Psychology professor Bill Thompson breaks down what congenital amusia is and how it differs from ordinary bad singing.
He explains that many people who claim to be tone deaf probably aren’t, and that "the brain is a very flexible machine and it will adapt to training" if someone is motivated to work on their singing. Retired music teacher Gillian Bonham adds a touching, often funny perspective from running a "tone deaf choir" for people with painful childhood experiences of being silenced.
She points out how poorly pitched children’s songs and unhelpful teaching can convince kids they can’t sing, when they simply haven’t been shown how. The episode balances science, real‑life stories and gentle humour, making it ideal for anyone who’s ever mouthed the words in a choir for fear of ruining the song. It also hints at wider links between music, language and emotion, raising questions about how we hear others’ feelings in their voices.
If you’ve always called yourself tone deaf, are you ready to rethink what your brain—and your voice—might manage with a bit of kindness and practice?
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