The scenario you are describing, daylia, has little or nothing to do with perfect pitch.

If that's your honest opinion Ebbie, so be it.
Personally, I value a firsthand experience over a second-rate opinion anytime.

If a singer or a player can't tell what note - as found on the instrument- s/he is on, some basic education is called for. If the ppp is there to tell them what note it is, they have learned nothing for the next time.

That's true. What's a ppp?

At that gathering a couple weeks ago, my friends did not want a music theory or ear training lesson. Nor were they paying me for my time. They simply wanted to perform that traditional song together at a workshop the following weekend. WHen I saw them about to give up in frustration because they couldn't figure out what key the singer was in, I helped them with that. And with the chord changes to harmonize the (traditionally cappella) melody. It took about 5 minutes of "coaching", and then they were ready to rock! (well, drum chant and strum anyway ...)

Try a different scenario! ?:~)

Okay .... You're about 8 years old, suffering through one of your piano teacher's long (and boring, for an 8yr old) inhouse recitals on a hot summer afternoon. A young man has a memory lapse in the middle of his Beethoven sonata. The seconds stretch unbearably out into minutes as he fumbles around with what seems like all 88 keys on that piano trying to find the next note. Between his angst and the frustration of the audience, you could cut the air in that room with a knife!

Now, you can HEAR the note he needs in your head, you know very well what it is -- because you've heard (or rather, at 8 years old suffered through) that lengthy sonata quite a few times before. But you seal your lips together because you've been taught to be quiet at recitals, and sit and squirm and sweat and wait and wriggle .... until you can bear it no more -- then you burst out with "IT'S G#! PLAY G#!!!"

Startled, he glances over at you, tries the G#. Lo and behold, it works! And he's off and running to finish the sonata ... and now you can get back to bike-riding quicker. *whew*

Only problem is, now everyone in the room is staring at you like you're some kind of freak, and you're dying for Scotty to beam you up! So you make yourself real "small" and try not to make another squeak until the recital is over.

Your teacher catches up with you on the way out the door, grabs your arm, pulls you aside, gives you this very stern look, and says "Don't you EVER do that again!" So you don't, but it takes a few years before you figure out why she was so upset with you ...

Anyway, that's another first-hand practical application for perfect pitch -- getting "stuck" performers back on track. (So you can get on with your day!)

daylia