There was some research recently that claimed to have found that newborn babies often had perfect pitch (i.e. they could recognise the same note played on different occasions) but that they tended to lose the ability as they grew older.

This backs up my hunch that a lot of people could develop this skill if they needed it.

A young boy I know of was found to have this ability - someone was showing him a violin and played a note, saying "This is a B" (or possibly an E, anyway a named note) and he said "I know". When asked how he knew, he said, "I've got one on my trumpet." He was from a musical family and has no doubt retained the ability, as he has kept on with his musical activities.

marje