Can I learn to sing in tune?
We\u2019ve probably all got a friend who sings along wildly out of tune - or maybe you are that person. But why are some of us apparently tone deaf, while others can hold a melody? Can you train yourself to sing in tune, or is it mostly down to raw talent?
These musical questions, from CrowdScience listeners Jenny and Anastasia, certainly struck a chord with us. Anastasia loves to sing but her friends tell her she\u2019s off-key - or that \u201ca bear trod on her ear,\u201d as they say in her native Russia. Is it possible for her to improve her singing voice, and what are the best ways of going about it?
Both musicians and scientists help us tackle these questions, and explain what\u2019s going on in our ears, brains and throats when we try to sing the right notes. We learn about congenital amusia, a condition which makes it almost impossible to tell if you\u2019re in tune or not, and attempt to tease out the relative influence of our genes and our environment when it comes to musical ability.
Presented by Marijke Peters and produced by Cathy Edwards for the BBC World Service.
Image: Child Singing. Credit: Getty Images