perfect pitch ~ musicians weigh in

      A student of mine once asked me whether perfect pitch was innate or acquired, and while I knew that generally it is considered something one is "born with," I was curious to hear what other musicians I knew thought or had discovered. What follows is the actual responses - verbatim - that I have received back to date. I have (fairly roughly) divided the answers into those who think it can be developed vs. those who think only relative pitch can be learned.