September 15, 2001
This was written by 38 year old Debra Metze, who has Williams Syndrome, about the terrible happenings on Tuesday!
I SAW
I saw two planes hit the twin towers
It seemed it went on for hours
I saw people falling and jumping out of windows
I saw buildings fall down to the ground with big sounds
I saw people running to find a place to be safe
But, I also saw how we can pull together and hold up our seams
I have seen people come to help
To show love and kindness that is heartfelt
I have seen people hold people they may not even know
See we are strong, our strength it grows and grows
And our love of our country and our people it shows
We are not down for we get right back up
As long as we believe in ourselves and love
She the good old USA will never be done
And the USA will continue to shine like the sun
Until we find the ones that did this and our fight is won
by Debra Metze
July 26, 2001
People with Williams Syndrome more likely to have perfect pitch
UC Irvine study reveals new characteristics for music and language acquisition
Irvine, Calif., July 19, 2001 — Individuals with Williams syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental condition marked by low IQ and physical impairment, are more likely than the general population to have perfect pitch, a UC Irvine study has found.
In addition, people with this condition appear to have a greater larger window of time for developing this musical ability, differing significantly from the general population, which can only develop absolute pitch, also known as perfect pitch, through musical training during early childhood.
In a pilot study of five individuals with Williams syndrome, Howard M. Lenhoff, professor emeritus of biology, and his colleagues at UCI have found that their test subjects possess near ceiling levels of absolute pitch despite limited cognitive abilities. The study also provides further information on the neurological mechanisms involved in music and language acquisition. Their findings appear in the summer issue of the journal Music Perception.
Some 4,500 individuals in the United States and Canada have Williams syndrome. People with this rare condition are born lacking about 20 genes in Chromosome 7. In spite of cognitive and physical defects, Williams people show particular strength in using language and developing advanced musical abilities such as absolute pitch, which is the capacity to recognize, name and produce the pitch of a musical note.
"Our findings expand on the fact that a small number of genes can affect a large number of characteristics that define a specific population of individuals," Lenhoff said.
Roughly one in 10,000 people in Western populations have the ability to develop absolute pitch. Studies also show that this acumen only develops through childhood musical training between the ages of 3 and 6.
In his study, Lenhoff tested five individuals participating in a music camp for people with Williams syndrome. All five had varying levels of musical skills, and their ages ranged between 13 and 43 with an average IQ of 58. Only one had received musical training between the ages of 3 and 6, and none could read music. In more than 1,000 trial tests for identifying single notes, natural notes and the notes in harmonic dyads and triads, the group scored near ceiling levels (97.5 percent) of absolute pitch.
None of the test subjects were known to possess absolute pitch. The fact that all five did indicates that the percentage of Williams people with this ability surpasses that of the general population by at least tenfold. Lenhoff estimates that as many 30 percent of Williams people may have the ability to develop absolute pitch.
"In addition, since four out of five of these subjects received their musical training after the age of 6, it appears that the window of opportunity for Williams people to develop absolute pitch can extend into adulthood and perhaps indefinitely," Lenhoff said. "Because of this, studies with people having Williams syndrome should make it possible to develop new ways of exploring the neurological mechanisms fostering music and language acquisition in the human brain."
It is the current view of a number of cognitive scientists that the ability of absolute pitch helps young children master languages, especially multi-tonal ones such as Vietnamese and Mandarin.
Lenhoff's colleagues in the study included Gregory Hickok, associate professor of cognitive sciences, and Olegario Perales, both of UCI. The National Science Foundation and the Bernon Family Fund provided funding.### Contact: Tom Vasich (949) 824-6455 tmvasich@uci.edu A complete archive of press releases is available on the World Wide Web at www.communications.uci.edu
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Tom Vasich Senior Public Information Representative Sciences and Technology UC Irvine Phone: (949) 824-6455 Fax: (949) 824-8673 Cell/Page: (949) 285-6455
May 31, 2001
Children's Miracle Network Champions Celebration to be held June 2-3
Champions Celebration - June 2 & 3, 2001.
Check your local television listings for times.
This celebration will feature Shannon (8 yrs. old with WS) and her music therapist between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM (Eastern Time) on Sunday, June 3.
February 23, 2001
WS Singers Perform in New Orleans
WS singers Gloria Lenhoff and Liz Miller are on a 7 day, 9 concert tour of Louisiana during February. They are part of the "Miracles Choir" of the Baddour Memorial Center of Senatobia, MS.
February 3, 2001
Lincoln-Mercury Pulls Ads
The Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motors has stopped its commercials on Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" television show because of his outrageous remarks about people who are retarded. We suggest that you contact the company and thank them for its actions. The best way to reach them is by phoning 1-800-521-4140 and keep pressing 5 after hearing all of their options and a customer service representative will speak with you.
You can also write to them at:
Lincoln
P. O. Box 6248
Dearborn, MI 48121
