Music to their ears it is not

Tone deafness may be caused by differences in connections between parts of the brain.

Many of us can't sing very well, and we don't need Simon Cowell to tell us. We mouthed our way through school chorus and the singing parts of religious services. Even now, we belt it out only in the shower or in the car — alone, with the windows closed. We consider ourselves tone deaf, and we have plenty of company: About one in seven people count themselves among the tone deaf.