Connections and Realizations

Never underestimate the insights and ingenuity of your students. Here are two examples from my studio in the last few weeks:

• An advanced student was having trouble identifying intervals. Rather than purchase ear training software, he decided to put his computer programming skills to use by writing his own program that randomly plays the intervals for RCM Grade 9 ear training, which he would then identify. His interval ID scores since then have been close to perfect.
• An intermediate student was having trouble with the LH fingering of the dreaded C# minor harmonic scale. She also plays softball, and made a connection between scale-fingering and ball grip--that the hand position in the left hand when the fourth finger crosses over the thumb is similar to the way she throws a curveball when on the pitcher's mound.