oonderschtand’n

Some don’t get it at first, so I take them through it again: tone, tone, semi-tone, tone, tone, tone, semi-tone. Once they get it, no way they cannot solve playing any of 12 other keys, they broke the code, it’s understood. Awkward when they don’t get it, then the guessing or the lies, hoping magic might do the trick. If they only understood the code, it’s game over, no fooling. I know it can be simple for them because like all things once understood, it’s a simple thing. If they can’t see it, I have to position them differently. Look from here, look from there, look with your ears, look while holding your breath or standing on one foot. Whatever it takes. There is a lot of teaching by people who don’t tune into whether students actually understand. Worse, some make them feel bad or stupid if they have to explain the lesson a second or third time. Even raise their voice or complain that other people understood so why can’t you? Sometimes they might have PhDs which proves the piece of paper isn’t proof of expertise. To complain that they don’t get it after you told them is proof you are no expert.

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