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You've
just spent 15 minutes explaining to your student the basis of
the chromatic scale:
"So E has no sharp(#) and F has no flat(b); B no sharp(#)
and C no flat(b)"
You conclude with a smile.
"Have you got that?"
"Yes!"
They smile back. Hoping that you can get on to something
interesting, loud and heavy now.
Don't believe them!
My Golden Rule Number 3 says:
Never take your student's word for it when they say they've
understood something!
Get them to prove it. This is best done by getting them to
think with the newly-learned information:
Okay!" You say. "That's the end of the explanation.
Now let's put this information to use. Play me the note B
on the 6th string. - Good, now work out the name of the note
at the 6th fret on the 5th string ...." etc.
As they put the information to use several things happen.
- You discover what they have understood and what they haven't.
- They process the information mentally and this fixes it
in memory.
- They gain confidence as the subject de-mystifies.
- They discover that theory is actually useful and relevant!
So never, never, never just explain a point and accept your
students word that they have understood it. Always get them
to demonstrate their understanding by actual application.
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