well there is a way of learning languages, called suggestopedia and invented by a Bulgarian, which was extensively used behind the iron curtain before it all fell: I have met a lot of Russians and other Eastern Europeans who spoke superb English or Spanish due to the method. It consisted of making a really pleasant space, with plants and comfy chairs and having the teacher read texts, first in your own language, then in the language to be learned - all set to the rhythm of slow baroque music - I think it was something around 60 bpm, but I may not remember well. Then there were games to reinforce the language input, and even some conventional exercises.
Basically the idea was to remove the emotional barriers which stop people learning, and to make the experience as unthreatening as possible whilst creating good conditions for concentration and a flexible mind. There is also a carefully planned curriculum so that things come up again and again in a sort of circular way. Not sure how that fits in here, I just thought I'd mention it! As a sort of teacher I'm very interested in how people learn, and the emotional/physical factor is for me one of the most important. Now, is that old time? Robin On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 9:42 PM, Linda <[email protected]> wrote: > > Ah, yes, learning how to learn, what works a ...vast and interesting > topic. There are at least two physio therapists here in Hobart that > specialise in helping musicians with issues they have that are > generally down to bad posture and unhelpful positions when playing an > instrument. Then there is learning how to keep what is > learned...another area. Lately I have found that to keep tunes one > has learned they have to be played danged often, the more tunes one > knows then the more tunes one must play just to keep them. I suppose > after a good long while one just 'knows' the tunes and they are always > there when wanted. Thats my experience anyway. > Linda > > On Jan 13, 3:35 am, Don Grieser <[email protected]> wrote: > > When I needed some physical therapy, the first thing he talked to me > about > > was posture. It's funny to hear Chris Thile talked about it, because > > whenever I've seen him play sitting down, he's all hunched over. > > > > On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 6:55 AM, Robin Gravina <[email protected] > >wrote: > > > > > ah so that happens to you too!! > > > > > Robin > > > > > On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 2:53 PM, Don Christy <[email protected] > >wrote: > > > > >> Yeah, this book had a ton of pictures and discussion of proper sitting > and > > >> arrangement of the arms, legs, etc. > > >> It's amazing how much of the physical and mental aspects of proficient > > >> (name just about any endeavor) are the same. My experience is more > with > > >> motorcycles and sports. In the case of the former, tension in the arms > can > > >> be a KILLER (say when you panic and tighten up because you're into a > > >> decreasing radius curve a little too hot). Probably the same thing > when a > > >> mandolin player tenses up trying to play too fast or too loud or just > trying > > >> to play for Tater [?]. Just another kind of crash [?] > > >> Don > > > > >> On Sun, Jan 11, 2009 at 9:47 PM, mistertaterbug < > [email protected]>wrote: > > > > >>> Really good stuff, Don. I have seen some of these quotes repeated > > >>> almost verbatim in musical instruction books. I agree wholeheartedly > > >>> on all points. One fellow that I met at the first Mandolin Symposium > > >>> said that they spent over an hour and a half in one of Chris Thile's > > >>> classes just talking about how to sit in a chair when practicing. He > > >>> was not as interested as Chris was in how to sit in a chair, but the > > >>> point still transfers, I think, that there is right and wrong > > >>> methodology to this fanatic pursuit we share. Thanks again, Don. > > > > >>> Tater > > > > >>> On Jan 11, 8:50 pm, Don Christy <[email protected]> wrote: > > >>> > So I was reading a rare vintage instruction book and thought it had > > >>> > some interesting and timeless advice: > > > > >>> > - A few minutes in the right way are worth more than hours of > practice > > >>> > in the wrong way. > > >>> > - Wrong practice will lead you in the wrong direction. > > >>> > - Never begin to practice before you are sure you know how. > Languid, > > >>> > thoughtless practice should be avoided. > > >>> > - Put ambition, put energy, put the fire of determined will behind > > >>> > your practice, and the results will be astonishing. > > >>> > - Not only keep the muscles of the right arm in a relaxed > condition, > > >>> > but guard against tension in any part of the body. > > >>> > - ... constant repetition is necessary in developing a good style. > > >>> > - ... the only way to learn to execute ... is to practice ... > > > > >>> > The really interesting thing is that this is not a book on learning > to > > >>> > play music. It's a book on penmanship: > > >>> > The Palmer Method of Business Writing by A. N. Palmer. (1935) > > > > >>> > Who knew that becoming proficient in playing mandolin and in > > >>> > penmanship required so many of the same concepts?? > > > > >>> > Don > > > > > > > > 332.gif > > < 1KViewDownload > > > > 361.gif > > < 1KViewDownload > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
