Re: Visualizing

On 9/7/2024 9:08 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote:

You sound like me.  I tried French and Spanish and just barely got by.

Foreign languages (French, Spanish, Latin) were optional at the jr/sr high
school levels, for us.  No need to take any to graduate -- though strongly
suggested if you were "college bound".

In jr high I wanted to play  the drums but there were 4 others that had
some previous training.  I then mentioned another instrument but could
not play it due to having braces and could no blow correctly.  I was
forced to take up an instrument for 2 ears that I really hated but got

No one was turned away from "band" just like no one would be turned
away from "shop", calculus, etc.  Of course, "band" places more
pressure on the student because they are performing "publicly";
you can hide your calculus grades from the others in your class
but your skill at <instrument> would be readily apparent to everyone
else in the band.
We had a smaller "jazz ensemble" that recruited from the band for
more upscale material/performances.

by.  Gave it up in high school as we did not have to take band or
chorus.
The band was more interested in putting on a good show instead of
actually teaching.

If the players can't read music and keep time, they won't put on
a good show, regardless.  So, teaching is essential, even if not
stressed.
And, you'd previously had "music" classes (grade school) so it's not
like the staff is something you've not encountered before!  OTOH, you
aren't going to get *individualized* instruction any more than you
would get "tutored" on your math class!

I went to a tech school and did well.We had an english course or two but
it was to teach technical writing and public speaking no reading of
novels that I had no interest in.

Growing up in New England, we had a strong emphasis on American History and
American Literature.  I was amused to find people in college who were
ignorant of much of this (after making excuses for the "foreigners")