October 18, 2006 - Wednesday
Harry got a little frustrated by two-handed triplets (playing triplets RLR LRL, etc.) He kept trying to cheat and do RLL RLL or RLL LRR, and while that may work, it's not sound technique. I tried to convince him, once again, that this stuff is hard and that he's doing it better than I can now. I think he liked that, but it didn't quite do it. I tried telling him that in order to play three notes with two hands your brain has to trick your body. He didn't quite believe me. I finally told him to put down his sticks. He probably thought I was mad for a moment. "Just put down your sticks, right there on the snare drum, I want you to try something." He finally did. I said to "try this," and rub one hand in a circle around my tummy. He did it. "Now, pat your head with the other hand." Naturally, the hand on his head started going around in circles, too.
" See, it's not an easy thing to do. Your brain as to trick your body."
It actually didn't take long for him to get it right, just a few seconds. Even better, he got it about the triplets, although it was time for dinner and he didn't play right away. But, as I would have predicted, Harry was banging triplets on the table. He loves that sort of mental puzzle.


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