WK 2 The Art of Possibility

One buttock playing! Benjamin Zander made a profound statement as he discussed the piano playing of one of his students. How true was his illustration of the young piano player who attacked the piece of music at six, then seven, then eight, nine and ten, only to stop before his impulses would have had him playing the piece just as the composer wanted it to sound. As we teach our classes do we move on to fast, before one of our students has that ah-hah moment! The concept of teaching to mastery mirrors the possibilities that could take place if we were not confined to curriculum and preparing for tests. How often are students moved on without making sure they have mastered their content only to struggle later. How are we measuring student success? These students that fail now, will they make great contributions in society later? In the world of science the caterpillar must struggle to work itself out of the cocoon to become a butterfly. Some struggle is good to make things possible.