Last week I was teaching one of my students, Zoe. We were working a song with some difficult rhythmic passages. I was having her clap along with me, to get the feeling of the rhythm in her body. I noticed she was copying me, and realized that if I didn’t go to the root of the problem- a lack of understanding of note and rest values- she would never improve. So we sat down at the table and I showed her the math, that was more confusing. Then it dawned on me to use measuring cups. I ran into the kitchen and grabbed the cup, half cup, 1/4 cup, and 1/8 cup. We talked through how many 1/2 cups would fit in a full cup and on down the line. She got it. I was delighted that it had worked, and told her that as part of her practicing that week I wanted her to cook something.
Yesterday she brought me her assignment: Chocolate chip cookies!