Catch-up?

I was planning to talk about ideas, but my morning has led me to need to speak to you about something else.

I walk into a lecture for the first time at 9 o'clock after the hassle of trying to find the right room. Now, before you all begin judging me, I had not attended any of the previous lectures because there was a bit of a hassle with my credits and I only added this particular study unit last week.

Anyway, I enter the class a bit late, and ask the lecturer if it was the right credit.

He said it was but said, he wasn't sure if I was allowed to take up the credit so late.

I relied that the add/ drop period ended two days ago.

He answered that it was ok with him, but I might find it confusing to catch up as I had missed the first 4 hours in which the basics where covered. So I sat down, making the student population go up by one. We are now five students.

I'll admit I was a bit worried about being able to catch up. But as the lecturer started the lecture, I was following.

How?

Because, all lectures link and overlap. I mean seriously. Pick any group of lectures of the same topic, say, for example Philosophy, the information given during the first month of lectures are the same. Compare the notes, go on, do it, and I promise you, you can flip them and mix them and they would still make sense.

So, my point? Why not do the sensible thing? Meet the lecturers in the beginning of the year and compare syllabi and create one lecture as an introduction to the different others that build of it. I mean contrary to the thoughts of everyone above the age of 30, we students are busy people and have other things to do besides sitting for lectures we've heard a hundred times over.

I mean, how can you expect students to turn up for all lectures if they know that they're just going to be hearing repeated content. Yes, you can take attendance, but I find that treatment childish. Also, I'm sure the lecturers find it annoying lecturing the basics and would much rather skip to the 'interesting' stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that I could catch up so easily to a lecture I missed two weeks of, but if I'm going to drag my ass to an 8 o'clock lecture every Thursday, I rather it be worth the effort.

I'd like to say something. I realized that this is my third lecture related blog entry. And while each one is different, I still feel the need to explain myself. I'm a full time student, so writing about the experiences I go through will obviously include lectures and lecture related things... like farmville.

out

Shite, what did he ask?

Sitting in a lecture can have the effect of some drugs on a student. Honestly, I think a “do not operate heavy machinery while attending this lecture” sign should be placed outside lecture room doors, and over the white boards as well just in case people forget.

I don’t think it’s because the lecturer’s don’t know what they’re talking about. Quite the contrary, I think a lot of the lecturers are experts in their field. They just don’t know how to teach. It’s like Sheldon teaching Penny physics. They just go on and on. I discussed this briefly two blogs ago, but my point today is another one.

So put your self in my shoes, as torn as they may be, half way through a two hour lecture, listening passively and typing out whatever the lecturer says, when all of a sudden a question is asked and immediately after it, my name!

Now, this is not one of the few lecturers that knows my name. Only one lecturer knows my name, and I’m usually paying attention in his interesting and entertaining lecture anyway, so that’s fine. This lecturer had picked up the register and picked a random name. Luckily, the brain can recall the last sentence heard even though one isn’t really listening. Most of us have experienced the typical “What did I just say?” question asked by a teacher, parent or partner. So after a brief moment to recall the question, I now had to think.

It’s like starting a car in third. But I love these moments. Especially if the answer can be reached by thought and not by memory. So, some quick thinking, assuming and making connections and I came up with a reasonable answer. And from then on I was paying attention, I was thinking and offering answers to questions and comments to statements. Learning was happening.

So kudos to the lecturer.

I have another lecturer who doesn’t bother with names, just randomly points at people when asking a question, putting you on the spot. Although with some thought and after a few experiments, the way to get out of his ‘random’ pointing came to us. I share this at the risk of other communication students reading it and using it, but to be honest, I doubt many of my peers follow my blog. In the first five to ten minutes out of the two hour lecture, remain keen: answer questions, put your hand up, ask questions and offer comments and opinions, and the lecturer will then ignore you for the rest of the lecture. What makes it more impressive, is that, when later, I felt inclined to answer another question, he told me “let’s let the others have a chance.” I didn’t complain. Please note, there is difficulty in paying attention and showing keenness in those first few minutes, especially if in this case, the lecture is at 8 in the morning.

But something surprising I must share with you, is that as a student, lectures are much more interesting and fun when I make the effort to pay attention and participate in the lecture. No, don’t laugh at me or scoff, it’s true. This of course does not mean that I will, from not on, be paying attention in all my lectures…

“That’s it for today, see you next week.”

Lecture’s over.

Out

What chord?!

bing tic tic tic bing tic tic tic bing tic tic tic bing tic tic tic

SHUT THAT FRAKKING METRONOME OFF!

As you can imagine, I'm sitting here at rehearsals.

It's quite an experience.

First of all, Joe's living room is littered with people slumped on practically every available flat surface, and what's not covered by human body is covered by bags wires laptops and other miscellaneous equipment.

I'm on a chair in the middle of the room, to my left there's is Mike, with his mac and youtube and the mixer, next to him the giant screen followed my Martina and Charlene falling asleep on an arm chair holding her guitar. Matt is standing tying to pass on a message about a song to the rest of us. Martha is on the next sofa leaning back and playing violin. On my right Kirsten, Kristie and Mykel take up another sofa as they 'sing' and Ian is next to them with his bass.

Behind me Joe and Vanessa are behind the Titanic and next to them, Luca and Paul on the drums. In one living room!

We've been here a while and our attention is diminishing. Tempers are not rising yet, thank God, but keep us here for another three hours and my bass will have to be confiscated by the police as a murder weapon.

It's not that anyone is annoying anyone else, it's just tiring.

Put any group of people, as close as they maybe, in a room, planning and practicing something for a number of hours and people will get on other peoples nerves.

Also, an adults attention span is, in optimum conditions, one hour, and let's face it, from the people mentioned above, I'd only classify maybe three of them as adults, the rest of us are just, well legally adults, mentally we're maybe 12.

I mean, both Joe and Matt have shouted at us. Joe more than once. We have it on camera too :) I think without the girls offering to make us tea or coffee once in a while, I'd have stormed out ages ago. Well maybe not stormed out, but argued for sure.

Oh! Glorious words! Mike just said "Ejja guys, we're not gonna bother with the metronome."

Another thing that's worrying me is that I have no idea if come lenten talks I'm going to be able to remember any of the songs we went over here. Don't get me wrong, the time spent here helped me immensely, learning different styles and methods and music dynamics is more clear to me now.

All in all I think rehearsing music with a bunch of talented people, all doing it for God is a wonderful and fun way to spend a Saturday morning and early afternoon. Having to do it under pressure makes it a bit stressful, but still a great experience. I would suggest we keep doing it, but I think Mrs. Angelique Maggi would look at me badly if I did. And then Joe might shout at me... Again!