<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> I’ve had more close calls tuning the radio than talking on my cell phone. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Speaking of multi-tasking, one of my favorite things to do while driving to appointments is to memorize inspirational prose. I’d highly recommend it. I’ve been able to memorize an astounding amount over the years. Here’s a couple of pointers:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Pick out your poem or passage (obviously). If it’s too long, or break it down into 3-4 paragraph equivalent sections. Print it out on a 3x5 card (computer printer is best) and carry it around with you in your shirt pocket. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Only do one or two sentences at a time. Just do a little bite sized piece every day and then review what you’ve already memorized<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Start at the end of what you are going to memorize and work backwards to the beginning. In other words, memorize the last sentence first, then the next day memorize the next to last sentence, etc<o:p></o:p> .<o:p></o:p> Read the whole thing out loud to yourself every day. When you get to the where you already have it memorized, then recite from there by memory to the end. This way when you are ready to work on the next sentence, you’ve already heard it several times and it is familiar to you. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Starting at the end and working backwards puts what you are currently working on on the top (instead of the bottom) so that it gets the most amount of repetitions. You don’t always have the time to recite all the way to the end, or sometimes you get interrupted. If that happens and what you are working on is on the bottom it does not get reviewed. This is why memorizing from the end to the top really works. The key to memorizing is repetition and review so try to work on it every day. Doing it only once a week is a recipe for failure. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> So what I do is start my new sentence when I am showering in the morning. If I get stuck on a word, I stick my head out the door and look at the card laying on the shelf. Then when I am in the car driving I try to repeat my new sentence. If I get stuck I’ll pull out the card, glance down to get the word I need (not in heavy traffic), and go on. After repeating my new sentence I’ll go on to recite the rest of what I have committed to memory. I try to repeat the process several times a day- in the car, standing in the checkout line, waiting for someone to answer a phone, any time that is “dead” time. Just bring the thoughts to focus and try to recite what you are working on. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> If the next day you still don’t have it the previous day’s sentence down you don’t have to move on, spend an extra day on it. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I’ll also use the drive time to recite other things that I’ve previously memorized to keep them reviewed. It is great mental stimulation and actually helps keep me from nodding off while driving. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> <u1:PersonName u2:st="on">Dean May</u1:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:City u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City></u1:City> <u1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">IN</u1:State></st1:State>  <u1:PostalCode u2:st="on"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</u1:PostalCode></st1:PostalCode></st1:place></u1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My mind does not go "elswhere", I multitask just as I do when I tune, I can tune and still plan my evening, observe and evaluate the function of the piano, listen to the conversation from the next room, write an estimate in my head and still do an excellent  tuning. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> My eyes never leave the road, my hands never leave the wheel just as they don't when I talk to a passenger. As I said I'm a professional driver my "audience" is right next to me and can hear me just fine, I don't have that "need" to see the reaction to what I'm saying so my eyes stay on the road whether I'm on the phone or talking to a passenger.  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> I would have to question those studies and ask if they included any piano techs. I have trained myself to concentrate on what I'm doing to the point that I can do a concert tuning with a migraine headache, the pain stops while I tune and only returns when I stop! A few years ago I had an inner ear virus that made me feel as if I were going to faint, the area in front of me began to spin but then came back to center, started again to spin and came back to center. When I explained this to my Doc she was flummoxed until I explained about my concentration powers and the migraine thing then she was impressed that I was controlling the dizziness and not allowing it to make me feel faint. Recently I had some bouts of vertigo but learned to control it and again surprised the doctor when I told him how. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> So when I concentrate on the road and talk at the same time, there really is no danger to others or myself, I won't allow it!<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Mike -- People who say it can't be done, should not interrupt those of us who are doing it. Michael Magness Magness Piano Service 608-786-4404 <a href="http://www.IFixPianos.com">www.IFixPianos.com</a> email <a href="mailto:mike@ifixpianos.com">mike@ifixpianos.com</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>