Do teachers out there talk to their students about what I call “glitches”? You know … the notes that appear between notes because students aren’t properly coordinating finger movements? I only ask because I’m sure hearing a lot of glitches from students I work with. I’m wondering if I’m overly picky. I know some students think I’m hounding them too much. But I find these glitches distracting, ugly, and very annoying.
Many students I get after they’ve already studied with someone else don’t hear them initially. It’s not because they aren’t there. It’s because they aren’t listening! Honestly!
I have students play scales, and after a scale I sometimes ask, “What did you hear?” I want to hear them point out their glitches if possible. I can’t tell you how many times I get a blank look. I then ask, “Were you even listening?” Would you believe they sometimes tell me they weren’t listening? Go figure!
Anyway, I do hope I’m not the only glitch grinch! I hate ’em. I will always hate ’em. So there.
So what do you do, dear students? Duh. Listen! See if you can hear a particular note between two notes. Say, for instance, you are playing B flat to B. If you hear an A first you are lifting your right index finger too quickly. If you hear a C, you are lifting your left middle finger too quickly. Sometimes it’s not quite so simple, but you can fix these glitches. Honestly!
