Since a *sense of darkness has taken over the "Q+A" version this 45wpm, I thought I'd see what the flipside had to say...

WW interjected...
...Yesterday in music class I worked with some seven-year-olds in developing a warm tone quality and used many images of heat and light to help them move from a decidedly harsh, cold, brittle tone to a warm one that I wanted in the passage we'd been working on, not that a cold, brittle tone isn't a useful part of the auditory palate at times.

The use of words that describe visualizations as substitutes for *generalities, specifically at this age in the formation of the musical mind, seems to be "putting the cart before the horse". DubDub's choice isn't the worst example I've seen... but close.

Equating "warm sounds" with "light" seems to be a bit misleading. The words I use for this *polarization are "acute and grave'"... or when speaking to a *younger crowd "closed and open" seem to maintain a focus on the sounds. When the words "light and dark" are used to *explain this it opens up (IMHO) the *virgin mind to mixed metaphor corruptions (to say the least) and builds/reinforces a dependency on visualizations, and more unfortunately, trains the student on others' *versions (however accurate or not) of what these meanings represent.

However accrurate warmth=light and coldness=darkness may reflect the physical spectrum... they shouldn't have a place in *defining "open and closed", and certainly not "high and low", "harsh and smooth" or "strong and brittle".

... and all "this" just because the way I would understand the imagery is: an open or warm sound is much more *accurately described as dark..., but I often stand alone in certain *darknesses.

Remember that WW is trying to teach kids music, not English usage. If it works...

It worked. If I'm of the worst music teachers, so be it. I do my best, and, if best is worst, God love the best and let me study at your feet, Musick. I'd love to have you come teach a class or two to learn from what you would do. Sometimes harsh criticism is the best stimulus to improving.

Best regards,
WordWorst, or close

Wordwind, my friend, I can only hope that one day I may become as gracious as you are.

that means using descriptions for one of the senses to describe something that has to do with a different one. For example, to me, something made with fresh lemon juice always tastes light, and chili always tastes dark.

Sweet WordWind,

I did not mean for my post to be an *attack on your skills as a music teacher (I believe you have many more years than I of classroom time teaching music, and it is I that would be the beneficiary in our "meeting of the minds"), and I'm sorry that I had not the chance to agree with Faldage sooner, although aside from my point his comment was.

As Jackie so accurately reflected, my words were about words. Other than showing the difference in our two perspectives, I meant not to be harsh to you (and I'm surprised you understood it as having that intent). My words were clearly too cold, and I apologize.

My best of intentions often get lost through words and this is why music is my language of choice. You have given (and continue to have the opportunity to give) more to the *art of music than I may ever...

Respectfully,

Keven

Oh, this is much more like the Sweet Musick I know and love.