Learning "How"
What is "Learning"?
When you learn, you change your brain.
When you learn something quickly, your brain uses chemicals, and the learning is short-term and fragile.
Here today, gone tomorrow.
When you learn something thoroughly, your brain changes in structure, and the learning is longer-term and much less fragile.
Neurons that fire together, wire together.
So ringing is about rhythmic movement, sight and sound; all of these are built into the memory.
Why do some people learn more easily than others?
The brain structure is highly complex, and every brain is unique.
No two people have identical brains.
Some people are better at concentrating their mind than others.
Also some people have a better learning environment than others.
Two experienced ringers can bring one (young) learner on far faster than if the whole band is struggling at the same time.
The availability of a simulator is a significant aid to learning.
There was a time when you could not walk.
Eventually you stood up, took faltering steps, and learned how not to fall over.
Now, it's so automatic, you are not even aware of walking most of the time.
Bellringing is like that.
There was a time when I couldn't ring Plain Bob Minor.
Now I can.
However, the analogy with learning to walk is not enough, it only goes so far.
Bellringing has numerous dimensions, it's dynamic, it's diverse, it's a team sport.
Every bellringer has their own set of boundaries at which they are learning, and a team setting in which they are testing their new knowledge.
Essential attributes
A motivated learner will progress quickly if blessed with:
- An ability to concentrate their attention and listen carefully
- A keen sense of rhythm
- Logical thinking ability
Other attributes are advantageous, such as team working, sense of humour, strong memory, persistence, etc.
Eyesight is an advantage, but lack of eyesight does not stop a person from learning to ring handbells.
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