December 05 2011
Notes & Letters & Numbers
When JD isn’t throwing in her tuppence at our weekly Storms, or Word of the Week, she’s bravely attempting to instruct Gen-Z on how to play the piano. As she writes,
Came across an interesting little mnemonic to use with my piano students to help them remember the order of sharps. “Father Charles goes down and ends battle.” To remember the flats, which are in the reverse order it becomes: “Battle ends and down goes Charles' father.”
Joyce goes on to say, I thought it may be an interesting exercise a) to name this type of example, and b) to come up with new ones. And this tin-eared blog host agrees. What’s a good name for a reversible mnemonic? (And please don’t say cinomenm!) Is this the only living example? And does anyone have the adequate precocity to make another sentence with such reciprocity – mnemonic or not?
And lastly, as a bit of mirth to supply that needed energy boost, enjoy the recently viralised bloopers tape for Letters & Numbers. Also available in transistor version, they tell me.
Comments
RK — 05 December at 06:55PM
For the order of sharps, I was taught 'Father can go dancing anytime except birthdays' which sadly, is not reversible. I much prefer JD's version.
RobT — 05 December at 09:58PM
I love the bloopers tape. 'Home time' indeed.
Geoff Bailey — 06 December at 02:42AM
Hee! Thanks for that link, David -- some fine moments of amusement there. And we got to see part of my downgrading from fabulous to great to good. :)
Not sure what a good term for the reversible mnemonic would be -- it's fairly rare that there's a reason to reverse one, after all -- but it did remind me of this Sammy J song.
(I am mildly amused by the "word palindrome" of "Women understand men; few men understand women", but that doesn't match the requested theme either.)
RobT — 06 December at 06:51AM
I think the example of mnemonic that DA uses here is an acrostic. Mnemonic is any tool used for memory assistance.
I suggest a useful term could be "reverstic"!
RobT — 06 December at 06:51AM
I think the example of mnemonic that DA uses here is an acrostic. Mnemonic is any tool used for memory assistance.
I suggest a useful term could be "reverstic"!
One Wheel — 06 December at 09:28AM
The one I always use is: Father Christmas gave Dad an electric blanket.
DK — 06 December at 10:44AM
JD is very self effacing. She is a wonderful piano teacher and her students love her. The end of year concert was a sight to behold complete with the students playing solo's, duets and dancing minuets.
Em — 06 December at 01:29PM
Thanks for the link! Hilarious stuff. Hooray for equi plap!
I'd never heard of a mnemonic for the sharps and flats, so thanks for sharing, JD.