MUSIC IS LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE (Part 1)

Four years ago, my husband expressed an interest in doing a jigsaw puzzle with me. It is the perfect activity to keep the aging brain healthy. Even though I had limited experience with putting puzzles together, I eagerly agreed. The first puzzle was so complex. It took several weeks to complete, but in the end, I was hooked! My husband and I end most days by working together on the newest picture.

With every puzzle, there is a point where I ask, "Why do we do this to ourselves?" I have realized that putting together a puzzle is exactly like learning to play a new song, which is why I love it so much!

In my teaching, a student will frequently ask me why a song they are practicing doesn't sound like music, and out comes the puzzle illustration!

In starting a new puzzle, we see the pretty picture on the box, pour out the pieces, and it is just a big mess.
(With music, we know what the song sounds like, but it doesn't sound like it at all when we try!)

Slowly, we have to put the pieces together. Sometimes two pieces look like they go together, but then find out that they don’t.
(Sometimes, when we put notes together, it is just ugly!)


Check back on November 15th for the conclusion of our story in Part 2!