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Walter & Group...
[GH] We began this series on learning modes by pointing out the various ways in which we (and our students) can learn fly casting. We then explored and discussed with nine Group messages, learning by FEEL, alone and in combination with other senses and modalities.
Now, let's turn to the various ways in which learning can be facilitated by another sense.... that of HEARING.
Let me lead with a brief story taken from experiences over the more than 70 years of my own learning of fly casting, teaching, and fishing.
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Pop Hill was at one and the same time my father, mentor, teacher and fishing companion. I recall his teaching me as a youngster to cast smoothly.... starting with little "oomph", building casting speed and ending with a stop.
He had a way of whistling which was recognized by family and friends as his unique "signature". Pop would use it to call me and my brothers or to announce his whereabouts whenever necessary. It was a piercing, four tone, somewhat tremulous, high pitched sound I'll never forget. We could hear it over the sand dunes of our Long Island beaches for great distances. It was louder than a London Bobby's whistle!
To help correct my poor childhood casting technique (burst of power right from the start) he used his whistle effectively. First, he mimicked my cast with a whistle which started with an explosive, high pitched sound followed by a descending pitch which slowly faded with no discernible end. Then he mimicked, by sound, what he wanted me to do with my next cast. This second whistle started with a low pitch which steadily and quickly mounted to an ever higher pitch ending with a crisp stop which left my ears ringing !
To this day, I use this simple technique to teach a smoothly accelerated hand/rod movement ending with a rapid stop sequence. Even more effective if the student listens with eyes closed and no rod in hand. I'll never be able to do it as dramatically as Pop did, but it works for my teaching anyway.
Three days ago, I used it to help smooth out my 11 year old grandson's cast.
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I have three other stories to tell. One while trout fishing with Molly Semenik, Another taught to me by Tom White, and a third about my own accidental hearing loss. I'll hold these for the nonce, however, to give some of you a chance to come in with your stories, anecdotes and teaching scenarios involving the use of HEARING from your own experiences in our fly fishing World.
Gordy
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