Klarinet Archive - Posting 000095.txt from 2008/09

From: "Keith" <bowenk@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Warm Air / Cold Air
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:58:57 -0400

Yes. The problem with monkey physics is that if anyone knows any real =
physics, it comes across as if the teacher is talking b/s. It's only any =
use to a non scientist, and I have problems with people using bad =
science to support an argument. It discredits the teacher and derides =
real science.

I have no problem with people using any metaphor they like if it gets =
good ideas across to the student. The art of teaching is largely in =
using the right metaphor for the student. As long as they recognize that =
it is a metaphor.

And yes, I have decent scientific qualifications and hold professorships =
in both science and engineering.

Keith Bowen

-----Original Message-----
From: klarinet-return-94090-bowenk=3Dcompuserve.com@-----.org =
[mailto:klarinet-return-94090-bowenk=3Dcompuserve.com@-----.org] On =
Behalf Of Joseph Wakeling
Sent: 23 September 2008 19:17
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] Re: Warm Air / Cold Air

=20
Peter Gentry wrote:
> The scientific explanation is that as air expands it cools, the =
greater the
> expansion the greater the cooling. However in the clarinet context I =
would
> be surprised if this effect is large or controllable. In any event the
> airflow will interact with the body of the instrument. So if there is =
an
> effect it is probably marginal and undetectable to most human ears.

Well, the point I was trying to get at was that real scientific
explanation probably doesn't have a lot to do with all this. There's a
'monkey physics' phenomenon which can be used to get across to a student
some differences in blowing which translate well into getting different
musical results.

It's helpful to know the difference between the real physics and the
monkey physics, but if the monkey physics can get you somewhere useful,
and you are not telling anyone it's anything other than monkey physics,
is it necessarily a problem?

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