Speed building
Joe Kinaim
When I turned 16, my father took me aside and said, "Joe, you're becoming a man. It's time you learned to drive. Here are the keys to the family car. It takes time to learn to drive. Some people take longer than others. Some learn to shift, but they ride the pedal. Some shift great, but they don't use turn signals. Some use turn signals and shift great, but drive too fast."
Like I cared. I was 16. I was about to go big time. Maybe others had trouble driving. Not me. I don't fail. I'd get it." That was what I was thinking as he spoke to me. I didn't have time for all the little stuff. I had the keys, and I was ready to roll. Ah, but the old fart wasn't done yet.
"Geez, what more could he say.? You know, he's been driving for years. You would think he would just give me the keys and get out of the way. Come on, I already know that stuff. " And still he went on.
"Take my advice, Joe. Learn all about driving. It's more than just a couple of pedals and a steering wheel. For instance, you know where the radio is, don't you?"
"Yes," I nodded dutifully.
"That's because you have an interest in the music. But where is the jack? When you need the jack, you won't be congratulating yourself about your expertise with the radio, will you? You'll just want a jack."
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I thought to myself. "You're right, Dad," I said. "I'll make sure to read the manual and stuff like that."
That's when Dad, dear sweet ol' Dad, spoke those words that I longed to hear. With a tear of pride and a slightly quavering voice, he leaned forward and said, "Whatever you do, please, please, promise me that you will always drive as fast as you possibly can."
"Drive like a bat out of hell, boy. Never slow down. Put the pedal to the metal and let it roar. Sixty-five is just a suggestion. Don't do anything that doesn't involve squealing tires. Be the first one to reach every stop light or the last one through."
Well, I took that advice and pondered over it. Then I went right out and followed it. Of course, I died within the first five minutes. Dad's advice really sucked. It was kind of dumb, wasn't it? Notwithstanding the legal ramifications, here I am just starting out, and he wants me to drive like a pro. I haven't learned to drive slow yet, and he's advising me to go as fast as the most seasoned driver.
Well, that's not right. If I was learning piano, the teacher wouldn't assign Mozart. She would assign scales, which are repetitive practice movements of the most needed fingering patterns. The basics. If I was six and learning baseball, T-ball would be my first experience. The ball would not be pitched. Instead it would rest on a "Tee." This allows the young players to concentrate on swinging the bat correctly. The basics.
So is there a skill where the beginner is told to perform like the professional? Cooking? Nah, too rare a medium to be well done. Guitar? Uh-uh, too fretful. Mathematics? Nope, wouldn't add up.. Brain surgery? Well, let's hope not. Seriously, what beginner's class for any profession, art, skill, or trade focuses on the hardest and most skill-intensive aspects of their particular subject? None.
You learn your ABCs before you learn to spell. You learn to spell words before you learn to write words. You learn to write words before you learn to write sentences. Sentences before paragraphs. Paragraphs before stories. Stories before books. It's a progression.
But I know a profession that asks their beginning students to perform like the pros. I know a profession that almost universally teaches that the best way to learn the skill is to practice the complicated steps before mastering the basics. I know a profession that teaches the basics for a few months, but seems to rapidly jump to concentrating only on the techniques of the top practitioner.
Stenography.
And it ain't right. If you can't correctly transcribe 95 percent of everything that you stroke, you are wrong. Not 95 percent of what is dictated; 95 percent of what you stroke. That gives you room to write sloppy when you turn on the speed. Working reporters must transcribe 100 percent of what they write, but they also can slow down the witnesses. You can't. You are in a class above your abilities. That's why you are there. You are there to learn.
Master your keyboard. Write clear strokes. Study your theory book. Write relaxed and with rhythm. When you have done these things, you will have speed you crave. And you will have it without struggling.
