It’s been said many times, throughout the ages, thatstarting a project with a positive attitude can help the outcome be successful.This is no different in the world of academics. 

This past Wednesday, in my aural theory classes, I askedeach student if they loved doing their homework that was due that day. (Theirhomework was to practice hearing and identifying major and minor intervals for15 minutes twice.) I heard many responses along the line of  “I hated it with a passion!” and “Ihated it until I did well” to  “Ididn’t love it but I liked it!” and “I’m gonna love it when I can get more than a 50%!”

I can understand that some people have a difficult timehearing and identifying intervals. It does get frustrating when all you see is“WRONG” every time you give an answer. But I believe that with time andpractice it gets easier. If you let your attitude get negative towards hearingintervals (or any other subject) you will stop really listening or trying andwill end up placing judgment on the subject and yourself (Thus the “I hated itwith a passion”).  It would be morepositive and encouraging to say “Better 50% than 0%! ” That way you don’t letyourself shut down before you’ve really started.

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 "You attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude" ` Zig Ziglar