The Intelligences of fregginn00bs
In 1993, in his book Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice, Howard Gardner puts forth the idea that intelligence is not just the repetition of knowledge, but that “an intelligence entails the ability to solve problems or fashion products that are of consequence in a particular cultural setting or community” (Gardner 521). According to Gardner, there are seven main intelligences, those being musical, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, linguistic, spacial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal intelligences. A person may excel in one or two of these intelligences, or, one may not be proficient in one of them, but instead, use all of them equally well, thereby making a well-rounded individual. The argument can also be made that some of the intelligences could be used to enhance some of the others. Logical-Mathematical intelligence could be used to enhance musical intelligence, due to the fact that music is an aural presentation of math, and logical-mathematical intelligence may also be used to one’s advantage with respect to the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. Any game or sport is laced with intricate combinations of physics and geometry that requires split-second calculations that could make or break a game. One could also make the argument that the linguistic and interpersonal intelligences may also be used in musical intelligence, especially if there are lyrics involved in the composition. A well-composed song will make the listener feel what the composer was feeling when they wrote the song. This can be love, confusion, anxiety, loneliness, hatred, anger, despair, or happiness, or, a song can be used to influence or inspire a chain of events.
Music plays a large part in my life, I would not be alive today were it not for the fact that music exists. Many different musicians have helped me through the years, and because of that, I have taken up many instruments. In elementary school, I remember being rather talented on the xylophone, and especially on the recorder. I was third chair in the school’s recorder “band” every time I picked up a recorder, all of my cares dissipated and I just played, and I would play wonderful music that would reflect how I was feeling that day, although, with a recorder it is rather hard to convey feelings of anger. Unfortunately, I never wrote down what I was playing, so, I do not have any of those compositions today. In middle school, I joined the band, and I started playing the trombone. In sixth grade, I was one of the better beginning trombonists, and in seventh grade I was first chair in second band, and I went to a week-long camp to better my trombone playing skills. That was when I started slipping. So, I dropped the trombone, and I picked up bag piping, which is similar to playing the recorder, but, my reed broke and I am unable to get another one. Then, about a year ago, when I had almost given up playing music, I discovered my aunt’s guitar in my closet, and I decided that I was going to learn to play the guitar. It is the perfect instrument for me to convey emotions with. Although, I have not had much time to actually learn anything with working on my Eagle Scout Project last year, working over the summer, and now being in college and working, so, I have made that a secondary goal. But, everything changed when my friends and I decided to start a band with me doing vocals.
Willingly using my linguistic skills has never been my forte, but, if I must, I will use them to the full extent of my abilities. I have had many compliments from old teachers on how well I write and speak. In eighth grade, I had to write a short story about a superhero that we made up for my G/T English class. Unfortunately, I waited until the last minute to do it, I actually wrote it during the lunch break we had during fourth period. I turned it in at the end of the lunch break, and Mr. Seay read my story immediately upon my turning it in. He kept me after class and told me that he was amazed at how well I was able to formulate well flowing sentences, use proper grammar and punctuation, and convey a clear message, despite my almost illegible hand writing, as well as to tell me that he was so impressed with my work that he would not take off the ten points for turning it in late. In my junior year of high school, we were supposed to write about a significant event in our life that changed us forever. I elected to write about the time I was in a rock fight with my neighbors when I was five years old. Despite the fact that I had failed to read the instructions as to how I was to format the paper, I got the paper back with a grade of 87. I later found out that I had earned the highest grade in the class for that assignment, and I did not believe that I had done a good job on that paper. I have also received many kudos on my Eagle Project write up, as well as my senior year English final exam essay. All of my teachers, past and at the time, present, could not believe how well I was able to write, and were questioning me as to why I never wrote like that for them. My sophomore English teacher remarked that I “had nice, flowing sentences with great structure, despite the occasional deviation from the topic, and that it all flowed together very coherently.” I have also been commented on many an occasion on my oratory skills, whether it be to sell a product to someone, giving grace at a family function, arguing my position, or instructing others. I have discovered that having good linguistic skills is a necessity as of late, with being a vocalist and all. Being a musician requires many intelligences, those being musical, linguistic, mathematical, intrapersonal, and interpersonal.
In my opinion, the interpersonal and linguistic intelligences go hand-in-hand with each other. Interpersonal skills require good linguistic skills so that one may convey their message clearly and effectively. I work well in teams, I am very affable, I am also very congenial, and I work amazingly well with children. I have served as a mediator for my friends on many occasions, and resolved many conflicts peacefully. The key to doing that is listening, if you do not listen, you cannot lead, and if you cannot lead effectively, you lose your audience. I have found that out many times during class speeches and on stage. We started playing Extol and Demon Hunter at one of our shows, and we were supposed to play worship songs, because we are a Christian band, and, well, let me tell you, there is nothing like being booed off of a church stage.
I could give example after example of how I am proficient in each of these intelligences, but, it is much easier to tell you that I am an adept user of each of these intelligences. The implications that this has for me are that I can excel at anything I put my mind to. I have actually taken all of these things into consideration, and have decided that I should use my abilities to their full potential, and choose teaching as my life’s work. I get to use my linguistic skills, my interpersonal skills, and my logical skills all to great advantage.
While I am able to claim proficiency in each of these intelligences, there are times at which they fail me, and I must struggle to put my oratory skill to work for me. Personally, I am very glad that Gardner wrote this theory of multiple intelligences, because over the course of reading the excerpt, and writing this essay, I have discovered quite a bit of information about myself. Having read the start of the previous sentence, one could come to the conclusion that I agree with Gardner’s statement that an intelligence is not just the repetition of knowledge, but rather that “an intelligence entails the ability to solve problems or fashion products that are of consequence in a particular cultural setting or community.”
Works Cited:
Gardner, Howard. “A Rounded Version: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.” A World of Ideas. Seventh Edition. Lee A. Jacobus. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. 521.
Grade Earned: 88
your thoughts?
stupidbfabout2bmyex Community Member 
|
|
