I've discovered that our German Shepherd, Schultz, has a new talent. This discovery was made last night, as I was teaching a violin student.
Normally, I banish the dog from the area when I teach in my house, so he doesn't disturb the lesson. But Schultz seemed rather laid back, and I didn't think he was going to cause too much trouble. He parked himself in a spot, not far from where the student and I were, and lay down. I let him stay.
The student began playing, and hit a wrong note. I saw Schultz's ear twitch when he heard it. I didn't think much of it, until the student played another wrong note. Schultz's ear twitched, again. Hmmm, I thought, this dog notices out-of-tune notes and reacts to them. The lesson continued. As long as the student played in tune, Schultz's ear didn't move. But every time a wrong note was played, the ear twitched.
I think I have a new assistant! If I ever go deaf, I can rely on my hearing-ear dog. Now he just needs to tell me if the student is playing sharp or flat!
A musical dog! How wonderful. Though it is a good thing he doesn't sing. :)
ReplyDeleteBut he howls! He likes to accompany sirens.
DeleteIf they hit a whole bunch of bad notes, maybe he will howl along?
ReplyDeleteI think he'd leave the room! ;)
DeleteHow cute. Sounds like Schultz definitely has an ear for music.
ReplyDeleteYes, he does. He always sits at my feet while I practice. (And his ears do not twitch!)
DeleteI've seen a video at Facebook today in which a lady plays violin to a happy donkey and he sings to it!
ReplyDeleteI've seen that, too!
DeleteHi, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to think that Schultz is a wonder dog! It is incredible that he reacts to sour notes played on the violin. He must be so used to your violin virtuosity that his ears accept nothing less than perfection. :)
I can see a bright future ahead for Schultz as a companion animal for our tone-deaf political leaders. :)
Thanks, dear friend Sherry!
Haha! Schultz is a remarkably intelligent animal. He never ceases to amaze me.
DeleteSmart doggy! It makes sense the dog would know when something was out of tune. Dogs have very good hearing.
ReplyDeleteYes. And he's been surrounded by music since he was a puppy. He knows what sounds right and what doesn't.
DeleteSchultze wants you to know how smart he is so he can survive the days when he's naughty.
ReplyDeleteThese are the kind of things that make up for the days he has me pulling my hair out!
DeleteSchultz is a smart dog! Maybe you can train him- left ear twitch is for sharp and right is for flat. :)
ReplyDeleteDid the student notice?
~Jess
That's a great idea! No, I don't believe the student noticed.
Deletehaha maybe he'll bark and show them how to be in tune
ReplyDeleteIf he could bark or howl on pitch, that would be most impressive!
DeleteLOL... too cute, Schultz is a very smart dog xox
ReplyDeleteHe certainly is!
DeleteI'm not surprised at all. German Shepherds are known to have perfect pitch.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I didn't know that. Schultz seems to have that trait.
DeleteMaybe he'll have to learn to twitch one ear for sharp and the other for flat.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try to teach him that.
DeleteThat is hilarious! I think that you may have a YouTube star on your hands if you were to catch it on film. :)
ReplyDeleteIf I had a camera in my hand every time the dog did something amazing like that, I'd have a lot of videos, and probably a lot of YouTube channel followers!
DeleteHe must have inherited it from is mama!
ReplyDeleteHaha. Yes. That's it!
DeleteGreat story Sherry, I recall my dog when I was playing the piano would howl......so much for my piano playing.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
That's funny! Schultz does not howl when I play, but he does howl when he hears sirens.
DeleteNow that is a fabulous assistant! I'll be Shultz would be in great demand in music classes everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI should send him to Julliard. Maybe he can earn a lot of money! ;)
DeleteAwesome. But let's hope you never go deaf, because that would be seriously depressing. (Says the vocalist who has that #1 fear.)
ReplyDeleteNo kidding! It's something I worry about, because of the amount of exposure I have to playing in concert halls with loud music, and having the instrument under my ear so much.
DeleteI can hardly wait until my pop star hires him and promotes him to being my boss.
ReplyDeleteHaha! If your pop star wants to interview Mr. Schultz, let me know!
DeleteHow wonderful. It must be fun watching him...I wonder if you play and try a wrong note, what will he do?
ReplyDeleteHe'd look at me in disbelief!
DeleteAw, what an adorable talent! My dog has very expressive ears, but I don't play any instruments, so I have no idea if she'd notice out-of-tune notes like Schultz... XD
ReplyDeleteShe might! If you want to test that, you can send her over to my pad. ;)
DeleteAs I'm tone deaf myself I'm so envious of Shultz being able to recognise a dud note. He's one clever doggie.
ReplyDeletemy wife does that every time I hit a wrong note. but with a little more zest.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see her twitch her ears! Must be a good trick!
DeleteWe are still in shock over the outcome of the Super Bowl. We thought your Falcons had it in the bag. Please believe that we are feeling for you. I would be beyond distraught if that had of happened to my Cowboys.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe it. We just sat there in silence as the game went into overtime and the Patriots scored their winning touchdown. So disappointing!
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