The Dominance Factor, How Knowing your Dominant Eye, Ear, Brain, Hand & Foot Can Improve your Learning Carla Hannaford, Ph.D Great Ocean Publishers, Arlington, Va., 1997, ISBN 0 - 915556 - 31 - 6 This is a very useful volume for adult learners and teachers. The information here elaborates on what we find in Tomatis texts, and indeed, the author mentions Don Campbell, who studied with Dr. Tomatis. In assessing learning difficulties in kids. The teacher is called upon to put this information into play. Every possible combination of analytic (Beethoven) thinker, who takes to algebra, or wholistic (Mozart, Donizetti, etc.) creator, who would find geometry a snap, is described separately. The wholistic thinker thinks better on his feet, and attaches to things through his emotions. He is intuitive and generally see the final product before going into detail. This student May not fare very well in school. Since the type is drawn towards the arts, this is the person teachers encounter - dreamy-eyed, Looks as if he is not paying attention, etc. While as adults we have already learned to fill in the blanks that are part of our basic equipment as children, we can all use the information in this book. For example, my type needs to practice activities with the left hand, so I started brushing my teeth with my left hand - it's something I do every day, so it is not hard to remember. It also suggests drawing with my non-dominant hand, and knitting with my non-dominant hand. It explains why I prefer the left, front seat at a lecture or in school, why I am a klutz at sports involving connecting with a ball, and many other things. Curious yet? I hope so. There are also specific activities from Brain Gym, a book that gives physical activites, simple and effective, for filling in our natural gaps. There is one other suggestion, the use of a fine program called Brain Builder, available for download from Advanced Brain Technologies. It makes you go through rhythmic patterns and repeat them. They become increasingly challenging, and so they have a good effect on focus and memory, and for us, they serve additionally as rhythmic drills, so you are killing several birds with one stone. I got this book on Amazon, where you can also find Brain Gym. Brain Builder is downloadable from ABT. Tell them I sent you if you need to put in a name. You teachers and singers, this very easy stuff could change your life, and your understanding of friends and colleagues. It has come to my attention that there is a whole other level of understanding aobut these issue now. In fact some people working with children find that ixed dominance is a sign of an incomplete switch to adult reflexes. But that is for another time. This information will serve you well for now. RP 5/9/06 Back to Top