Greetings,
I have received several questions and comments regarding visual charts of dots and dashes for learning morse code.
My recommendation is: Please do NOT use them.
Let me explain why:
A
visual chart adds an extra step in your mental process and slows you
down. It becomes a bad habit that you will eventually be forced to
break if you want to advance in the future and increase your code speed.
If you hear a series of morse code beeps, and then:
- "visualize" what you just heard in your head
- then imagine where on the visual chart that visualization of a series of beeps lands
- then figure out which character that represents on the visual chart
- then write down the character
That
complicates what needs to be a simple streamlined process. It also adds
more steps where mistakes can be made. More stress and frustration are
forced into to what should be a fun and relaxing experience.
For
the LearnMorseKC course, we will streamline the mental process of morse
code. We will eliminate unnecessary steps as much as possible.
Each character will be taught as a rhythm. Very much like a musical rhythm in your favorite dance song.
Individual Dots and Dashes should never be counted, nor should they ever be visualized.
Just
create a direct and immediate mental association of the rhythm of the
code with the character being written on the page. It will take a
little time and practice repetitions for each student's human brain to
make the rhythmic association. Neural connections in the brain must be
formed to make the habit lasting. That won't happen overnight, but it
will occur if the student is persistent at practicing correctly.
After
a few weeks of using correct technique, a magical feeling will begin to
wash over the student. Characters will begin to flow. The student
will find themselves thinking less and simply reacting out of habit. At
that point the great joy of copying morse code begins to SHINE!
Getting
to that seemingly magical point will take some work. It takes a lot
of repetitions, but it's worth it. Once someone experiences that
feeling for the first time, they will wonder why they ever struggled in
the first place. It all becomes so simple and easy. Your mind will be
thinking about the ideas that the other person is sending via morse code
instead of your mind being rigidly focused on translating characters.
I
can teach each student in the morse code course how to experience that
feeling. It's up to each individual to trust the process, put in the
practice using the correct methods even when struggling.
Everyone
struggles at some point. Don't let that frustrate you. Trust
yourself. Trust the process. Give your brain the time and practice
repetitions it needs to build the habitual reactions to the rhythms of
the code.
Those who trust the process and keep practicing correctly, even when struggling, will succeed.
The
wonderful part of LearnMorseKC is that nobody taking the course will be
alone. With so many people enrolled, there will be a large number of
other students to practice with between classes. Those other students
will become more than practice partners, but will become your friends.
You and your friends will be struggling together. Helping each other.
Cheering each other on. Even the process of struggling can be a fun
experience when shared with others.
Doesn't that sound better than pounding your eardrums with a relentless morse code program or recording?
That's a primary reason LearnMorseKC was created.
Please skip the visual morse code charts.
Trust the process we are all going to experience together.
Listen to and feel the rhythm of the code.
Never count dots and dashes.
Recognize that struggles are part of the process.
Expect it to take time to form new habits.
See the process all the way through, even when you struggle.
Practice with new friends, share the experience, cheer each other on, and the struggles will pass more easily.
You'll be glad you did.
Mark,
NRØR
