Kids say the Darnedest Things About Musical Terms (and Furniture)

A middle schooler was self-critiquing a run-through of the All-Region music, and noted that she missed a dynamic change...

KID: I need to do more diminuendo! Some people call it a decrescendo, but I prefer diminuendo.
ME: Eh--they're the same thing... like sofa and couch.
KID: No, it's only couch for me! Sofa reminds me of...a potato.
ME: What?
KID: Yes, a potato.

(I later realized that it should have been "couch" that reminded her of a potato. She acknowledged that phrase, but still said that it was "sofa" that triggered the association.)

Kids Say the Darnedst Things About Sightreading

With a student having missed several key signature notes in the first few measures of reading a piece for the first time, I felt the need to restate the importance of checking the key before doing anything else...

ME: What's the first rule of sightreading?
KID: You don't talk about sightreading?
ME: No, that would be Fight Club.

Kids Say the Darnedest Things During the Morning Announcements

The daily ritual at one school started out with this gem: "I pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag...oh, sorry."