How do you remember names?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205919)
Walnut Creek, California
November 19, 2023 9:44am CST
I have about 25 guitar and piano students now. I print out a schedule, so I can remember everyone's name when they come for a lesson.
But one newer student's account is in his mother's name. He is a piano student, and he has some natural talent. He sings along when he plays, like Keith Jarrett and Glen Gould. But he sings in key. He is about nine.
For his first two or three lessons, I couldn't remember his name. I knew it was "unusual" and "cute." So when his father called him "Benji" a couple of lessons ago, I secretly thought "Disney Dog." and then "Benji Molina, professional baseball catcher."
It worked! Now I say "Hey, Benji! What do you want to work on today?" when he comes for a lesson.
Psychologists call what I used "mnemonics": memory devices to help you remember stuff. "Every Good Boy Does Fine" is a mnemonic for the lines on the treble staff.
I will post my "naughty" mnemonic for the cranial nerves on Craig from Iowa's After Hours platform.
How do you remember names?
17 people like this
19 responses
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
19 Nov
I usually don't try to remember names... If I remember them, that's fine. If I don't remember a person's name, I call them "sir" or "ma'am". Or don't call them anything.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
19 Nov
@TheHorse Sometimes people don't get what they like.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205919)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Nov
@DaddyEvil Brilliant statement? Or obviosity? Heh. Isn't it almost your bed time? The sun is in my eyes right now (it is rising to the Southeast).
2 people like this
@much2say (53954)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Nov
I'm actually good with names - I don't know how, I just remember. All my life I have appreciated those who remembered my name (and most people don't because it is not a typical name). So I guess I've sort of made it a mission to connect a person to their names right away - they are often shocked I can recall it next time around.
2 people like this
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@FourWalls (62205)
• United States
19 Nov
How do I remember names? To paraphrase Tom Lehrer, “Poorly, poorly, po-or, L-Y.”
2 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
20 Nov
With some it takes time but eventually, I get there.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15741)
• Raurkela, India
20 Nov
I used to remember names when I was a teacher years ago but I think I can't remember now.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129495)
• Israel
20 Nov
@TheHorse
That was a good idea how you could remember his name after his father said it. I used to work at a place and I never met the people but by their voices I could remember their names and called them by name and they were very impressed. Now I am lucky I remember my name and my cat's name.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156421)
• United States
20 Nov
Sometimes I don't have any problem remembering names. Sometimes I use a common word to remember a name. Like "hey!!" for Hayden. Hope you have a great day.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
20 Nov
Well John, wouldn't you like to know? I mean, you have to remember I was in sales, Matt, and as such I had to remember all sorts of people. Steve, it was really simple. Just pick a detail, you see, Eric, like a crooked eye or a square nose, and then associate that detail with a name. Presto. Voila! And just like that, Shawn, you can see how easy it is to remember a name.
Nice chatting with you again, Mike, it's been real.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73506)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Nov
When I instructed people in English in Latvia at a couple of institutions for the first week I had the adult students put on name tags after it got routine. It was a lot easier when I had people come to my house for lessons privately,
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
19 Nov
I am terrible for remembering names, but I remember faces. Sometimes I can't remember why I remember the face, even though I recognize it. I have seen Costco cashiers in line while out getting pizza and have excitedly waved to them, knowing I recognized them from somewhere, only to get confused waves back because I don't actually know the person well at all.
