The music teacher, Mr Smith (for it was he...) would sit at the piano in the Great Hall, with the class of boys on the benches before him. He would play one note on the piano, and ask, sternly : 'What note was that..?'. Every boy put up his hand (myself included...), hoping not to be picked. 'G..?' says, timidly, the designated victim. 'Wrong..!' Another note; another victim : 'A..?' Wrong..! Each time, all hands would be raised; nobody had any idea of what note had been played. Another note... My hand goes up, as usual; I'm chosen. 'D...' I reply (I have no idea what note was played...). 'Correct'. Another note, another victim. Some minutes later, my hand goes up again, as always; I'm pointed at. 'What note was that..?'. 'Middle C...' I reply. 'Correct.'
I put my hand up each and every time for all the lessons of the sort, but was never again picked. Had I known what the note was..? No, of course not..! What did I learn from our music lessons..? If one is confident in one's approach, and lucky enough to be right first (and second...) time, one's reputation is established for ever, with no requirement to further prove one's abilities. This, which I call my 'Middle C' principle, has served me in good stead in many applications throughout my life and career, and all thanks to Mr 'Goatee' Smith, our music teacher.