Many music students know all about clock watching….
plugging away at practice while the minutes grind slowly by.
A Paengaroa-based music teacher has invented a clock that doesn’t do away with the need for practice but one, she says will save students time in mastering musical theory. 
Cindy Jane Hill-Rennie’s Key-Cycle-Clock allows beginners to find the right notes, changing from key to key with the turn of a dial. 
She shares the credit for the development of the idea with the late Bill Hoffmeister, a former teacher and nationally recognised jazz pianist.
The Key-Cycle-Clock was developed from a manuscript he wrote as a teachers’ aid.  Cindy was among the musicians who knew of his work and recognised it’s worth.

It’s all in the timing

(by Tom Scott)

TePuke Times News
30 April 2003

Often, she says, musicians take their music-making for granted and are at a loss to explain just how it happens.
Her clock gives an immediate picture of the relationship between notes in various keys and chords.
Cindy insists music should be easy and should be fun.
Using her clock sharps and flats, scales and chords fall into place as the smaller of two discs is revolved to align with the notes marked on the other disc.
Describing how the device is used is a bit like trying to explain in words how to tie a reef knot…something much easier shown than explained.
Cindy says her Key-Cycle-Clock can be mastered by anyone prepared to put in some initial concentration.

The result will be instant reference to the key cycle, primary and other common chords in any key, the order of sharps and flats, how to transpose any chord or note and the notes to form any given scale.
She says the information opens the way to greater versatility as a musician, both in playing and composing.
There is always another odd note or chord harmony that can be added to a tune, she says, and the use of the

 clock gives a variety of options to embellish tunes in a personal way.
She’s well qualified to judge.  Her teaching covers piano, keyboard, guitar, ukulele and recorder.  She also plays the bagpipes and piano accordion.
An initial 500 clocks and accompanying books are being marketed from her Paengaroa home; through the internet (bobcindy@ihug.co.nz); Tauranga music stores and Take Note, Te Puke.