How we work: Benjamin Zander, conductor

At the start of a new term, Zander tells his students that they will all get an A at the end of term if they now write him a post-dated letter explaining what they did to earn that A. This tends to incentivise them to earn the A.

Sometime during the next two weeks, you must write me a latter dated next May, which begins with the words, 'Dear Mr Zander, I got my A because...', and in this letter you are to tell, in as much detail as you can, the story of what will have happened to you by next May that is in line with this extraordinary grade.

More how we work.