A typical measure presents barely perceptible calibrations of intonation and rhythm, a broad spectrum of registers, dynamics and modes of articulation, detailed phrasing instructions and a smattering of grace notes, all within a few seconds.
She also issued a smattering of wrong notes, as if in tribute to Serkin's philosophy of seeking the perfection beyond precision — the truth of the noblest, most honest effort.
For every clunker ("What is this material?" Chanel asks, before taking a pair of scissors to a man's sweater and slicing it into a cardigan), there is a smattering of grace notes, as our heroine's environment leaves her with an echo of suggestion.
And while her drawings have crept out of the bedroom, onto the laundry room walls and onto large wooden boards and sheets of vellum in the office, she has been true to her word: the only evidence of her work in the hallway is a smattering of colorful Post-it notes with the words "why" and "here" written backward or upside down.
Each strand of the vocal line is punctuated by some perfect short gesture: cello pizzicatos and a smattering of harp; a four-note horn solo; a vaguely Balinese rustling of mallet percussion and string glissandos.
The participants, predominantly male, mostly use Macintosh laptops, although Mr. Smith, a Briton with a ponytail, noted a "smattering" of Windows PC's.
The comments were met by a smattering of boos in the hall, but Mr Trump noted that he got a standing ovation, stating that "everybody thought I gave the best presentation of anybody".
A smattering of Conservative MPs, in fact, fervently endorsed the bill.
As it was there was a smattering of boos on the final whistle and the visiting manager, Paul Lambert, noted: "You can sense there's an anxiety here".
