To want to play perfectly, with beautiful tone, correct rhythm, great intonation, and virtuosic technique, is a good starting point, but it turns practice into a stressful activity instead of an enjoyable one. It encourages the mind to condemn our every little mistake, and it… The Joy of Musical Imperfection: Why Striving for ‘Perfect’ Can Hold You Back
The first temptation when errors occur is to correct them as swiftly as possible because they often result in a sudden sound that is jarring to the listener, an uncorrected pitch error, for example, or an inordinate change in tempo. But each of these errors,… Why Your Musical Errors Will Be Your Best Instructors
It is a tendency of many musicians to just start with the technical aspects of the instrument. Scales, finger studies, chord voicings, or embouchure methods. The idea is that once the physical aspect of making music is mastered then the expressive playing will come. This… Why Ear Training Should Come Before Technical Skills: The Foundation of Real Musicality
Quietly, without much fanfare, the most impactful force in our musical journeys is our daily practice routine. We often give a lot of credit to that inspiring concert we attended last week, or the deep insights we gained from a masterclass yesterday. Yet, in the… The Silent Power of Daily Musical Practice: Why Consistency Beats Intensity