Honest vs. Careless Mistakes
Dear Friends,
Do you get frustrated when you make mistakes over and over in your practice? I have been thinking a lot about mistakes these days, specifically, the difference between "honest" and "careless" mistakes, as described by William Westney in his book, The Perfect Wrong Note.
An "honest" mistake is a mistake that you make when you are physically "going for it," while remaining focused and attentive on what you are doing at your instrument. In other words, you are not playing cautiously! Honest mistakes provide valuable feedback that you can use to make improvements during your practice.
A "careless" mistake is the kind of mistake we make when we aren't really paying attention while practicing. It's what happens when we "space out" and think of other things while working on something at the instrument. These are the mistakes that are easiest to overlook, because it's easy to excuse them and not feel the need to address or fix them.
This idea has been helpful to me in my own practice this week. Focusing on allowing myself to make mistakes and then noticing where they are so that I can correct them, rather than trying to avoid making mistakes through restricting my movements at the piano, has been helpful!
Do you sometimes find yourself making "careless" mistakes while practicing? What steps do you take to stay mindful and present while you're practicing? Feel free to reply to this email and let me know!
Have a great week - and Happy Practicing! 🎹
-Kate
Quote of the Week:
“Much music teaching seems more concerned with controlling the student than with encouraging the student’s own impulses. Constant controlling dampens vitality.”
- William Westney, in The Perfect Wrong Note
Today’s Practice Tip - Practice Hands Separate! (Yes, even advanced players can benefit from this! 😊)
If you're struggling with a particular section in a new piece of music - or even something you've been playing for a long time - it can be helpful to take a step back and practice each hand separately. By doing so, you'll be able to identify specific problem areas and work on them more effectively. Take your time with each hand and focus on playing the notes accurately, with the correct rhythm. Practice each hand until you can play it comfortably at a brisk tempo (or at your goal tempo). Then, slow the tempo down again and start practicing hands together.
This week's exercise:
- Choose a short section from a piece you're working on that you're struggling with.
- Begin by practicing the left hand slowly and carefully, paying attention to the precise way your hand has to move to execute the notes, rhythms, and dynamics. It might be helpful to tap the rhythm of the right hand while you play the left hand. (This is also helpful for advanced players!)
- Drill the left-hand section about 6 times, focusing on playing correctly or correcting any mistakes that occur. Make sure that you are able to play it at a fast tempo on its own.
- When you feel comfortable with the left hand, switch to practicing the right hand, using the same process.
- Finally, slow the tempo down again and practice playing the section with both hands together.
- Repeat this exercise daily throughout the week, gradually increasing the tempo as you become more comfortable with the section.
Remember: patience and consistency matter. By identifying specific problem areas and working on them systematically, you'll be able to make progress, and eventually you will play these (currently) difficult spots with ease!
My latest YouTube videos:
Making Mistakes Work for You - This is a summary of my 5 key takeaways from William Westney's classic book, The Perfect Wrong Note. Although written by a pianist for pianists, his takeaways apply to students of any instrument. I have had this book on my shelf for a long time, and I find it particularly useful in its discussion of how to practice more mindfully and effectively.
How to Play the Piano Without Looking Down - This is the second video in my two-part series on playing the piano without looking down. I give seven actionable strategies to help develop this important skill at the piano.
Interview with Adam Cole, part 3 - This is the final segment of my interview with Adam Cole on his YouTube channel TruerMU.
Congratulations to my students!
It's been a banner month for my students! Congratulations to Michael Johnson, who won 2nd prize in the Charles Joray Competition, a state-wide piano competition for undergraduates. He won a cash prize and performed his program in the recital for the final round.
Congratulations to Bella Meier and Cora Hart, winners of the Woman’s Departmental Scholarship auditions. They each received a cash prize and a performance opportunity. Bella was also a winner of the SAI Scholarship Auditions.
Also: congratulations to Ella Roh and Miho Sasaki, who are both co-winners of the Pi Kappa Lambda competition, which was open to all instruments and carries with it a cash award.
I’m proud of my students for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence!
Upcoming Dates and Events:
April 15, 8:00 pm: Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall, Butler University (Indianapolis, IN). Liam Brown, Graduate piano recital. Works by Scarlatti, Albeniz, Szymanowska, Bonds, and Mussorgsky. Free and open to the public. Click here for the event and live stream link.
April 23, 5:00 pm: Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall, Butler University (Indianapolis, IN). Miho Sasaki, Graduate piano recital. Works by Bartok, Barber, and Beethoven. Click here for the event and live stream link.
April 24: The last day of classes!
May 5-6: Commencement! 🎓
June 18-23: Butler University Piano Scholars Camp. For high school and middle school students, ages 12-18. Click here for more information.
July 2-9: Summer course in Xanthi, Greece. 🇬🇷 For collegiate students and advanced adult amateurs. Click here for more information.
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Kate Boyd
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