Dealing With Mistakes

TYPES OF MISTAKES

Before discussing how to deal with mistakes, let us first consider some of the forms in which mistakes appear:

• An ERROR in a note, the rhythm, fingering, pedaling, registration, or console management.
• A PAUSE in the established pulse (beat). Once you have established a pulse, no matter how slow, you should either keep it consistent or choose a slower pulse for the next repetition.
• A moment of INSECURITY or confusion. Although this may not yet be an actual mistake, it is a mistake in embryo. The most effective practice sessions catch these “pre-mistakes” and turn them into strengths before they surface as actual mistakes in performance.