Like the post title says, I’ve made a mistake. And I learned from that mistake.
Truth be told, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and I’ve learned from each and every one of them. I’m not afraid to make mistakes… anymore!
But growing up, things were much different. I didn’t make a lot of mistakes. I drove my self crazy in the pursuit of perfection. Mistakes were like huge, hairy, ugly monsters and I wanted to avoid them at all costs. Unfortunately, I spent way too much time avoiding mistakes when I should have been enjoying mistakes. Because mistakes are meant to be made and they are great learning tools.
It is incredibly empowering when you finally make a mistake and discover that the world does not come crashing down. In fact, it inspires you to take more risks and make more mistakes.
It also inspires you to encourage others to make mistakes… and that is at the heart of this post.
I want your piano students to make mistakes!
I’m completely serious. I want your piano students to make mistakes. In fact, I want you to encourage your piano students to make mistakes. Mistakes are a piano student’s greatest teacher. When piano students learn to accept mistakes, rather than live in fear of them, there is nothing they can’t accomplish.
A Couple of Motivational Posters For You
If you’re on board with this whole “mistakes are cool” thing then we’ve got a gift for you. By clicking here and here you can download two great posters we’ve created to help your piano students learn to live (and love) mistakes.
So go ahead, download them, print them out and make great music!
Linda says
October 1, 2013 at 4:29 amThank you, Trevor. I have had several students who are afraid of playing for fear of a mistake. They sacrifice musicality for perfection! These sweet posters may help!
Melissa Slawsky says
October 1, 2013 at 9:23 amBeautiful posters and beautiful message! I am a recovering perfectionist myself! Thank you!
Grace says
October 1, 2013 at 11:27 amAs a teacher that I find that I make mistakes that I beat myself up for. I don’t know about other teachers, but these kids bring in difficult pop music and I can learn it but I can’t play it on the spot for them. To me that is a little embarrassing because they expect that I can play anything. With the big chords in some of this music I find that I have to put many hours into practicing what they want to play.
Laura says
October 1, 2013 at 11:45 amLove them. Just printed them and would like to find frames. I have a new studio and am currently looking for things to decorate the walls with so these are perfect. Thank you!
Cindy says
October 1, 2013 at 3:45 pmThese are great! Thanks so much. One of my all time favorite books is The Perfect Wrong Note by William Westney – these posters remind me of the ideas there. As I continue to work out the perfectionism in my own life, I’m happy to coach my students to let it go sooner.