Healthy Practice 101

One of the first piano pedagogical books I came across when getting back into my research at the library on teaching & music education was "The Perfect Wrong Note: Learning to Trust Your Musical Self" by William Westney.  And at that point it was exactly the type of advice I needed.  Westney's a pianist, music educator and philosopher who's work encourages lifelong learning and a change to the way music is taught.  This book was published in 2003 - if only I had this kind of literary resource growing up!

It's so easy for students to easily lose passion for playing the piano (any instrument) or any activity they've been engaged in, such as playing a sport or an activity at school. When students feel as though they've been challenged too much to the point where something becomes too overwhelming mentally or physically (and it's just "not fun anymore") - either they keep going or give up. Most kids would choose the latter. And most of the time parents are the motivating force that keeps kids going whether they like it or not.  When parents say "do it! You'll thank me later"... I guess they are right.

I found Westney's perspective on learning very helpful because how I had interpreted it was that it really encourages not being afraid of making mistakes (playing & hearing them.... just bang out all the notes on the piano and don't look back!).  How many times have your piano teachers told you when you were little that "perfect practice makes perfect" every time?  What is perfection? Playing all the notes correctly. I remember very well how I'd end up feeling afraid (petrified!) of playing a wrong note around my piano teacher or even at home (where my parents could hear me because they knew what was being taught at my lessons).  And then of course take your mistakes to the Royal Conservatory of Music Grade-level exams and you're done like dinner.

Fast forward to OUR generation now... Rather than making practicing the piano a chore or task and needing to "perfect" everything - how about we change our views and make it an experimental experience first instead? This is done by figuring out all of your notes - hands separately then together, split into sections whatever you need to do etc - and allowing yourself to play with NO FEAR of making any mistakes even if the line or rhythm ends up sounding TOTALLY ugly. If you do, IT IS OK (this is where you take a deep breath and exhale! No one BUT YOU is really listening).  Go through the song a few more times (all it takes is a little patience) and you will play knowing WHERE the mistakes you've made were and combatting them by adjusting your fingering placements every time (ie making sure they're mid-key level, playing with fingers curled wrists up and using your fingertips, and all the technical stuff). Eventually you will get the song right PLUS - this is the biggest factor of all - not be afraid of just jamming your heart out.  Set yourself a goal and try to reach it!

So rather than calling it "perfect practice" - let's just throw that term out the window! It's the 21st century - let's take part in "healthy practice" instead.  Learn to TRUST yourself, your personal instincts, enjoy everything you're able to create on your own, and learn to express yourself using the wonderful instrument that is the piano.

William Westney's official website can be found here: http://williamwestney.com/