Performing in a musical setting can be a joy and in many cases a frustration. When we are good, we are very, very good and when we are bad, it sucks! Even after months of practice we find ourselves making errors in a performance. This frustrating occurrence can come at any time and at any place in our music and no matter how much time is spent in preparation, a mistake or as described in the terms of a jazz setting, we clammed, scratched, dropped, piffed, bobbled or goofed notes unexpectedly.
We all do it and no matter how much we prepare, it will happen from time to time. So what can be done to minimize these errors? First we need to isolate the possibilities before we can determine a solution.
10 Reasons why we make mistakes
Lack of preparation
If you can’t play the material ten times in a row without mistakes, chances are good that you don’t know your material and the solution to this problem is obvious.
Lack of concentration
The lack of concentration is one of the most difficult conditions to improve on because it can happen at any time at any point in your performance.
Physical limitations
If you expect to play a high D at the end of a solo when knowing full well that you can only play a high “C”, you are definitely limited in your physical capabilities.
Distractions
Even though distractions can be similar to concentration problems, they must be handled in different ways.
Fatigue
This problem can come from several areas such as embouchure, general body, and/or mental fatigue. Any or any combination of tiredness can add to the chances of errors in your playing.
Equipment failure
A perfect performance can easily be marred by a sudden malfunction of your equipment and all of your hard work and preparation was for naught.
Environment changes
Conditions and changes in conditions many times will lead to playing errors which we had not considered or prepared for.
Nervousness
This condition could have been at the top of our list for most performers function successfully and unsuccessfully under pressure and being able to overcome tension and anxiety is a problem we all recognize.
Errors in Sight Reading
When faced with reading material for the first time such as filling in for another musician on a live performance, errors may and will happen. How you approach this setting can help minimize your chances for mistakes.
Others
Even after careful preparation, mistakes will still be made. That is the way life is.
Each of these conditions can easily turn beautiful performances into one of those moments that will live in the back of your mind for years. Months of practice and preparation can be ruined by a sudden failure of a valve or a broken water key. An important performance can turn ugly because of an ill prepared conductor. The occurrence of mistakes for any of us is only a moment away. How you prepare for these sudden intrusions into your performance will lessen the possibility that you will error. Each of these areas of possible mistakes will be addressed in our subsequent posts.
