Mike Saville's Quotes

[perfectionism leads to] a tendency to apologize preemptively for one's efforts, knowing from experience that there's sure to be something wrong with them.

There is a direct parallel in the way that we speak, with natural variations of pitch and volume that give full meaning to our words. This is what is missing in the words on the page of a book, and the notes on the score.

It is important to practice at the speed of no mistakes

. . .how addicted we musicians become to the supposed virtue of grinding practice . . .

"God, I worked four hours straight on the Bruch today. It just doesn't get any better. And the Bach - I don't think I'll ever get those shifts in tune consistently."
"I know what you mean. I tried one shift two hundred times in a row today to clean it up, but I still can't trust it. Oh my arm is so sore! Anyone have a heating pad?"
"I've got one, but need it for my shoulder. I've got an audition coming up in two weeks and if this keeps up I won't even be able to lift my violin. Got any aspirin?"

The fear of not being perfect drives musicians to overpractice and practice without joy.

Practising is the process of taking a task that seems difficult and doing it repeatedly, over days and weeks until you are able to do it well, and easily.

What you think affects how you feel, and how you feel affects how you perform. If you can change your thinking, then you can change how you perform.

If you have fun when you practice, you may also learn more and perform better

The underlying aim of practice . .is to create certainty through the development of high-quality listening.

There is no such thing as failure, only feedback

Achieving consistent performance is not about working harder, practicing for longer or exposing yourself to an increasing number of concerts, auditions or competitions; rather it is about developing the mental toughness which will enable you to be a more resilient performer.

Sound is not simply what we hear or play, but equally a feeling in the body

Great teachers are great learners

The most efficient way to memorise a piece is to use the one which proceeds in an error free manner

failing to remember is the primary reason for most performers' poor practising habits.

. . don't just memorise notes; memorise the feeling of playing them.

When you are having a bad day and nothing is going right . . .When the pressures of life are crowding in on you and you need some time by yourself . . When someone, or something has made you angry . . When you are bored, or when you are feeling flat or unhappy, don't complain, just go and do some music practice. That will lift your spirits and energise you.

Repetition was never designed to fix problems - it takes what you are doing - good or bad and locks it in.

. . .you will become what you practice

Goals without deadlines are not really goals, but daydreams