Quotes by William Westney
Practice in living rooms
The reason so many of us lose our bearings about practising early in life is that we practice in living rooms with other family members in earshot - and healthy practice would simply sound too obnoxious, intrusive, repetitious and unmusical for others to hear without annoyance.
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003), p.111
Preemptive apology for perfectionism
[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.
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003), p.132
Six times wrong, one time right
If you have played "six times wrong, one time right" the problem is not quite corrected.
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003), p.92
Don't attribute mishaps to concentration
Don't attribute mishaps to a lapse in concentration - if you missed the note you don't know it.
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003), p.91
If we're not actively making things better, chances are we're making them worse.
If we're not actively making things better, chances are we're making them worse.
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003), p.94
Crucial ingredient
. .the most crucial ingredient by far for success in music is . . .what happens in the practice room.
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003), p.47
Controlling the student
Much music teaching seems more concerned with controlling the student than with encouraging the student's own impulses.
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003), p.43
Robotic correctness
Robotic correctness is the last thing judges want to see or hear
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003), p.32
Mistakes are useful
"mistakes are . . . immensely useful. . . they show us . . . where we are right now and what we need to do next"
Westney, William., The Perfect Wrong Note (Amadeus Press, 2003)
