What to do if you make a mistake

Fun Ideas

• high five with your practising partner
• stand up, turn around 3 times and jump up and down
• draw a smiley face where you made the mistake in your music as a look-out when you try it again

Constructive Ideas

• start from just before the mistake and see if you can fix it
• play slower (mistakes are often a sign that you are trying to play too fast)
• try with the metronome to keep a consistently slow speed
• clap the rhythm
• review each hand before putting back together
• if all else fails, take a break and come back to it

What NOT to do

• stamp your feet
• take out your anger on the piano
• yell
• start over (always starting at the beginning will make the first part of the piece much stronger than the rest of it)

What do you do when you make a mistake?  I look forward to hearing your comments!

---