This is awesome advice, and the wisdom is beyond guitar playing itself. Whether you are a gymnast, a figure skater, or a magician, this philosophy equally applies. In a way, even guitar playing is just to enrich our life, not to punish us for not being perfect. Focusing on the execution of the current note is important. If life is a piece of guitar music, then the past does not need to impact the future, and we are not meant to live a perfect life, but one with joy and imperfection.
Hi Allen. Just discovered your channel. Good stuff. I'm a retired symphony clarinetist (40+ years) and I'm learning classical guitar. Thank you for your insights. Beethoven said "To play a wrong note is trivial. To play without passion is inexcusable."
Great: "we don´t rise to the occasion, we sink to the level of our training", a very healthy outlook to daily practice, and a logical and right way to reach new levels, it seems to me. You are a great teacher. I´ll always keep your advice on my mind. Greetings from México
Such great advice! My in-person guitar teacher tells me "its not that you made a mistake that's important... its that you recovery gracefully when you do." As a beginner, this is so helpful to hear from experts! I love your videos! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with us!
I would add, from personal experience, that starting learning a piece slower and then building your way up in tempo helps diminish mistakes. However, like you said, completely eradicating mistakes is a nearly unattainable goal.
I’ve watched a few of your videos so far and have found you to be an excellent teacher. The information you convey seems to answer every question I have ever had but didn’t know who to ask. It has been many years since I had lessons and have developed some bad habits that I’m aware of and consciously try to correct. I’ve also failed to develop certain skills that I still struggle with. This topic is a big one for me. Since I began learning Classical Guitar until today I don’t think I have ever played a piece without a mistake and I have been at this for a while. It frustrates me to the point of giving up but never even considered how short sighted on perfection I’ve been. It took 10 years to find your vids but now that I have, thank you for all of it. Your teaching style resonates with me. Subscribing and Thank you.
Perfect advice. I think it's best not to stop if you have a memory lapse, just go to the next familiar bar. Never look up or make a face=keep focused n continue=learn from the lapse of concentration. To play a piece of music mistake free is difficult but not impossible.
Virtuosity on any instrument is truly a technical accomplishment, however connecting your audience to your piece on a personal emotional level? That truly is a gift one should ask for.
I actually found that if I take a break from playing and come back - I actually play better with fewer mistakes. If I practice for long periods of time, every day - I feel my playing gets worse over time. But if I take a break from playing (a few days - maybe even a week or two) and come back I seem to play so much better. Now when I play and feel I'm messing up quite a bit - I just put the guitar down and walk away for some time.
Alan Matthews my name is Robert I've been watching your videos I have not played guitar in 20 years and I sold all of my instruments I had Hernandez Grand concert guitar. I want to start playing again as a result of your videos. I'm 67 and this is my bucket list. I just bought a 1980 Alvarez yairi cy140 concert classical guitar. $1,000 that's all I could afford. Better than a poke in the eye with a stick. Gracias.
Separate practice from play. When you practise, always play perfectly, even if that means playing too slowly to hear the music. Because if you're making mistakes while practising, then you're practising on making mistakes. But when you're playing, don't care about mistakes at all, because that's what practice is for. You might play songs and singing, but practice is still practice. Take a few minutes break between practice and play to get a good context switch. When practice is done, it's time to have fun.
From my experience, the key is the combination of pieces you currently working on. You can't practice pieces like la catedral all day long, it will make you suffer and crash your self-esteem. Instead, practice some pieces fit into your current level, maybe an etude with just 3 or 4 lines, try to play that perfectly with all musicallity and dynamics. And also add 1 or 2 pieces that slightly above your current level.
But what if your level is La Catedral and you want to learn it? And a lute suite by Bach and a sonata by Ponce? I end up playing all those pieces on a single day of practice, its unavoidable if you really want to learn those pieces. And you need to put in a lot of hours to get anywhere. For me, I always start my practice with some easy etudes and then dive into the harder stuff. On another note, I always wonder why sometimes I make mistakes and sometimes I don't. I believe it has got to have something to do with concentration. The longer you play, the more mistakes you are bound to make. If I get into a 'flow', it is possible for me to play very well (for my ears, at least), but is hard to control such a state and it doesn't happen every day.
I made the mistake of hearing Ana vidovic's version of this la catedral, and it sounded fairly easy at the beginning. Then I got the sheet music and quickly found otherwise! What a beautiful song though.
I started accordion at age seven and have been playing and singing something ever since. I am sixty four now, and I still need this reminder, especially during my guitar lesson. Those of us who play piano well find it challenging to be kind and patient with ourselves when starting all over again with this very precise and mind consuming endeavor of learning to play classical guitar. It's often as maddening as it is rewarding! I salute you for sharing so much good and compassionate advice for free on you tube.
I started at 59 having played classical piano since the age of six and my question would be 'How can I ever get through a single piece without getting tangled up every bar!' I think muscle memory takes a lot longer to kick in when you are older - and if you are well trained in another instrument you have the added disadvantage of having been taught really to listen hard to every sound you make, which makes you far more self critical than the average seven year old beginner. After a year and a half I am still struggling; but I refuse to give up (I was given lessons as professional development anyway so I have to have something to show for it!).
you mentioned how your hand looks for assessment, do you video record yourself playing to assess this? I've never done this, but I have noticed it is helpful to audio record myself playing to hear the mistakes.
Cool philosophy. I wish my teacher had taught me that. Luckily I had a friend (also a great teacher) who taught me that mistakes might happen as long as you recover gracefully, and even if you don't, it is never the end of the world.
Hi Allen, You know how many times you said the word "Practice"? haha ....Yes we all make mistakes (oh Man, my Mistakes--at my own Mother's Funeral!)... Very good advise. Be POSITIVE....we all are our own biggest critic-I know I am... For myself...More "Practice", less "Playing" makes me a better "Player"..whoa :-) 5 STAR Advise! --Van
i've trigger finger on my little finger at my left hand .my fingers can not bend like people in general. it is not very supportive in playing the guitar. But I continue to grade 4. But in playing I often make mistakes and it is difficult to achieve good results due to the trriger finger. what must i do ?
Hi Bryan, it could be that you're realizing and hearing more of what it "could be", and that awareness is outpacing your actual progress. This is completely normal, if a little disheartening. I promise, if you consistently show up and practice with integrity and focus, you will see results, and will likely feel good about it. This stage you're in is why most people quit. Just keep going. Good luck!
I try to track my progress to see growth. The problem is that classical guitar is very complicated and just learning a single piece, not including getting comfortable with it, can take months (for me anyways). So my progress is incredibly slow and can often be discouraging.
bryan macneil You sound just like me! I think Allen is a brilliant teacher but even if you subscribe to the Woodshed I think it's necessary to find a live teacher as well. There's nothing like a well trained teacher to observe you in the flesh and work through things with you because there are so many things you won't even know you're doing or not doing.
@@ClassicalGuitarShed Dear Alan, thank you for your wonderful videos, you have been a inspiration. I have started to learn classical guitar on my own. When would i consider that i learnt a piece and move on?
Learn the secret to playing Classical Guitar with No Mistakes, here's a link to the Full Article:
www.classicalguitarshed.com/no-mistakes/
This is awesome advice, and the wisdom is beyond guitar playing itself. Whether you are a gymnast, a figure skater, or a magician, this philosophy equally applies. In a way, even guitar playing is just to enrich our life, not to punish us for not being perfect. Focusing on the execution of the current note is important. If life is a piece of guitar music, then the past does not need to impact the future, and we are not meant to live a perfect life, but one with joy and imperfection.
Hi Allen. Just discovered your channel. Good stuff. I'm a retired symphony clarinetist (40+ years) and I'm learning classical guitar. Thank you for your insights. Beethoven said "To play a wrong note is trivial. To play without passion is inexcusable."
Great: "we don´t rise to the occasion, we sink to the level of our training", a very healthy outlook to daily practice, and a logical and right way to reach new levels, it seems to me.
You are a great teacher. I´ll always keep your advice on my mind.
Greetings from México
Such great advice! My in-person guitar teacher tells me "its not that you made a mistake that's important... its that you recovery gracefully when you do." As a beginner, this is so helpful to hear from experts! I love your videos! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with us!
I would add, from personal experience, that starting learning a piece slower and then building your way up in tempo helps diminish mistakes. However, like you said, completely eradicating mistakes is a nearly unattainable goal.
I’ve watched a few of your videos so far and have found you to be an excellent teacher. The information you convey seems to answer every question I have ever had but didn’t know who to ask. It has been many years since I had lessons and have developed some bad habits that I’m aware of and consciously try to correct. I’ve also failed to develop certain skills that I still struggle with. This topic is a big one for me. Since I began learning Classical Guitar until today I don’t think I have ever played a piece without a mistake and I have been at this for a while. It frustrates me to the point of giving up but never even considered how short sighted on perfection I’ve been. It took 10 years to find your vids but now that I have, thank you for all of it. Your teaching style resonates with me. Subscribing and Thank you.
Perfect advice. I think it's best not to stop if you have a memory lapse, just go to the next familiar bar. Never look up or make a face=keep focused n continue=learn from the lapse of concentration. To play a piece of music mistake free is difficult but not impossible.
Virtuosity on any instrument is truly a technical accomplishment, however connecting your audience to your piece on a personal emotional level? That truly is a gift one should ask for.
I actually found that if I take a break from playing and come back - I actually play better with fewer mistakes.
If I practice for long periods of time, every day - I feel my playing gets worse over time. But if I take a break from playing (a few days - maybe even a week or two) and come back I seem to play so much better.
Now when I play and feel I'm messing up quite a bit - I just put the guitar down and walk away for some time.
Rob S holy shit thats exactly what happens to me man
Alan Matthews my name is Robert I've been watching your videos I have not played guitar in 20 years and I sold all of my instruments I had Hernandez Grand concert guitar. I want to start playing again as a result of your videos. I'm 67 and this is my bucket list. I just bought a 1980 Alvarez yairi cy140 concert classical guitar. $1,000 that's all I could afford. Better than a poke in the eye with a stick. Gracias.
Wonderful advice!!!
Amazing video Thank you!!
I really, really enjoy these videos.
Separate practice from play. When you practise, always play perfectly, even if that means playing too slowly to hear the music. Because if you're making mistakes while practising, then you're practising on making mistakes. But when you're playing, don't care about mistakes at all, because that's what practice is for. You might play songs and singing, but practice is still practice. Take a few minutes break between practice and play to get a good context switch. When practice is done, it's time to have fun.
Always GREAT advice. Guilty as charged.
Thank You.
Yes ,I can relate to that. Great advice and thank you.
I want to know how you learned to keep the guitar floating on air when you let go of it. I tried it and now I’ve got to get it fixed.
What do you mean!?
He's using a classical guitar support
great advice - thank you
Very helpful thank you so much 💕🎶🙏🏼
Hey Allan. Just wanted to say thanks for all of your videos and lessons on your website. Thanks for being my virtual guitar teacher! God bless
thank you, this is a fantastic way of "resetting the focus" and getting back on track with a positive mindset
This it's pure gold.
Thanks for the advice. This is very helpful. I always struggle with getting frustrated because I want to play something perfect.
Very encouraging,Keeping the long game pleasurable .
great topic!
Thank you teacher Allen Mathews, love you video .
I needed this video.
Thanks you so much!
From my experience, the key is the combination of pieces you currently working on. You can't practice pieces like la catedral all day long, it will make you suffer and crash your self-esteem. Instead, practice some pieces fit into your current level, maybe an etude with just 3 or 4 lines, try to play that perfectly with all musicallity and dynamics. And also add 1 or 2 pieces that slightly above your current level.
But what if your level is La Catedral and you want to learn it? And a lute suite by Bach and a sonata by Ponce? I end up playing all those pieces on a single day of practice, its unavoidable if you really want to learn those pieces. And you need to put in a lot of hours to get anywhere. For me, I always start my practice with some easy etudes and then dive into the harder stuff.
On another note, I always wonder why sometimes I make mistakes and sometimes I don't. I believe it has got to have something to do with concentration. The longer you play, the more mistakes you are bound to make. If I get into a 'flow', it is possible for me to play very well (for my ears, at least), but is hard to control such a state and it doesn't happen every day.
I made the mistake of hearing Ana vidovic's version of this la catedral, and it sounded fairly easy at the beginning. Then I got the sheet music and quickly found otherwise! What a beautiful song though.
Thank you!! Well said. It is this feeling of frustration that you are addressing and you did it perfectly :)
These are some really good points! Thank you
Wisdom for living!
Good advice.
Good Job !
WELL SAID.
Thanks, Lynne!
I started accordion at age seven and have been playing and singing something ever since. I am sixty four now, and I still need this reminder, especially during my guitar lesson. Those of us who play piano well find it challenging to be kind and patient with ourselves when starting all over again with this very precise and mind consuming endeavor of learning to play classical guitar. It's often as maddening as it is rewarding! I salute you for sharing so much good and compassionate advice for free on you tube.
I started at 59 having played classical piano since the age of six and my question would be 'How can I ever get through a single piece without getting tangled up every bar!' I think muscle memory takes a lot longer to kick in when you are older - and if you are well trained in another instrument you have the added disadvantage of having been taught really to listen hard to every sound you make, which makes you far more self critical than the average seven year old beginner. After a year and a half I am still struggling; but I refuse to give up (I was given lessons as professional development anyway so I have to have something to show for it!).
Showing gives a lot more information and understanding
you mentioned how your hand looks for assessment, do you video record yourself playing to assess this? I've never done this, but I have noticed it is helpful to audio record myself playing to hear the mistakes.
Hi James, yes, absolutely. Video is great for self-assessment. Audio is great too.
My teacher suggested I get a mirror as well.
This seems to be about how to accept your mistakes and not how to play with less mistakes as the title suggests.
Cool philosophy. I wish my teacher had taught me that. Luckily I had a friend (also a great teacher) who taught me that mistakes might happen as long as you recover gracefully, and even if you don't, it is never the end of the world.
thanks man. this is necessary advice (-:
Hi Allen, You know how many times you said the word "Practice"? haha ....Yes we all make mistakes (oh Man, my Mistakes--at my own Mother's Funeral!)... Very good advise. Be POSITIVE....we all are our own biggest critic-I know I am...
For myself...More "Practice", less "Playing" makes me a better "Player"..whoa :-)
5 STAR Advise!
--Van
i've trigger finger on my little finger at my left hand .my fingers can not bend like people in general. it is not very supportive in playing the guitar. But I continue to grade 4. But in playing I often make mistakes and it is difficult to achieve good results due to the trriger finger. what must i do ?
fahri trainway I'd recommend a lesson from a qualified teacher.
Noad says play until you make a mistake then repeat it until you get it right. Using this technique I havent got passed the second bar.
Could you show more examples in what you mean?
I've been struggling with feeling like I'm getting worse even with more practice. It's pretty discouraging.
Hi Bryan, it could be that you're realizing and hearing more of what it "could be", and that awareness is outpacing your actual progress. This is completely normal, if a little disheartening. I promise, if you consistently show up and practice with integrity and focus, you will see results, and will likely feel good about it. This stage you're in is why most people quit. Just keep going. Good luck!
I just pressed through a few weeks like this and then I suddenly got better with less effort?! Funny how that works, this mysterious learning process.
I try to track my progress to see growth. The problem is that classical guitar is very complicated and just learning a single piece, not including getting comfortable with it, can take months (for me anyways). So my progress is incredibly slow and can often be discouraging.
bryan macneil
You sound just like me!
I think Allen is a brilliant teacher but even if you subscribe to the Woodshed I think it's necessary to find a live teacher as well. There's nothing like a well trained teacher to observe you in the flesh and work through things with you because there are so many things you won't even know you're doing or not doing.
@@ClassicalGuitarShed Dear Alan, thank you for your wonderful videos, you have been a inspiration. I have started to learn classical guitar on my own. When would i consider that i learnt a piece and move on?
Q: How do I play with no mistakes?
A: You're American, aren't you :/
Menos habla y mas ejemplos
I think contrary to piano, guitar is way harder to get 100% perfect
This man is so handsome.