Science Confirms: Errors are Required for New Skills
Wouldn’t it be nice if acquiring a new skill was easy?
It may be comforting to know research shows that struggle is part of the process. This is true at any level - whether one is a beginning student or more advanced. It takes time for the brain to learn new patterns, create new neural pathways, and “rewrite” over old habits. During this time, playing or singing can often sound “worse” and students feel themselves “going backwards.” If that’s true for you, you are in good company!
Dr. Matt Edwards, Associate Professor of Voice and Coordinator of the Musical Theatre Voice at Shenandoah Conservatory, writes this phenomena is “a scientifically necessary milestone of skill acquisition…. your brain is solving a puzzle.” Concentrated, conscious thought is necessary to coordinate these new movement patterns and ways of thinking. Edwards continues, “Research shows that in this stage, errors are not only expected but required. Eventually, the pattern will become a new skill that can be applied going forward.”
A piano student will find it harder at first to play with the correct hand position if the fingers are weak. Eventually the fingers do get stronger, and the improved technique grants the ability to play faster, louder, and with more expression. Any level of player will find learning a new composition challenging when first integrating the myriad components: playing both hands together, adding sustain pedal, changing dynamics (loud/soft), and other techniques that create musicality beyond the written notes and rhythm on the page.
A voice student might be challenged to relax the tongue and jaw or improve breath control for longer phrasing, and experience the voice cracking, tone worsening, or not singing completely “in tune.”
Sometimes students becomes frustrated when they can’t fix a issue right away; I point out their becoming aware of the the problem is progress - a success in itself: you can’t change something until you can catch yourself doing it!
So take heart and embrace the challenge, step by baby step. Mistakes are an integral part of the learning process; science confirms this. Eventually, with mindful practice and repetition, this new technique will become second nature. You’ll incorporate it into previously learned skills, becoming an even better musician.
Remember to celebrate when you notice you’ve achieved a new milestone, no matter how small. Congratulations! This is all a part of the adventure of learning - and it is an amazing adventure. There is always something more to discover and master.