On the surface, being a “perfectionist” is considered a good thing. But when you really dig deeper, it’s really just another obstacle standing in your way.

Think about perfection in music. First of all, what’s a perfect practice session or performance? Is it playing every note right? Getting every beat? “Perfect” goals like this lead to the most mechanical (a.k.a. boring) performances ever.

We’re not robots.

Truth is, you only get better through learning experiences. That means messing up. A LOT.

Practice is problem solving and if you’re perfect, there is no problem is there? There’s no reason to even practice! The very act of practicing is admitting you aren’t perfect. We learn through mistakes and if you’re “perfect” you’ll be afraid to even make one in the first place.

It’s the same idea as getting an A+.  Does that mean you learned the material? Raise your hand if you ever walked out of a classroom the day you took a test and immediately forgot everything you studied for. But if you did remember, maybe it’s because you enjoyed the class and took time to learn the material well instead of aiming for a “perfect” test score.

We’re not meant to be perfect, and if you don’t feel that way you won’t be happy. “Perfectionism” is a road to feeling inadequate for the rest of your life.

But the worst reason for perfectionism is this: it gives you an excuse to quit. You’ll never finish that project or accomplish your goal because it will never be perfect. And if you’re waiting for the perfect situation or circumstances you probably won’t even start!

So realize you aren’t perfect, never will be, and aren’t meant to be. You’re actually “perfect” just the way you are.

It's the most common question I get from parents and seems pretty straightforward. But to get to the answer you have to think deeper, think beyond numbers. A more telling question is: what's his/her learning style?

Imagine you have a kid who can sit in one place, repeating the same action over and over for a long time without a single complaint.

Now imagine the same scenario, except that they're moving constantly, thinking out loud, struggling with repetition and taking twice as long.

Both children are on 2 different paths that lead to the same destination. One is just slightly bumpier and longer.

Keep in mind that if your kid is more of the second type, there's another question you have to ask yourself: how much time, effort and resources am I willing to provide to give them the support they need?

And if your kid is the first type, well you're a lucky parent aren't ya?

By the way, learning styles can always change and so can kids. How they learn today may not be how they learn tomorrow. And most of the time, if you can stay out of their way, they're smart enough to sort things out for themselves. Kids are a lot more intuitive and intelligent than most adults give them credit for. It's important to give them the space to freely express themselves.

So always remember, "age is just a number."

Here's Rhapsody Piano student Stephen playing "The Farewell" by Burgmueller. A Classical/Romantic piano piece for the intermediate student. He's very focused and mature in his interpretation!

Think back to the last time you were in class, or in a piano lesson, and you felt this void between yourself and the instructor. If you really, I mean really, struggled in that class no matter how much effort you put into it, did you ever wonder why you just couldn't "buy in" to what he or she was saying? And let's say this is on top of the class being very interesting to you!

I believe this is the #1 thing that many teachers forget to do that ultimately sets themselves up for failure.

Teachers can sometimes get too excited and caught up with the material. Sometimes they're just there to make sure the student "absorbs" all the information.

But they never consider the fact that they forgot to MAKE A CONNECTION.

The most powerful motivator for people is feeling valued as a human being. If you're a parent, make sure your kid feels appreciated. If you're at your job, make each and every customer feel special. If you're a boss, develop meaningful relationships with your employees.

Even though I love my parents to death and am extremely grateful for how they raised me and provided for the family, I always longed for those words of praise and encouragement instead of having to do something to "be a good student" or "be a good son." It's something I take to heart and have made the #1 priority in my studio. Before they play a single key on the piano, and before you teach them anything music-related, make the student feel important no matter what.

If you're struggling to get your message across, remember to first value your student, child, brother, mother, employee, boss or friend. They'll thank you for it.

I've finally posted my first cover on YouTube and wanted to share it with you here! It's a great, fun piece called "Alla Turca Jazz" by Fazil Say. Think "classical meets jazz." I love these piano transcriptions that blend classics with a unique twist. Definitely a virtuosic piece but short enough that any advanced pianist can learn (with enough patience and time). Enjoy!