JK Drum Solutions Blog | There Are No Mistakes Only Opportunities

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#7 "There Are No Mistakes, Only Opportunities"

There Are No Mistakes 1

   Now see? This one is actually encouraging on the outside. But of course I have to ruin it for you. Anything that suggests a negative is really a positive sets off my relativism alarm. This one really isn't too bad but I think there is a caution of implying that you can rationalize any mistake. So it really depends on your definition of "mistake" as well as your sense of judgment to know when the mistake is because you didn't prepare. On one hand it is certainly an opportunity to understand how a mistake happened and what you plan to do about it should it re-occur. There is also the necessity for honesty and discernment to be able to know when a mistake has no cover such that you can just call it a gift from the universe.

   Without composure you will find it very difficult to maintain your focus to keep your place in time. Whether you play the wrong part, forget the arrangement or drop a stick - there is that moment where you can't script your next move. I like watching my mentors or even other artists deal with mishap because I am always interested in how they respond - usually with grace; surely from much experience!

   Attending my first Rush concert in 1985 I saw my favorite band handle a momentary snafu (a rarity indeed) where suddenly Neil Peart is the only one playing for a measure tapping out the pulse on the ride cymbal before Geddy Lee jumps back in and within three seconds the band is back on track - no harm, no foul. Until then I didn't know things like mistakes happened to people of such high esteem. But while their caliber easily survives such mishap, I highly doubt they refer to those moments as "an opportunity" particularly since they made it seem rather insignificant.

"What are you prepared to do?"

Mistakes are going to happen so invariably the question is what are you prepared to do? Must we necessarily attribute it as an opportunity when in the end it should be handled like passing gas: most of the time nobody will know - provided you keep your cool! Although farts are pretty funny. But if they're getting bad - please do excuse yourself.

How then do we approach handling mistakes? I would suggest the first thing you should try to do is get in to the mindset of not stopping and do your best to keep your place in time no matter what is going awry. Once you can do it for just a little bit longer you are developing an important survival instinct!

Thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? I'm open to read your thoughts!