Comments on: How to Deal with Criticism http://www.classicalguitar.org/2008/11/criticism/ Classical Guitar Lessons, Interview, News, Tips & More Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:11:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Freddy http://www.classicalguitar.org/2008/11/criticism/#comment-24288 Freddy Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:26:11 +0000 http://www.classicalguitarblog.net/?p=60#comment-24288 Hi Chris, I'm a newcomer, so first of all, thank you for creating this site -- lots of interesting topics, variety and depth. And, clearly, a labor of love. With regard to criticism, how to receive it is one thing, how to give it another. I can't take credit for the following, and I don't know the source, but it's especially helpful in ANY teacher/student relationship. Begin with a Compliment. Follow it with your Critique. Conclude with a Compliment. (And I DON'T mean being nicey-nice). If a teacher doesn't respect the student, he doesn't deserve the student. In addition, if someone's making a mistake, try to couch your advice with a positive. Instead of saying "DON'T do such-and-such," flip it to "DO such-and-such." --F Hi Chris,

I’m a newcomer, so first of all, thank you for creating this site — lots of interesting topics, variety and depth. And, clearly, a labor of love.

With regard to criticism, how to receive it is one thing, how to give it another. I can’t take credit for the following, and I don’t know the source, but it’s especially helpful in ANY teacher/student relationship.

Begin with a Compliment. Follow it with your Critique. Conclude with a Compliment.
(And I DON’T mean being nicey-nice).
If a teacher doesn’t respect the student, he doesn’t deserve the student.

In addition, if someone’s making a mistake, try to couch your advice with a positive. Instead of saying “DON’T do such-and-such,” flip it to “DO such-and-such.”

–F

]]> By: Chris http://www.classicalguitar.org/2008/11/criticism/#comment-204 Chris Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:56:33 +0000 http://www.classicalguitarblog.net/?p=60#comment-204 Good call, Counsel. Sometimes you do get bad advice. In the end it's up the person playing to make interpretive decisions. If the advice truly does help, it can be used! but sometimes that advice does jive with our own sense of musicality nor does it make the music better. If that's the case, leave the advice alone and don't change anything. Thanks for the comment, -CD Good call, Counsel. Sometimes you do get bad advice. In the end it’s up the person playing to make interpretive decisions.

If the advice truly does help, it can be used! but sometimes that advice does jive with our own sense of musicality nor does it make the music better. If that’s the case, leave the advice alone and don’t change anything.

Thanks for the comment,
-CD

]]> By: Counsel http://www.classicalguitar.org/2008/11/criticism/#comment-203 Counsel Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:41:16 +0000 http://www.classicalguitarblog.net/?p=60#comment-203 You state how you respond to criticism. I respond differently, depending on what and how the criticism is delivered. Sometimes, the critic isn't interested in actually helping or being honest--in which case we are hard pressed to find any benefit. However, I generally 1. Listen 2. Stay calm 3. Ask Questions 4. Support your idea/belief/play/etc, but realize everyone is entitled to their opinion 5. See if alterations may make your play/music better--not a requirement that you agree, but your audience (or some of them) may prefer one method over the other 6. Appreciate honest criticism--it is meant, when delivered appropriately, to make you a better player/performer. Either way, play what you want--unless you are having to cater to some for funds or your livelyhood. To me, I play to enjoy my time--not necessarily to please others. Of course, that is just my opinion :) You state how you respond to criticism. I respond differently, depending on what and how the criticism is delivered. Sometimes, the critic isn’t interested in actually helping or being honest–in which case we are hard pressed to find any benefit.

However, I generally

1. Listen
2. Stay calm
3. Ask Questions
4. Support your idea/belief/play/etc, but realize everyone is entitled to their opinion
5. See if alterations may make your play/music better–not a requirement that you agree, but your audience (or some of them) may prefer one method over the other
6. Appreciate honest criticism–it is meant, when delivered appropriately, to make you a better player/performer.

Either way, play what you want–unless you are having to cater to some for funds or your livelyhood. To me, I play to enjoy my time–not necessarily to please others.

Of course, that is just my opinion :)

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