One of the joys of learning to play a keyboard of any type, be that piano, synth, organ and so on, is that there are bound to be some misadventures along the way. The learning process is inextricably associated with first making errors and then making good. It’s part and parcel of how we master skills, and it’s a massive part of the creative process. After all, some of the most ground-breaking and influential pieces of music ever written were born from mistakes that prompted a successful change in creative direction.
There are, however, mistakes that none of us should ever have to make. Some are blindingly obvious, yet they catch us again and again. Focussing more on gear acquisition than practice won’t make you a better player, yet I fall for this one time after time. Some common mistakes are unmistakably easy to pinpoint but difficult to see beyond, which, at best, can result in a frustrating stumbling block and, at worst, an enduring hiatus in progress.
