What kind of critique do you take to heart ?

[m1469]

And which ones do you not ?

I guess I am wondering if there is a specific flavor or a kind of character that you feel is involved with a critique you would be better off listening to, vs. a critique that should roll off your back ?

Thanks,
m1469

[richard black]

From colleagues, on the whole, I take most seriously critiques that are detailed and reasoned.

From non-musicians, I try to read between the lines, as it were, and decide whether the person speaking is being fully honest - sometimes (often, frankly), for all sorts of reasons, people speak in platitudes. But if they are being honest, these are often the most useful reactions as, after all, you spend most of your life performing for non-musicians.

Obviously, non-musicians who try to be terribly detailed and technical are almost immediately ruled out for trying to impress with their knowledge: but if someone says honestly that they find your performance deeply moving, at one extreme, or boring, at the other, you get a pretty good idea whether you've succeeded or not.

[quantum]

I tend to take all critiques with a grain of salt (including those of my teachers).  There will always be someone who says they like your playing, likewise there will always be someone who disagrees. 


For non musicians, sometimes it is hard for them to express their ideas because of a lack of musical vocabulary.  But it is usually the general idea that comes across. 

For musicians, I tend to put aside the pretentious and the obviously zealously outspoken comments.  (Believe it or not, I have received some of these from musicians whom I deeply respect).

I give more consideration to critiques that are reasoned and balanced.  From people who appear to have listened to the performance, rather than just intend to state their opinion of how a piece should be played. 

[Bob]

I take it all in. 

The sage advisor.  They give good comments and think about what they're saying.  The teacher perspective.

The novice.  They don't know anything about music but tell you things someone like a teacher might not.  They are usually listening for expression and might say something like your performance was really exciting or it was boring.  Not much detail or music speak, but it does give a nice overall impression.

Someone who is trying to be hurtful.  "You suck!" they might say.  I've had students say that.  Usually, it has nothing to do with you, but if they're in that emotional of a state of mind, you can retort back with "Aw... You don't know what you're talking about.  How so?  How do I suck?" and then they might give you some useful advice.  The hurtful person turns into someone helpful somtimes. 

If they aren't educated about music, I take that into account.  Some people just like to attend concerts and congratulate the performer.  That's nice, but not always helpful or not always so meaningful or sincere.  Most people aren't going to tell you that they didn't like something about your performance either, so you end up only hearing positive things.

So I suppose the ones that roll off my back are the ones that I know aren't thought out too much.  The rest though seem to have something to them at some level.

And then there's my own critique.  I supose that's the most important.  I think often a critique is going to go right along with what I'm thinking anyway.  Who else has heard my playing more?  That's one of the frustrating things about teachers -- when they tell you what you already know.  "You missed that note."  No duh...  The point is how to fix it though.  Sometimes a teacher might point out something that's a surprise.  Or they may point out something that's true, but not something I'm working on.  "The tempo is too slow here."  Yes, but that's because I can't play it any faster, so I've decided to go with that slower tempo for now.

I suppose it depends a lot on me.  If I go looking for critiques, it's like someone has given my a lump of ideas to work on.  I can sit down and make decisions about what they have said obejectively.  I don't think someone's critical comments are automatically going to get a reaction from me or crush me.   I'm probably aware of them already or am just not working on that aspect at that time. 

[counterpoint]

I like Bob's view on critics.

You can learn from everyone, it's not needed, that they even play an instrument by themselves.

But what you learn depends on what's your intention. If you try to play expressive and people say: "it's too emotional", it's just a confirmation, that you are succesful in what you intended.  Critics will rarely change my intentions, but they will tell me, if I play like I want to play - even if they don't like it at all 

[m1469]

Okay, some interesting comments so far, thank you.

I would like to add another element then to this conversation.  If you do claim to "take in" the critiques, I wonder if doing so has actually changed any portion of what you do ?

Wouldn't that be the main point of actually listening to a critique ?  If you are willing to change something you are doing based on new and more insightful information ?

[pianowolfi]

Every critique, unfortunately. So far I have found no way to discern better.

[quantum]

For me critiques that I take in tend to add to my conception of the music, rather than directly affect what the music should sound like.  From this overall conception, I can form ideas for the performance. 

[counterpoint]

Wouldn't that be the main point of actually listening to a critique ?  If you are willing to change something you are doing based on new and more insightful information ?

new and more insightful information?

Can you expect such things from a critic? In my experience: no! 

It's only the feedback, that shows you, if your "message" got transported to the listener - or not.

[Bob]

I would just take the ideas in, not necessarily use them.  They might influence in that I decide to go off and find something out in that area, but... I'm not going to work on something just because someelse said to.  I already have things of my own going on.

One of big "duh on me" moments last year was to realize the things my students were saying were just as useful to me as things coworkers and administers said.  Sometimes more useful, since you see them more often than the boss.

Another one is when you know you have done well on a performance and someone adds a, "Yeah, but you messed this aspect up," comment.  Then you've done well and you already have a comment on what to work on next.  A situation turned useful, even if the person is a jerk.

[franzliszt2]

When my tone gets criticised. Thats all that bothers me really.

I only listen to people I respect when it comes to comments on my playing. Therefore I never take it to heart becasue I respect them. I'm my own worst critic anyway, so I doubt they will ever be as harsh as I am on myself

[amelialw]

my teacher's. I always end up working my butt off whenever any sort of critisism comes from her which is great but sometimes I end up overdoing it and i'll burnout LOL, well nowadays it does'nt happen so often anymore, still does once in a while when I forget.

I always end up being my worst critic, even if my teacher praises me or says " that was the best that you have played so far", i'll accept it but still be unhappy about little imperfections that she knows I have noticed and won't accept.

One of my uncles whom I have always been close to, has always listened to my playing since I was little and his critism, I will always take it and do something about it. He has noticed a great improvement in my playing and will always praise but remind me that still things can be done to make it better.

what I don't accept, negative comments from people who do not want me to go into music or comments that only come from people who don't understand.

that's it for now, I need to get off .