the failure project pt.1 is complete! check it out here.
Hello musicians! Can you remember the last time you felt super embarrassed because of a musical mistake? If you’re feeling brave, it’s time to share that moment with the world!
The goal of this project is to better prepare musicians to deal with mistakes by normalizing failure. In a world where success is so often recognized, failing can be an isolating and invalidating experience. We hope that by sharing our mistakes together, failure can transform from something deeply hidden to a significant part of one’s musical experience.
This project was inspired by the piece EITHER WE INSPIRE OR WE EXPIRE (2015) by artist Liam Gillick and data analyst Nate Silver. You can view the piece here!
Our project will look similar to the above example. We will compile all submissions in a slideshow. Each slide will include white text on a black background. The final project is scheduled to be released on YouTube, our website, and our social media on Monday, March 7. It will be accompanied by a post in our education blog.
Submission guidelines:
SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 P.M. (CST) ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH.
Your failure story must have taken place within the past 5 years in a professional setting.
2. Your failure must have occurred in front of an audience or other musicians (rehearsal settings are acceptable).
3. Your failure story should be told in 250 characters or less (including spaces).
4. Your failure story should be honest, unembellished, and straightforward. It should not identify yourself or any specific organization, musical group, etc.
5. Please use complete sentences. Do not include profanity.
6. You may write multiple submissions.
Examples:
I was playing the principal part in an orchestra concert, and I missed an obvious entrance. Then after that, I missed my next entrance. And in the very next piece I got lost and missed another entrance.
I was late to my first ensemble with a section full of musicians I really respect. I was out of breath and agitated, and missed a lot of notes.
