Ever been frustrated by vague, subjective feedback from a judge or teacher? 

Only things that can be measured can be improved. So how do you measure your progress? We need to find ways to get an objective, pass-or-fail result. 

This week, we’re diving into the sixth commandment in Andrew’s 11 Commandments of Mastery: You Shalt Practice Objectively (And Reject Subjectivity). We explore the difference between objective and subjective goals and why aspiring pipers should focus on measurable, objective criteria to improve their skills. We look at the pitfalls of practicing with vague, subjective goals and discuss the need for clear, pass-fail criteria if you want to improve. 

Got a topic you’d like covered on a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

Here’s what we cover this episode: 

00:00 A Shattered Dinner Incident

00:45 The Nature of Objectivity

01:38 Philosophical Musings on Reality

02:09 Quantum Computing and Parallel Universes

03:37 Objectivity in Practice

04:51 Subjective vs Objective Goals in Practice

09:43 Breaking Down Objective Practice Elements

14:34 Colorblindness and Context Clues

17:23 Understanding Subjective Feedback in Music

17:48 The Challenge of Translating Subjective Terms

18:24 The Ego in Teaching and Judging

20:00 Objective Feedback for Beginners and Intermediates

21:16 Advanced Players and Subjective Mastery

24:01 Decoding Judging Sheets

28:10 The 11 Commandments of Mastery Course

31:27 Making Practice Fun and Effective

34:37 Objective Practice and Pass-Fail Criteria