• opinions - random stuff

    Practice makes perfect *, (* but only if you do it right.)

    This old vaudeville joke about Carnegie Hall, which opened in 1891, has been around so long, that no one knows who first said it. Made famous by Jack Benny (1894-1974), the vaudeville, radio and television comedian, it is probably the most quoted guidance on the importance of practice in order to learn a skill. This quote is about music and musicians, not jewelry, but it has become the default advice on how to learn just about anything. Unfortunately, it is probably the worst advice you can give someone to help them master any skill.