Survey question: what lessons have you found it the hardest to learn in the process of becoming a musician?

I'm not thinking so much of things that are hard to do or to understand - F chords and modal theory and so on - but of things that are hard to put into practice.

For me, it's these two principles:

1. When practicing, play a piece as slowly as you need to to play it properly, and practice it many times slowly before bringing it up to speed.

2. When performing, choose material that is easy for you, rather than attempting stuff that you may not be able to do well when nervous.

In both cases, I understand why these principles are important. I've read and heard them being giving as advice, and I've advised them to others. I've suffered the consequences of breaking them, and experienced the benefits of following them.

But still, the temptation to try to play faster and fancier than I really can is still too, well, tempting.

What is it for you?

Marion