Mistakes: Make them like you Mean them

I recently started a diploma course in Civil Engineering and have noticed that many of my fellow students lack the confidence or vocal ability to make themselves heard by the lecturers. With my classroom, mathematical and singing experience this is no longer a problem for me. It reminds me of one of Mr McConnell’s favourite sayings, “If you are going to make a mistake, make it like you mean it.” He was referring particularly to mistakes in singing, as he preferred to hear and fix mistakes in the practice room rather than hear them echoing through the cathedral.
Like all good sayings we can apply this to other situations. In the classroom we can learn alot from understanding our mistakes, perhaps more so than if we get it right the first time.
How can we make progress and learn to improve if we do not know our mistakes?
Quiet mistakes, in some circumstances, are mistakes that could have far reaching bad consequences, while the loud mistake at worst shares the burden of culpability and at best prevents not only the consequences of the error but can also prevent similar errors in the future.
So “if you are going to make a mistake, make it like you mean it.”