Growth Mindset Theory
When I was in 4th grade, I started clarinet lessons and loved it! But, I squeaked and squawked and couldn’t get the notes or rhythms just right. I could hear in my head how the song should go, but my fingers and mouth just couldn’t do it, yet. In those times, my grandmother and mother would say, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” And so, I did.
My father explained that if air leaked out from under my fingers, then the sounds wouldn’t be clear. He said the air had to be blown “fast” so it could spin down the instrument. He played trombone and guitar and had an understandable way of explaining the physics of sound to my 4th grade mind. I adjusted my fingers to better close the holes on the clarinet. I learned to hold my fingers steadily and to move them swiftly on and off each hole and key. I adjusted my mouth to look more and more like our teacher’s (I looked in the mirror many times to check!) and I blew through the clarinet with more vigor. My parents got me a Benny Goodman album (33 rpm) so I could hear how a professional jazz player sounded. After several months of practicing and listening to clarinet performers, I began producing a clear sound and correct notes nearly all the time.
Soon, our clarinet teacher asked if I’d help other clarinet students after school. And so, I did. I enjoyed helping my classmates figure out how to hold the clarinet in their hands and mouth so they didn’t squeak, and so their tone was clear and strong. I enjoyed seeing their pride and accomplishment when they were asked to play in the group lessons, because they were successful. Their success was partly my success, and this made an impression on me.
My mother’s encouragement was an example of growth mindset thinking. Growth mindset is contrasted with fixed mindset and comes from the work of Dr. Carol Dweck at Stanford University. Dr. Dweck found, through years of research with children in elementary school, that when they believed they could improve, they applied more effort to their endeavors. Their effort coupled with belief turned into accomplishment. People who believe they can continuously learn, develop, and increase their potential have a “growth mindset.” In contrast, people who believe their intelligence is static and their capacity is determined at birth and have a “fixed mindset.” My clarinet students and I believed they could learn and improve, especially if they worked hard and applied effort. And so, they did.
