Mistakes that work
Who invented the light bulb and believed that every failure taught him something?
Thomas Edison. He said every failed light bulb gave him information for the next attempt.
What does Victor Wooten compare music to in his TED Talk?
A language. He says music is like a language we can learn naturally.
What is the singer learning to do?
Fly
Who painted Guernica in 1937?
Pablo Picasso
What everyday item was invented by accident in 1968 while trying to create a strong adhesive?
The Post-it note. Spencer Silver accidentally invented a weak glue.
According to Wooten, when do we start learning language?
Before we are born. We start hearing it in the womb.
What is the hardest thing, according to the chorus?
Coming down
Who discovered penicillin in 1928?
Alexander Fleming
According to the article, why did Thomas Watson say he wouldn’t fire the employee who made a $600,000 mistake?
Because he said: “I have just spent $600,000 training him.” He wanted to learn from the experience, not waste it.
What does Wooten say is more important when learning music: perfect technique or expression?
Expression. He says sounding good and connecting emotionally is more important at first.
What natural elements are mentioned as possibly melting or burning?
The rocks and the sea
Which country is the oldest surviving republic?
San Marino
What does the article say about the connection between mistakes and many everyday inventions? Give two examples.
Many everyday objects were invented due to mistakes. Examples: crisps (potato chips) and Post-it notes.
What key learning principle does Wooten highlight by comparing music learning to how babies learn to speak?
Immersion and encouragement. Babies learn by being surrounded by language and being celebrated for trying.
What does the singer say some people think life will do to you? (3 things)
Beat you down, break your heart, and steal your crown
What song about London was a hit for Lily Allen in 2006?
Smile
According to the text, what is the real value of making mistakes, and what is the danger of not learning from them?
The real value is learning and improving. If you don't learn from your mistakes, then there is no sense in making them.
According to the talk, how can we change music education to make it more natural and effective?
By making it more like learning a native language: through play, listening, imitating, and expressing, not just memorizing rules.
What metaphor does the song use to describe the journey of life and growth?
Learning to fly without having wings — trying, failing, and rising without being fully prepared
What did Laszlo Biro invent?
The Biro Pen