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Personally, at a performance, what do you like better: when the pianist gets a message across despite compromising technical excellence, or that a pianist delivers an incredible rendition of a monstrously difficult piece? I'm asking because recently I played at a concert, and I had a few hours' notice and it was my first performance with a large audience since like the fourth grade, so I was pretty nervous. I felt like I really put myself out there, but I wasn't so good with the action on the piano they had, and after I hit a wrong or so I started to hit more and afterwards I felt bad, but people keep telling me they were astounded at my performance. They thought it was great. So what matters to you?

it's not so much hitting the clam, as it's the graceful recovery that separates a good performer from a great performer.

obviously, you did great... We'll hold ourselves to a much higher standard of performance as we always know what we nailed, and what we didn't nail. half the time, when I listen back to a recorded performance, I have to strain to hear the mistakes that I knew for sure, I made and I swore were GLARING flubs.

yet, when I hear the recording,, they are not nearly as flagrant as I first thought. the trick for me is to immediately forget it, and refocus,, otherwise, I'm gonna hit another pot hole..

(as a performing guitarist with many years of experience, [but realtively new to paino] I can tell you that I relate completely)

Congradulations on the performance.

Someday I hope to be able to accomplish the same on paino, and not just on gutiar.