ON THE SURFACE, a master class seems to be about achieving perfection. Master teachers, however, say it’s more about discovering possibilities. Let’s examine both viewpoints. From a student’s perspective (before reading this article, of course), a master class usually involves three to five students, and sometimes an audience, joining a respected master teacher who addresses one student at a time while the others listen. A student performs a prepared piece and the master advises. The student plays again, integrating the master’s comments. Then there’s more constructive criticism and more playing. So it goes, until desired results are achieved, and the master moves on to the next student.

It’s easy to see how you might misinterpret the goal to be perfection.

Now let’s look at the class from a master teacher’s perspective. “Every piece has possibilities,” says Kim Cook, professor of cello at Penn State University and a master teacher. “A master class gives you [the student] an opportunity to try things from a fresh approach, get new ideas, and the teacher is there to help you see these possibilities. Sometimes you’ll even hear things you already knew, but because they’re explained in a new way, that light goes on.

“Connection!”

Making a focused connection with the music, Cook stresses, is what a master class is all about. Students shouldn’t see constructive criticism as “do it again because you were bad,” but rather “try it again because it could be better.”

So, if you’re getting ready to take a master class, an open mind to possibilities is the best way to maximize class time.

Here are five more ways to get the most from a master class.

Practice, practice, practice.
“You’ve got to be really comfortable with the material,” says Mimi Rabson, assistant violin professor at Berklee College of Music and a master-class teacher. “If the master says, ‘Try it from here doing this,’ and you’re not well prepared, starting in the middle won’t be an easy thing to do.”

Rabson adds that improvising during practice is another way to up your preparedness. “Try a phrase with an up-bow instead of a down-bow. This is something a master teacher might suddenly suggest, and if you have the music inside you, this won’t be a problem. If you’re still struggling on a basic level, you won’t be able to try things off the cuff.”

Make sure you have fresh batteries.
In other words, you should tape record the master class. You certainly can’t take notes with an instrument in your hands. What’s more, even the most relaxed master-class student won’t be able to absorb all the information in one sitting. You can look forward to a few ah-ha moments when you connect so deeply to the master’s advice that whatever’s said next may be missed—because you’re still back on the last point thinking, “Hey! This is cool.”