Geoffrey Nuttall is the first violinist of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, quartet-in-residence at Stanford University.

“If you’re not doing music for the right reasons . . . you will have a miserable life,” says Geoff Nuttall, violinist with the St. Lawrence String Quartet. Nuttall says players need to be playing because it impassions them, and because they are inspired by a deep love for the music, not money or fame.

“You have to be passionate about it or you will fail,” he adds.

Pushy parents can sometimes get in the way of this goal and may foist their own goals onto children, willing them to become great virtuosos instead of music-lovers, Nuttall says. “The minute you start practicing because you think you are going to be famous, or win a competition, or be better than your friends, it can raise bitterness,” he says.

Quoting renowned pedagogue Eugene Lehner, who played violin in the Boston Symphony and coached the Juilliard String Quartet, Nuttall advises, “Play like a really enthusiastic amateur.”

Here are a few other tips:

Self-Criticize With Confidence
Striking a balance between criticism and confidence is essential to being a successful player. Players need to be able to know what they’ve done well and praise themselves for those successes, while never losing sight of where they might improve. “Without self-criticism it’s hard to improve, but without self-confidence it’s difficult to function,” Nuttall says. Don’t beat yourself up for every missed note or chord, but don’t gloat for days on end when something goes right.

Research Repertoire
“It sounds simplistic, but the more you know, the better you sound,” Nuttall says. Study the composer’s life, his repertoire, know where he was coming from, understand from what point-of-view he was writing. “It’s amazing how many students come in to play a Mozart concerto and haven’t heard a Mozart opera,” he says. Also, listen to as many recordings of a piece as you can and don’t be scared that the exposure will ruin your chances of concocting an individualized interpretation of a piece. “It’s incredibly illuminating to hear the vast array of interpretations. Listen to recordings,” Nuttall says. “If you are not strong enough to make your own interpretations, you shouldn’t be doing this. Study for one hour a day and practice for two.”

Do Other Things
“It’s good to have other activities besides music. Whether it is yoga or basketball, some kind of physical activity keeps me focused,” Nuttall says. Get out and walk, swim, run for 30 minutes, or stretch, especially during stressful times when it seems that every second should be devoted to practicing. Treating your body and mind to something else besides music, at least once a day, will result in more successful practice sessions.