How can unwanted ringing and audio instability be prevented in an op-amp audio filter?

Operational amplifiers used as active audio filters can become unstable if pushed too far. 'Ringing' (an unwanted oscillation that persists after a signal stops) and instability are often caused by configuring the circuit with too much gain and too high of a quality factor (Q). To prevent these issues, both the gain and the Q must be restricted. A high Q means a very narrow bandwidth, which is highly prone to ringing when excited by transient audio signals. High gain can push the op-amp into non-linear operation or self-oscillation due to stray feedback. Keeping both of these parameters within reasonable limits ensures stable audio performance. The distractors incorrectly suggest increasing one or both parameters, which would only exacerbate the instability.