music competitions ...

[Contratrombone64]

And I quote

Music competitions are meant to identify the strongest young players and contribute to the establishment of their professional careers but are they necessary and do they really turn out the best performers ...


What do ya'll think about this? I'm not entirely decided, but I think it's sometimes the only way young musicians get heard by talent scounts (be they record labels or concert venues). The Sydney International Piano competition is unique because it flys audition winners here and pays them an living allowance. First prize winner is awarded cash AND concerts around the world.

[marval]

Hi CT

Well, I agree with you, that sometimes that is the only way young players will be heard. I would be a little worried, if they were taken away from family and schooling and pushed into fame. There does need to be some common sense in all this. Yes, let them enter competitions, and give them a prize but, don't thrust them into adulthood too early. If they are still of school age, I thing having a proper education as well is very important. Something to fall back on if things change or, they decide it is not what they want.

But, having said all that, we do need the competitions, it is a good grounding. So that they know that if they go into the musical world, there will be others like them, and being good might not be enough.

Slightly off topic but connected, over here some schools have banned sports days. Because, they say it is unfair on the children who do not win, they might get upset. What sort of teaching is that to send them into the big wide world. Some very famous musicians are where they are because of winning competitions, Vladimir Ashkenazy for one.

Right that's me done, I look forward to hearing other people's opinions.


Margaret

[rojo]

Some folks do say that music shouldn't be turned into a competition, but I think these things help rather than hinder, generally. Good exposure, experience, and practice at dealing with pressure can be good things. I haven't participated in any though; haven't felt equipped for such a thing.

Haven't really thought about the downside much, although surely there is one... maybe dealing with the disappointment if one doesn't win? It is risky that way.

marval- that's seems a shame; probably the majority of the kids would have had fun. Maybe they could have let the children decide themselves if they were up to participating? Dunno. O/T Speaking about sports competition, we'll have to start a thread on the upcoming Olympics at some point.

Not sure what my take on children competing in these things is; it may actually hurt rather than help in the child in the long run. Some day I'll do a little research on what happens to child prodigies later in life. I could be wrong, but I think the number of those that continue to succeed is comparatively small, although there are certainly exceptions. I really don't know what the facts are on that; would be interesting to know.

I don't force any of my students to do exams or participate in concerts, but some really want to do it, and enjoy it. And they've all done very well. Those things are good motivating tools sometimes. I haven't had any do competitions as of yet.

[Contratrombone64]

Margaret - the age restrictions for my hometown compeition are 18 to 31 ... so school aged is not a consideration in this case, and quite frankly, unless the compeitor is exceptionally talented the repertroire requirements would be defeating.

[Contratrombone64]

Rojo - my music teacher when I was a teen used to enter me into compeitions, but my personality wasn't opposed to it. Friends of mine used to get quite nervous and sick at the thought of it, but if you're a born show off it's a chance to steal the lime light.

[rojo]

Well, I think there's probably a little 'ham' in each of us, maybe some more than others.

*leaves door wide open for possible food-related joke*

[Corno Dolce]

And that *little ham* can turn out so much spam

[Krummhorn]

Neither of my two keyboard teachers ever forced me to do the competitions ... I did far more as a piano student than I did during my organ study years. Still have the chalk bust of Haydn from my earliest piano competition, and it's displayed with great pride on a shelf atop my office desk here at home. Got a plastic one of Bach a few years after the first one.

I enjoyed the experience and feel it was good to do .. certainly helped to prepare me for playing in front of people like I currently do every week at the church, and for my annual recitals.

One organ competition I played, from memory, Franck's Prelude Fuge et Variation. I had learned it backwards and forwards, sideways and every other which way ... or thought I had ... during the actual competition, my mind went totally blank in the middle of the Fuge section. I sat there at this behemoth 4 manual monster for what felt like an eternity ... then suddenly, I went back a few measures and picked it up and continued to the end. I won that particular competition, btw ... that was in 1966.

That Franck piece remains one of my most favorite organ compositions to this day.