Competition Tips
Feb 27, 2009 Training for Competition
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When competing, you should be concerned about giving reasons for the judges to give high marks. There are the obvious “non-bias”, purely object points such as proper tuning and playing without errors. But, it is true there are many subjective points that must be earned from the judges. In order to earn many of these points, please remember these two words: passion and arrangement.
While skill level is important, simply playing many notes does not impress the judges. I can with one hand play more notes than many people can with two, and I can play 18+ individual notes in 1 second. Impressed? So what! That is not the reason I won. Instead of playing many notes, give reason for the judges to actually remember the notes that you’ve played.
This is initially done with a quality arrangement. The most important issue is not can you play many notes, but it is what purpose does each note serve in adding to the arrangement to create memorable music. Be a student of arranging.
Secondly, passionate playing must come from within. In my best performances , I’ve noticed that I’m smiling, laughing, or crying. This is not acting–it is that I feel the music I’m playing. Develop the art of meekly delivering the passion from within to your music. This is very difficult to do in a competition setting and timid, flat music often occurs. Do what it takes to calm your nerves and remember that you’re competing to gratify the desires of your soul and to motivate improvement. Controlled, passionate playing is what will contribute greatly to winning a championship.
Quick tip #1: One thing that many people may not consider is that the judges are listening over a microphone, and it sounds different to them than it does to you! Record yourself. You may be surprised (hopefully pleasantly!) at what you hear.
Quick tip #2: Play solo. The judges are only scoring your instrument. You also don’t want to risk getting points docked for your support musician making a note error or timing mistake. Lastly, don’t use a support musician as a timing crutch. If you can’t keep timing in the first place, you’re probably not to the point that you could in clear conscience accept the title of national champion.
Tags: champion, Training for Competition, Winfield