Is it possible??

[nicolaievich]

Hi, i wanted to ask to all of you if it is possible to prepare for a piano competition in only three months. It will be my first cometition if i decide to go for it.
The pieces required are two Chopin's etudes, one etude of another composer and one classical sonate (Beethoven, Mozart, Clementi, ecc) for the first instance. For the second instance it is required to perform an argentinian piece, a modern piece and an important romantic piece.

I am an amateur player by the way. Is it possible?? tell me your opinions. Thanks! 

[spirithorn]

My opinion, for what it's worth:  If you already have the required pieces (or all but one) pretty much at performance level, then go for it.  If you're going to have to learn these from scratch, then it's probably not possible.  Or let me put it this way:  If the required pieces are new to you, and you CAN bring them to performance level in three months, then you'll probably win the competition in your category!

[pita bread]

Use the competition as an experience, and don't think too much about winning. Plenty of people compete with pieces that they have played for a year or more, and those people will generally know their pieces much better.

[raffyplayspiano]

just make sure you have something presentable for the competition, and give yourself time to prepare yourself for the performing aspect of it.  if i didnt know the music COMPlETELY, i wouldnt go for it, but you might feel differently.

good luck either way!

raffy 

[nicolaievich]

Thanks for your advices! 

Yes, the main idea is to use the competition as an experience, if i get in the first places... welcome, but i know that it's difficult if it is the first time I make this.

I think it might be better if I wait for another competition, later, so I can make a better performance. I am still thinking about it.

[jeremyjchilds]

Go for it...but it will take a lifestyle change to accomplish...

[lostinidlewonder]

If it is a good competition then this 3 months time shouldn't be the only opportunity for you to participate. If it is a yearly competition then there is always next year. If you are serious about entering this competion you will make sure you play pieces you know very well. You don't care so much about winning or losing but rather the adjudicators comments of your playing.

If you study really hard for 3 months trying to brush up pieces you can play then you will get a comment on your competition result which reffers to these 3 months of effort. If you think that amount of time is more than enough to do undergo all the training and practice you need then that is fine. Perhaps you have played the pieces you want to play in the competition for many years and they are well known, if that is the case then go enter yourself into the competition. But I would hope that you have some experience playing these pieces in public before hand. The pieces need that exposure, if the competition is the first time you expose yoruself to strangers listening to you, you are setting yourself up for difficulties.

[practicingnow]

Do it!
Whether you are prepared or not, go into it and do it - are you a very young pianist?
Every competition that I ever participated in was a good learning experience, definitely - DEFINITELY!
Try to watch as many competitors as you can AFTER you yourself play - watching them before you play can take you out of your "zone", and can influence your performance in subtle ways, often not good ways...
Talk to everyone you can, make friends and connections...
Unless it is a major financial investment, and it will set you back, then you should go and check it out - there's no shame at all if you don't win or place in your first competition, but you will gain experience that you can't get reading the pianoforum, or taking lessons.

Personally I began by losing tiny local competitions, until slowly, through trial and error, I figured out which repertoire and strategies worked best for me.  Finally, years later, I was placing in bigger International Competitions - you see?  All those early ones that I sucked in don't matter now, because I can at last say that I am an International Competition winner, which sounds very nice on a resume, and I can only say that because I was willing to lose the early ones, but gain experience from them.
Go for it - good luck - and post your experience later for others to learn from!   

[gruffalo]

if its not a major event, you should go for it, experiment, and put yourself to the test. this way you find out more things about yourself and your capabilities.

[nicolaievich]

Hello, i am back again!
Well, i really like all your comments.
I am still thinking about... i am not a young pianist, i am 23 years old (i think that's not young  ). And the main question (i forgot to tell this before) is that i am studying at university, i am studying Physics, and let me say that this year is a hard one, too many things to learn. Another main question is that i only perform in public once, and some of the works required i have never played them. So i think it would be better to be alert to another competitions, and get prepared with more time. However, this competition is not too important, that's what most motives me to participate, but i am not sure to be able in 3 months to prepare an acceptable performance of the pieces required.
Thanks anyway!! i would let you know if i decide to participate in another competition