I am sooooooo disappointed

[kghayesh]

There is a local annual competition here that is for those who study music on private basis (not as a profession). I participated in it last year and something like a nightmare happened to me, check it out  here https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,7608.0.html.....but don't laugh please

I decided that i should enter the following year and do nothing but work so hard to get the first place. I did so, and prepared a programme with much harder pieces that show a lot of technical and musical experience (Chopin Ballade, Beethoven E minor sonata Op.90) I nearly polished the Ballade after so much hard work and frustration.

Anyways, this year i went to ask about the programme so that i can participate in it but to my surprise i found that the age limit became from 14 - 18 years not 16 - 21 like last year!!! (I am 19 and will be 20 next Wednesday)....

 I had like one of the greatest shocks of my life and became so disappointed and let down. After all this practice time and effort, this happens??? It was the most unexpected thing i ever thought of. This summer vacation was a piano vacation. I sacrificed many things for the sake of practicing (travelling, hanging out with friends, even i didn't do a couple of college assignments coz i didn't have time to !!)

I am so depressed these days and i even feel like i don't have the motive to go to the piano and practice again. It is really a dramatic end to one of my highest dreams.

[Torp]

After all this practice time and effort, this happens???

Perhaps you simply need to change your focus.  Think of everything you gained by making the personal sacrifices you mention.  What you gained as a musician cannot be taken away from you, nor can it necessarily be measured by how you place in a competition.  You also learned something about your character.  When faced with a less-than-satisfactory result in a competition you could have just quit.  You didn't.  You pushed harder.

I see a lot of positives in this.  In time, I think you will too.

Jef

[practicingnow]

Since you're in great shape from all the practicing you did, why don't you make a demo recording of the repertoire now while it's in good shape, this way it's not a total loss.  At least you'll have that, and then the practicing wasn't for nothing...

[thierry13]

Anyways, this year i went to ask about the programme so that i can participate in it but to my surprise i found that the age limit became from 14 - 18 years not 16 - 21 like last year!!! (I am 19 and will be 20 next Wednesday)....

Hrm. There is not only one competition in the world. If you really are good enough to play in competitions, go to say rubenstein competition, van cliburn, piano-e-competition, etc. That would be way better too.

[kghayesh]

rubenstein competition, van cliburn, piano-e-competition,

Man, i hope i can do so, but the issue is that i am not a professional pianist who studies at a conservatory. I am such a college student who studies music on a private basis but who is talking it so seriously almost like professional ones. I have read the requirements of some of these competitions. They require you to send some biography and the certificates of your musical studies. ( I don't know if an DipABRSM or an LRSM can work.)

I mean, i think that even if i am pretty good, i don't think i will be accepted in such prestigious competitions.

Am i right?? or i have some hope?

[pianowelsh]

you have to start somewhere and you have all the rep you worked on - which NEEDS to be played out now! Have you taken any other small scale international competitions? If not i would do so. Type in international piano competitions into google and there is a site (forget the name) but its like a directory of piano competitions and it goes by country, some are Big others are really small and you would fit most of age requirements.

[kghayesh]

Hey pianowelsh,
I am thinking of this too, but don't they require candidates to be studying music in a music college or to have a diploma from one??