'Democratic' piano competitions

[rohansahai]

How practical will they be?
The pianists play ...the audience (live, television as well as webcast) vote and decide the winners !

[rc]

It's an interesting idea... But still the whole subjectivity is a problem.

Non-musicians don't know the first thing about piano playing, and they are the vast majority, so it wouldn't make much sense to let them decide. Then entertaining the audience would become a consideration, whoever plays Fur Elise and looks prettiest will win .

Restricting it to a group of musicians, or maybe specifically pianists, would be a better idea. That would perhaps become more a reflection of the groups tastes, which may vary from area to area. It would be neat to try though.

Still, the more I think about it, the more I feel competitions are a silly idea to begin with. Like figure skating in the olympics, how can you objectively judge such a thing?

[arensky]

Still, the more I think about it, the more I feel competitions are a silly idea to begin with. Like figure skating in the olympics, how can you objectively judge such a thing?

I've been invloved with them in all possible ways, as participant, judge, teacher, observer. You are right, they're silly. The only way to judge objectively is to count wrong notes, and is that what's important? I don't think so. So it ends up being subjective anyway. The best participant may not win, the winner may be a favorite of the judges, who may be picked because they will vote for a certain teacher's student(s), because that teacher has clout or pull in the musical community, be it local or international. Or a preponderence of the judges may favor a certain style or school of playing. The judges are human just like the rest of us and will vote their personal tastes and opinions when the chips are down. Besides the competition is only an end in itself. I think Agustin Anievas, who won some contests in the early 1960's, sums it up best...

"Prizes can help promote a career and give the artist a good start, but after that it is up to you."