Hitting the wall before competition

[jenilyn]

I am preparing my students for competition, but I am having a difficult time keeping them from going down hill.  They have all lost interest in their pieces and are simply not improving.  What is everyones' method on preparing for competition?  How do you keep your students excited and avoid hitting the wall?

[lostinidlewonder]

Get your students to do some practice performances this will keep their competition pieces sharp and train their "performing under pressure" abilities. Failing this you can always set them a weekly task to record their entire competition and present you with the best uncut rendition every week. I have also found the transpose button on a digital piano a god send to keep me interested when repeating pieces too many times, the ears certainly appreciate it.

[Bob]

There's a knack for timing things so the piece "peaks" just before or at the performance. 

I usually focus on practicing performing.  If the performance goes roughly around the level of the practicing I consider it a success.  But if they're still learning the piece or having serious trouble the piece is probably too much for them. 

And usually after the performance is when a student understands what the performance can do for them. 

If they're ready, you can let the piece slide a little and then revive it before the performance.  It wouldn't be bad to forget it a little either and let it sink in that way.  Have them work on something else that is more interesting but doesn't cover the performance material too much.

[mike saville]

I have them go through a list I call 'Prepare Properly' which makes sure they are ready - it also gives them sonethings to think about that are not 'pure' practice.

It includes things like:
- Memorise your piece even if you are using music for the performance.
- Record yourself. Note down points for improvement. Repeat.
- Play to an audience of friends and family.
- Do a dress rehearsal in the same clothes and time as your performance.