Competitions

[mcdiddy1]

I have never taken part of a piano competition but I have some advance students who are interested in entering. Do you think competitions are beneficial and what kind of advice would you give for allowing students to find success in these competitions. Would also love to hear your experiences in handling competitions : both good and bad!

[carl_h]

I'm no teacher nor an experienced pianist.
But I can say that if a person would like to enter in a competition and their head is in the right place, you should let them go for it.
Some people are just more competitive then others, some don't care at all.
I personally think it is something good, it gives more motivation, an extra goal to the practice and it can be a really great experience.
They should be aware of the downside for if things go wrong that they won't be discouraged.

I would never push someone in to it, but encourge if they do.
Hope this helped a bit.

Carl

[mcdiddy1]

I'm no teacher nor an experienced pianist.
But I can say that if a person would like to enter in a competition and their head is in the right place, you should let them go for it.
Some people are just more competitive then others, some don't care at all.
I personally think it is something good, it gives more motivation, an extra goal to the practice and it can be a really great experience.
They should be aware of the downside for if things go wrong that they won't be discouraged.

I would never push someone in to it, but encourge if they do.
Hope this helped a bit.

Carl

Thanks I appreciate the advice

[jzp93]

I believe it is beneficial. It took me 5 yrs to finally
agree w my sons teacher to enter him in a
competition and I regret that I waited so long. I should
have started him @8 because at that age he was like a
Sponge learning fast. His teacher told him winning is
not important but playing perfectly the way you were
taught is. The exposure to so many different talents
and styles gives them an idea of what to expect next time.
 They learn what it's like to play in front of judges and
 a huge crowd. Best of all is playing the grand concert d
Steinway. You also have an idea of what you're upagainst
if u plan to come back. Our decision was last min and he
only had 5 mos to learn his 3rd piece Beethoven's sonata. Most of them play
perfectly but IF they make a mistake theyshould NOT repeat
or stop. It is also wonderful to watch, in our case a boy
from China won and the etude he played was la Campanella.

[jzp93]

Sorry I forgot that they should dress appropriately.
They should warm up at home cause in our case they
only gave us 15 min before their turn. And they should ask
to try the competition piano, they gave us 5min. totry it.

[mcdiddy1]

I see....I gave my students some Beethoven Sonatas to learn for the competions. Do people who play Sonatas actually win or are judges more impressed with technical etudes and such?

[jzp93]

I see....I gave my students some Beethoven Sonatas to learn for the competions. Do people who play Sonatas actually win or are judges more impressed with technical etudes and such?

His experience is very limited since this was his 1st but it was the Russian Int's Music Comp. in Ca. The requirements was Etude, Sonata and Russian piece not more than 15min. A lot played Beethoven but the ones who won played Haydn & Prokofiev Sonata. Here's a past winner

she played Haydn's Sonata, Bach prelude and Dumka. I heard judges like it if you play pieces from different periods. The 2nd and 3rd place played Liszt Gnomenreigen for their etude.   In the 13-17 yo... the 15 yo winner (from China again lol) played Beethoven sonata op36 no2 1st Mvt, rachmaninoff Sonata, Prokofiev Sonata, Bach Prelude and Fugue & Rachmaninoff Etude Tableau. It's weird 'cause a lot of the competitors played Beethoven Sonata but most of the winners dont. His teacher said Beethoven is hard to interpret, is that true?

[mcdiddy1]

Wow thats funny because that is one of the sonatas I assigned. I agree with the idea Beethoven is difficult to interpret but they are wonderful pieces that make a piano not sound like a piano but like an orchestra, emotions, character and stories. Of course that is true with other composer but I appreciate the artistry of his sonatas most of all.

[jzp93]

Okay. I wanted her to teach my son a Haydn sonata but she gave him Beethoven choices again. She says she can do any Beethoven edition w no problem so obviously she's a fan. Oh well...

[jzp93]

Wow thats funny because that is one of the sonatas I assigned. I agree with the idea Beethoven is difficult to interpret but they are wonderful pieces that make a piano not sound like a piano but like an orchestra, emotions, character and stories. Of course that is true with other composer but I appreciate the artistry of his sonatas most of all.

You know after you mentioned that Beethoven's pieces sound like an orchestra I remember watching Kissin on DVD play Beethoven's Eccosaise, Turkish March, Rondo E Capriccio,,they all sounded so beautiful but not piano like at all. I used to think "wow, he makes the piano sound like an orchestra even the children's pieces". I thought it was Kissin lol. Now it makes sense to me. Thanks for that info. It always baffled me why those particular pieces sounded so unique until you mentioned that Beethoven's pieces are like that, I thought it was just Evgeny. I still like his interpretations of those pieces more than others I've seen though.

[mcdiddy1]

You know after you mentioned that Beethoven's pieces sound like an orchestra I remember watching Kissin on DVD play Beethoven's Eccosaise, Turkish March, Rondo E Capriccio,,they all sounded so beautiful but not piano like at all. I used to think "wow, he makes the piano sound like an orchestra even the children's pieces". I thought it was Kissin lol. Now it makes sense to me. Thanks for that info. It always baffled me why those particular pieces sounded so unique until you mentioned that Beethoven's pieces are like that, I thought it was just Evgeny. I still like his interpretations of those pieces more than others I've seen though.

Yes I love Beethoven for that...especially because I also play violin. 
I do not know if you have already but have a listen to the Beethoven lectures by Andras Schiffs

https://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/page/0,,1943867,00.html

It is very insightful commentary on all the sonatas that is amazing and of course the Beethoven master classes by Barenboim

Both very knowledgeable lectures on Beethoven that I enjoy listening to everyone and then

[jzp93]

Yes I love Beethoven for that...especially because I also play violin. 
I do not know if you have already but have a listen to the Beethoven lectures by Andras Schiffs

https://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/page/0,,1943867,00.html

It is very insightful commentary on all the sonatas that is amazing and of course the Beethoven master classes by Barenboim

Both very knowledgeable lectures on Beethoven that I enjoy listening to everyone and then


Wow. Thanks McDiddy. I also like the way Barenboim played Beethoven's
Sonata No. 6 in F, Opus 10 No. 2. My son played it and there's not a lot of it in you tube.

[nlunch]

Speaking of competitions, I would like to suggest reading Daniel Pollack's interview, he discusses positive and negative effects of piano competitions.
https://www.bakitone.com/about/interview/daniel_pollack