Competitions: Pros and Cons(iderations)

PROS: 

• Goal setting and practice motivation
• Receive feedback on your performance from professional adjudicators
• Unique performance opportunity (different than studio recitals, group classes, and community outreach concerts - more high stakes but a great way to build resilience and confidence)
• Experience and resume-building: especially great for high school students; as this is something I frequently mention in letters of recommendation I write for them (not just awards received but how they persevered through the process)
• Opportunity to listen to other high-achieving students from New England (selected winners perform publicly as awards are announced)
• Students may be motivated to work hard throughout the year to prepare for the next competition (start earlier, pick more challenging pieces, etc).

CONS(IDERATIONS):

• Music competitions can be competitive and subjective. Even when you perform at your best, you may not receive any awards.
• There are many factors that influence judging: the variables that each judge personally determines are most important to them (technical proficiency, repertoire level, artistry, etc) - players cannot anticipate this. "Different day, different judges, different results" is really a thing.
• The emotional readiness (and maturity) of the student is crucial. If they will take the results very personally this could do more harm than good.
• It is crucial that parents are supportive, positive, and affirming throughout the preparation process and after the program, no matter what the results!
• Preparation will require more time, focus, and discipline than the student may be used to. I will help structure the preparation process in terms of weekly goals, a timeline, and pre-competition performance opportunities.
• Your goal is to improve through the process (taking on music that may initially seem really hard, but then successfully prepare it with my assistance) and play your best. If you learn from the experience and look forward to doing it again, you are a winner.

ADDITIONAL READING
http://www.pianoprodigies.com/blog/festivals-and-competitions-what-are-judges-looking-for