Contests: School sponsored and in the Community

The following are my personal thoughts and observations.

My studio is performance based. This means I am often involved with various performance competitions or contests by either showing up as an audience member to support current or past students, or by participating in the process and/or workings of the competition or contest. Many people today seem to be content with just saying everyone is a winner and avoid the disappointment that comes with losing all together. I am of the mind that if there is a way to score or rate a performance of any kind, it should be given. Even if that means someone loses. My reason for this is because you really can get something out of losing. It isn't fun, but it's a learning opportunity. When I didn't score high enough to make it in the Mixed All-State Choir my 9th grade year, it was tough. I was of course sad, but it made me work even harder the next year! I began to appreciate that honor more after I realized it wouldn't just be handed to me. I was humbled. I think we can all use some humble pie every now and again. It keeps us balanced. I truly believe that if someone is always rewarded for work or a performance that wasn't their best or didn't make the cut, then that person is being deprived of a beneficial experience. Notice I said beneficial. This doesn't mean everyone should be happy when they lose or don't perform to the expected standard. It means accept what happened, find some way you can do better in the future, and then work to BE better.

With school sponsored music contests, there is usually a system well established and plenty of guidelines. Even so, we can sometimes feel lost when we first start out. I like to think that I just need to take it one event at a time. Just as a performer should prioritize their practice schedule to what is in the most immediate future and then what has the most need for practice. I wish more students would be interested in participating in school contests. This is such a great opportunity to receive educated feedback to improve your performance! And it doesn't include your whole peer group watching you! Instead, students seem more eager to participate in talent shows and such in front of many peers and community members to be critiqued by people that, more often than not, have very little knowledge of best performance practice for musicians! I know that there are times where there may be a musically educated judge present at these events, but it doesn't happen often enough.

There are some competitions outside of school that can function as an educational experience for student performers, and I appreciate that these are available. I am a big fan of NFMC. National Federation of Music Clubs. This organization isn't only for musicians. NFMC has so many opportunities within its organization to help encourage music appreciation as well as performance. It is like the umbrella that covers our local Junior Music Festival each year. The District Junior Music Festival at Poteau is a great example of a performance opportunity that provides educational feedback. The judges are always music educators. Students are given ratings on various aspects of their performance so they know what things to work on for the future. I find this especially helpful for students that plan to continue with music after High School so that if they need to audition at a college, they have specific criteria to work with and build on.

I know that some times it may be difficult to participate in competitions when put against friends. It may not seem "fair" to your friendship to try and surpass them in an event. I can understand how some may arrive at that conclusion, but I disagree. At the various school honor choirs and bands in Oklahoma, whether it be All-State or District, they always have everyone sing or play the same material. This is so they can make a fair judgement of each students' ability at the given level. This is an accepted way to evaluate performance and determine who deserves to be selected for the honor of being in the band or choir. This was part of the logic discussed when the Oklahoma Federation of Music Clubs (OFMC) voted to change one of the rules for State Festival in the summer of 2017. It was decided that all students at the State competition would be required to perform their piece from the bulletin instead of having the option to choose between the required piece and their choice piece (not listed in the Bulletin, but expected to be at the same level). This keeps everyone on a fair playing field for the competition according to their level. This rule is in place in other states that participate in the same festival through NFMC as Oklahoma. This new rule has caused many complaints among students and some teachers. I believe that the reason most are upset with this new rule is because the unfair advantage has been removed for many. Many would select something simple from the list in the Bulletin that is a lower class (or difficulty level), and then find a really difficult "showy" piece to use to impress everyone. What should happen is if they want something really difficult, they should simply be entered in a higher (or more difficult) class so they have the option to choose the naturally "showy" pieces. But that is my thoughts. Some would rather take the easy route. Some say "but then we are going to hear the same songs over and over at State!" Yes, that can happen because there is a limited number of songs to choose from on the list. I would personally love to have a longer list of songs to choose from in each class level. But, that makes it even easier to determine a winner at State! It takes away the question of "was that really at the same level they are competing in?" that we have nearly every year with at least one or two participants. This helps keep it FAIR. But then we also have students that will be in the same category as a friend and not want to participate because they are singing the same song. Would you refuse to audition for All-State because your friend was auditioning? It's the same material. So based on that argument, only one of you could audition. If you say it's because you just want them to have a chance at going on, then that is just a metaphorical slap in the face to your friend. That tells your friend that they aren't good enough. I believe it is better to encourage your friend to do their best and tell them you will do your best. Then you can both be proud of what you accomplished that day no matter the results. Encourage one another and help each other grow. Competitions like Junior Music Festival are there to help performers grow through adjudication and performance opportunities. If you pass up the performance opportunity when provided, you are holding yourself back from a possible learning experience. Live performances are special, because anything can happen. Take every chance you can to be on the stage and enjoy the magic that comes with performing.