Home › Forums › Forum Archives › Professional Harpists › Competition/Big Performance Preparation › Re: Competition/Big Performance Preparation
There are many things worth commenting on there. The most important aspect of preparation, apart from practicing and memorizing, and developing a real interpretation would be practice performing a sufficient number of times. When that is not possible, there are a few additional ways I have devised to help make one’s performance indestructible:
Playing with many distractions going on
Playing in the dark
Playing with your eyes closed
Playing in odd clothing and shoes
Playing naked
Playing on videotape for scrutiny
Playing for sound recording
Playing pieces backwards
Developing a visual memory of each piece
As to why compete, I don’t know. It really distorts your life. Are the prizes worth it? Is losing worth it? It is good experience for performing and competing. It can also be destructive. My teacher always held it was best to simply perform recitals, preferably where one can get reviewed. Competitions do not seem to support artistry. Having something to say, something worth saying, in a compelling way is necessary to merit an audience’s interest. I think any jury would be relieved to hear greatly musical playing as opposed to yet another technical whirlwind. Get beyond the notes.