I’m delighted to be flying to Hong Kong later today for a month to adjudicate at various piano competitions and music festivals. I am looking forward to hearing some excellent piano playing as well as interesting repertoire, too. Classical music is a high priority in China and the Far East generally, as I discovered when I examined in Hong Kong for the ABRSM several times a few years ago, and, therefore, it will be a pleasure and a privilige to be adjudicating in this wonderful and very exciting part of the world.

I a ‘rebloging’ the following post, which I wrote last year, dealing with different aspects of taking part in music festivals. Hope you find it useful if you are considering participating.

Music Festivals – A platform for Musicians

Music Festivals are an ideal platform for young musicians to learn their trade. There are hundreds around the UK, so there is bound to be one near you. If you have a child who is preparing to take a music exam then a music festival is the best place for them to get used to giving a performance in public. Performing is a stressful business and everyone who does it needs practice especially when they are just starting out.

If you enter your child for a festival, they will usually be placed in a class of similar age and ability. All competitors will be invited to perform their piece or pieces to a small audience and an adjudicator. At the end of the class, after everyone has played, the adjudicator will give comments and feedback on every performance and then announce a winner. The atmosphere at these events is both friendly and relaxed, quite different from an examination.

The old adage is true here; it really isn’t the winning, its the taking part that counts. The one major benefit of performing in public is to build confidence. The more confidence a student has the better they will act under pressure. Learning to perform really is a useful tool for so many situations in life. Its the reason why I feel that every child should have the opportunity to learn an instrument.

If you wish to investigate Music Festivals as a possible activity for you, or your child, here are a few suggestions:

Make sure your child really knows the piece they are going to perform; perhaps ask them to play it through to a few relatives first before the big day. If a competitor is unprepared it could knock their confidence and stop them trying to play in public ever again. Preparation is the key to success.

Make sure your child has plenty of family support on the day, and its a good idea to watch the whole event.

Always give your child plenty of praise afterwards; you have no idea how difficult it is to get up and perform in public.

You can get lots of information about music festivals all over the UK (and abroad) from the following website: www.federationoffestivals.org.uk.

Publications

Melanie Spanswick has written and published a wide range of courses, anthologies, examination syllabuses, and text books, including Play it again: PIANO (published by Schott Music). This best-selling graded, progressive piano course contains a large selection of repertoire featuring a huge array of styles and genres, with copious practice tips and suggestions for every piece.

For more information, please visit the publications page, here.