Music Festivals, Should I encourage my pupils to participate? Options

[dolcevita]

I am relatively new at this. I have 9 pupils aged 7-10 and none are yet at Grade 1 level. I'm wondering whether to encourage the more advanced ones to take part in the novice classes at the local music festival. I personally get terrible performance anxiety and would hate to put a child through a festival if they were going to feel the same way, but I feel I should be offering the opportunity to them nonetheless. I'm keen to hear others' opinions on whether or not it is a useful experience for children and any specific points I could use to "sell" the idea to them and their parents. I certainly won't force anyone to enter if they don't want to.

[Bass Clef]

I think it would be worth suggesting it. As you said, you are not going to force them. Some of them may not even know that things like this exist, and might be glad to find out. Do you know what the local festival is like? It would be great if you could speak to someone who has first hand experience of this particular festival, and find out how friendly it is, etc. Many pupils will not share your anxiety for performing - I think everyone has some anxiety, but it's not debilitating for most people. This could be a really positive experience for them. I would say go for it! Another thing you could do is organise your own informal pupil concert. There have been a few threads about those, so maybe you could do a search to get some ideas.

[Seer_Green]

When I was learning, I didn't have any teachers which had any involvement in local festivals, so I haven't any first hand experience. Consequently, I've never entered any of my pupils. From what I've heard about them from others, I'd personally stay well clear. Whilst there might be some very good ones, the idea of playing in front of other people and then standing in front of them while the adjudicator gives a verbal critique of your performance would fill me with horror. Alongside that, the squabling amongst teachers and parents, it doesn't seem to be a worthwhile experience for anyone. As I say, there might be some very good ones, but everything I've heard over the years has sadly been negative. I think there are plenty of more user-friendly opportunities to perform in front of other people.

[PianoNotes]

I suppose the other thing you could do is hold pupils' concerts, if you are not sure about the festivals, thus giving your young pupils performance opportunities in a safe environment to begin with.

EDIT: Just realised that is what Bass Cleff has written.

[Banjogirl]

I used to hate festivals as a child but my own children have always more or less enjoyed participating. I think festivals are much more friendly and encouraging than they used to be. Having said that there is one in our area which i won't go to any more as their attitude is horrible. Even some of their volunteers have left because they didn't like the arrogance of teh set up. But our nearest, quite small festival is lovely. The people are all really nice and there's a very friendly atmosphere. I'd never force a child to enter but for those who like that sort of thing it's beneficial. It's good to learn you don't always win but also lovely if you do.

[Ursie]

I agree with Bass Clef. I found it to be a positive experience for my students.

When I was teaching I gave my students the choice and mostly they were keen. Some students who didn't want to take exams, because they found them too nerve racking, were really keen to play at the festival! I made sure they were very well prepared and I always went along to hear them play. The festival in my area had various classes for pre grade 1 including a duet class - this worked out well for the students who desperately wanted to play but were too shy to play on their own - not to mention the benefit this had to developing their musician skills.

My only concern is that you should check what the venue is like and what piano is being made available for the festival's use. Perhaps you should observe the festival this time and if you're happy with the "feel" of it you can enter your students next time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[SueHM]

When I was learning, I didn't have any teachers which had any involvement in local festivals, so I haven't any first hand experience. Consequently, I've never entered any of my pupils. From what I've heard about them from others, I'd personally stay well clear. Whilst there might be some very good ones, the idea of playing in front of other people and then standing in front of them while the adjudicator gives a verbal critique of your performance would fill me with horror. Alongside that, the squabling amongst teachers and parents, it doesn't seem to be a worthwhile experience for anyone. As I say, there might be some very good ones, but everything I've heard over the years has sadly been negative. I think there are plenty of more user-friendly opportunities to perform in front of other people.

How sad that you have had such negative experiences. Our local festival used to be a bit like this, but nowadays is much more friendly, and in recent years it has been a wonderful learning opportunity for all concerned, with friendly adjudicators who made general comments to the whole class and then commented on the positives of each performance. Some even gave a mini master-class if time allowed. Children learn so much from watching others perform, and as a teacher it is a great way to garner ideas for repertoire and so on. I would say a small informal concert for your pupils about a week before by way of a rehearsal for those who have never done anything similar would be a really good idea.
Emphasise the positives - a chance to perform in public and get feedback from an expert, learn from watching others, be inspired etc. I also point out to parents that it is a useful life experience - presenting yourself in public, dealing with the nerves and any little mistakes and carrying off a performance - great preparation for making speeches, giving presentations etc in later life. Offer it up as an interesting optional extra and try not to communicate your own anxieties about performance to your pupils. The best way for them to get over nerves is to perform regularly to each other so that it is not a big deal.

[Cyrilla]

FWIW, I absolutely loathed playing in festivals as a child - it was a SLIGHTLY less horrific experience than exams though not by much.

They just reinforced for me that I was pretty hopeless at this music lark..

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[dolcevita]

My only concern is that you should check what the venue is like and what piano is being made available for the festival's use. Perhaps you should observe the festival this time and if you're happy with the "feel" of it you can enter your students next time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I have done this. I went along last year and listened to the most appropriate class. (I should have listened to a few more really.) The piano was fine, the atmosphere was friendly and unintimidating (though possibly not from a 7 yr old's point of view). The adjudicator delivered his verdicts at the end of the class and said lots of nice things, while pointing out areas that needed more work. So I am happy with the feel of it.

I've not held a recital as such - so I will give that some thought as well. Now I think about it, some of them have played in a school concert and were keen to play, so perhaps I'm wrong to worry about the performance anxiety. Certainly 7-8 yr olds are likely to be less self-conscious about that sort of thing than teenagers, so there's something to be said for getting them performing in front of others at an early age.

[Clari Nicki1]

I used to do music festivals as a child- I didn't much like doing solo classes but quite liked doing the duet class. I have never suggested it to my pupils but maybe I should ! Some might really enjoy it.
Most of my pupils do enjoy the informal concerts I put on.

[maggiemay]

I found them not particularly enjoyable as a child - although I don't think I suffered from performance anxiety - just that the whole atmosphere was not pleasant.

My one experience as a teacher was ghastly and I have not been tempted to repeat it.

My pupils very much enjoy our informal concerts: a good opportunity to hear each other play, and to inspire some to the next stage.

[Sunrise]

We have a lovely friendly festival here in Gib that has been going for 8 years now (I think) and is getting bigger and more popular every year. The adjudicator is always careful to make the criticism constructive and very postive, particularly for the young entrants. We also have non-competitive classes where the less confident can play, and all entrants in those classes get a participation medal. All in all it is a very positive experience for all concerned.

[fsharpminor]

May I unashamedly mention that the syllabus for the next Wirral Festival (next April) is now on line at http://www.wirralfestival.co.uk/music

[Seer_Green]

As a child, I wouldn't have minded playing at a festival - it wouldn't have bothered me as I didn't suffer from any sort of performance anxiety. What I wouldn't have liked would have been the fact it was a competition, because I've never seen music in that light. Whilst we can dress it up and say we're only putting pupils in so that they can gain performance experience, the majority of other participants are in it to win. If pupils want to enter to be competitative, then OK, but if it's a case of wanting to gain performance experience then I think there are better ways to achieve that. I think that some of the competitative festivals have just got too big, and sadly I think small is beautiful.

[Cyrilla]

Sorry to add another negative post, but I did put my junior choir in for a local festival about four times, a few years ago - and it was again a most unpleasant experience for me, and in the main not a positive one for the children either.

Cliques abounded and one adjudicator in particular was patronising in the extreme, eventually causing the whole hall to go silent in shock when she picked clearly the weakest choir as the winners.

We did win on the last occasion - but...oh dear, I've come over all funny just thinking about it.

Not fun. Not again. Not never.

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