Piano Competitions, North West Competitions Options

[IrisH - LoonY]

Are there any North West Piano Competitions for student pianists? Or even just general competitions? I've already missed the Southport Festival, and my school competition is terribly low standard, if it wasn't for a competitor entering the Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin, I could have won hands down with the Schubert Impromptu No.4 in A flat

[SteveHopwood]

Hi I-L.

Go here for the Federation of Festivals. They publish a year book with all their festivals listed, along with when they happen and a contact number. Let me know if you have difficulty.

Steve (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[IrisH - LoonY]

I'm guessing you email them for a copy? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[SteveHopwood]

I'm guessing you email them for a copy? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

yes, but it costs a few quid - not much, but might be a time to tap the parents (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[IrisH - LoonY]

I'm guessing you email them for a copy? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

yes, but it costs a few quid - not much, but might be a time to tap the parents (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

No can do on that. I need to get cash for
1) SRC subscription
2) Grade 7 Recorder books
3) Clothes
4) My meal on the 25th
5) Clubbing on the 21st
6) Meeting someone at a cafe in Liverpool on the 20th
7) Train fares for 4 5 6
8) Grade 7 Recorder exam fee
9) Anything else that may crop up

[chocolatedog]

Expensive business, life, isn't it?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Fen]

Hmm... so you're looking for a standard that's higher than your school one, but where you still can win as long as no one trumps your Schubert? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

More practically, perhaps your school music department could be persuaded to buy a copy of the festivals guide - might be of use to several students?

[YetAnotherPianist]

No can do on that. I need to get cash for
...
5) Clubbing on the 21st

You need cash to go clubbing? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[chocolatedog]

No can do on that. I need to get cash for
...
5) Clubbing on the 21st

You need cash to go clubbing? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

No YAP - re-write that as You need to go clubbing???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Incidentally where's the "It's not the winning that's important; it's the taking part...." ??!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (Joking....... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )

[AnotherPianist]

...my school competition is terribly low standard, if it wasn't for a competitor entering the Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin, I could have won hands down with the Schubert Impromptu No.4 in A flat

If pieces at that level are being played and the standard of the competition is 'terribly low' I dread to think how badly they must be being played. Is it the school who can name the hardest piano piece and sit at the piano claiming they're playing it competition (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)?

No can do on that. I need to get cash for
...
5) Clubbing on the 21st

You need cash to go clubbing? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

No YAP - re-write that as You need to go clubbing???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I-L., you won't need any money to go clubbing since you're too young to get in: quite a cheap night really, you go to the door, they say you can't go in and you save lots of money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif). Bit of a waste of train fare though....

[IrisH - LoonY]

...my school competition is terribly low standard, if it wasn't for a competitor entering the Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin, I could have won hands down with the Schubert Impromptu No.4 in A flat

If pieces at that level are being played and the standard of the competition is 'terribly low' I dread to think how badly they must be being played. Is it the school who can name the hardest piano piece and sit at the piano claiming they're playing it competition (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)?

No, it's just that most are Grade 5 and below. But incidently, the hardest piece in each category (Junior, Senior and Prepatory school) ALWAYS wins. I'm hoping that the Schubert can compare to the Chopin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

...my school competition is terribly low standard, if it wasn't for a competitor entering the Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin, I could have won hands down with the Schubert Impromptu No.4 in A flat

If pieces at that level are being played and the standard of the competition is 'terribly low' I dread to think how badly they must be being played. Is it the school who can name the hardest piano piece and sit at the piano claiming they're playing it competition (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)?

No can do on that. I need to get cash for
...
5) Clubbing on the 21st

You need cash to go clubbing? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

No YAP - re-write that as You need to go clubbing???? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I-L., you won't need any money to go clubbing since you're too young to get in: quite a cheap night really, you go to the door, they say you can't go in and you save lots of money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif). Bit of a waste of train fare though....

Well...I wouldn't be too hasty about that now AP (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) But I do like going to Manchester to be with people so it wouldn't be a total waste of train fare!

CD, I don't need to go clubbing at all, but since it'll be 2 days before my birthday when I plan to go, why not eh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

YAP yes, money i.e. train fare, drinks (only coke/water etc, I don't drink alcohol), food, protection (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) etc

Hmm... so you're looking for a standard that's higher than your school one, but where you still can win as long as no one trumps your Schubert? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

More practically, perhaps your school music department could be persuaded to buy a copy of the festivals guide - might be of use to several students?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Not quite

Possibly, I'm not sure, I might enter a festival close to my school if it still goes on

Expensive business, life, isn't it?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Very (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[sarah-flute]

No, it's just that most are Grade 5 and below. But incidently, the hardest piece in each category (Junior, Senior and Prepatory school) ALWAYS wins. I'm hoping that the Schubert can compare to the Chopin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

If the hardest piece always wins, you may as well play a hard piece badly, then? The judges should have more sense... How a piece is played is more important: I'd rather listen to someone play an easier piece really beautifully than someone lose a fight with a harder one. Playing all the notes in approximately the right order is barely half the battle....

CD, I don't need to go clubbing at all, but since it'll be 2 days before my birthday when I plan to go, why not eh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

If you have money for train fare and clubbing then you have money to get the festival guide, it's just a question of where your priorities lie...

YAP yes, money i.e. train fare, drinks (only coke/water etc, I don't drink alcohol), food, protection (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) etc

I think YAP was suggesting that you don't actually NEED to go clubbing - you want to - which is a different kettle of fish entirely.

[YetAnotherPianist]

I think YAP was suggesting that you don't actually NEED to go clubbing - you want to - which is a different kettle of fish entirely.

Yes, that's what I was trying to get at (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

[IrisH - LoonY]

No, it's just that most are Grade 5 and below. But incidently, the hardest piece in each category (Junior, Senior and Prepatory school) ALWAYS wins. I'm hoping that the Schubert can compare to the Chopin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

If the hardest piece always wins, you may as well play a hard piece badly, then? The judges should have more sense... How a piece is played is more important: I'd rather listen to someone play an easier piece really beautifully than someone lose a fight with a harder one. Playing all the notes in approximately the right order is barely half the battle....

CD, I don't need to go clubbing at all, but since it'll be 2 days before my birthday when I plan to go, why not eh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

If you have money for train fare and clubbing then you have money to get the festival guide, it's just a question of where your priorities lie...

YAP yes, money i.e. train fare, drinks (only coke/water etc, I don't drink alcohol), food, protection (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) etc

I think YAP was suggesting that you don't actually NEED to go clubbing - you want to - which is a different kettle of fish entirely.

Well of course the better played the piece the better chance of winning (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

That's the thing Sarah, I DON'T have the money (yet)

I dunno, I'll ask in school about local competitions. Saves getting the book (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[AnotherPianist]

No, it's just that most are Grade 5 and below. But incidently, the hardest piece in each category (Junior, Senior and Prepatory school) ALWAYS wins. I'm hoping that the Schubert can compare to the Chopin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Maybe I'm missing something here buy you can't really complain because you are grade 5 standard too surely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif).

Well of course the better played the piece the better chance of winning (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

That's not a competition for piano playing then: if it were the best performance would win, taking into account both the difficulty of the piece, but more importantly how well it is played. Someone who can play a hard piece badly is not a skilled pianist: they're an inferior robot (inferior since the robot wouldn't make any mistakes) but someone who can play a simple piece well is actually demonstrating pianistic skill (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif). Obviously it's a balance between the two, but if the hardest piece always wins it's not representative of who's the best pianist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif).