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Date Posted: 19:28:52 02/23/05 Wed
Author: Elijah
Subject: Re: Words of Advice
In reply to: Nuther Numpty 's message, "Re: Words of Advice" on 08:11:44 02/23/05 Wed

A little late to do it at this games, but for ANY games in the future, there is a very, very good way you can improve your band competing.

SOLO COMPETE!!!!

In band playing, it's a very big temptation to slack off on execution, phrasing, musicality, etc., because the thought goes through your mind, "Oh, it's ok. I've got the rest of the band covering my sloppy [birl, doubling, etc...]." That, of course, is a bad, bad, bad, naughty mindset. But one I've fallen in to many times myself.

That's why solo competing is so productive to good band playing. It forces you to pay attention to absolutely EVERYTHING. You realize you can't get away with that when it's just you and the judge. This translates in to your band piping, too! It WILL make you a better band player. It WILL make you a better player, overall.

It also does a tremendous amount for your nerves, also. Standing next to 10 of your buddies and playing a tune isn't anywhere near as nerve-shaking as standing there, by yourself, in front of the judge. You go in to band competitions with more confidence. "Hey, this bozo judged my playing this morning, I was by myself, and I came out ok. Ha, now I've got my buds with me. This'll be fun."

"I can't put that time in to it!"

I'm in the same boat with ya there! IF you CAN put the time and energy in to it, DO IT! You'll only thank yourself for it.

"I'd just lose anyway."

So? Are you doing this to win or to have fun because you love the bagpipe and the music it produces?
HAVE FUN WITH IT!!! It's music. Make it rock. Roll. Whatever.

Finally, never, ever, ever, under no circumstances, go to play for the sole purpose of winning. You WILL get nervous. You WILL mess up. You WILL beat yourself up for no reason at all. Go in there to play good bagpipe music. Don't think of the judge like a demi-god whose almighty and powerful pen has the breath of life and stroke of death. He's just a judge. He's just listening. I'm starting to look at judges less like judges and more like a chance to get some high-quality instruction. By far my biggest obstacle I've found over the years is not letting the judge get to me.

And guess what, he's gonna be writing stuff, no matter what!! Whether it's good, bad, or just stating the painfully obvious, he'll be writing something. Don't worry about when you see them jotting stuff down.

Wow, this quickly turned from a quick post to my thesis on competing... I'll hush it for now. :)

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