Competition Research: Continuation Is the Key to Improvement

2014/10/14 | コメント(0)  | トラックバック(0)  | 
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Last time we introduced a research about how early challenge to competitions leads to better results. Here is another research on "continuation", as one of the keys to improvement in piano performance. 

Among the participants in 2014 PTNA Piano Competition, 75% of those who have continued to participate in the past 10 years successfully passed the preliminary rounds, whereas 34% passed among those who participated only 1 year (see the chart). 
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Jun Naito, 1st grade high school student, has been participating in PTNA Piano Competition from grade A2, the beginners' level. The participation has been great incentive for him as it gives not only opportunity to study 4 different periods and styles of music, but also to share those experiences with his colleagues in his piano studio as well as with finalists whom he met in Tokyo. 
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This year he came back to the competition after one year break, and decided to take part in the grade F (under 18), not the amateur division, to be on the same stage with the same condition with his rivals across Japan. In so doing, he made extra effort to manage both study and piano efficiently.
His teacher, Misako Yorita, encourages students to take part in the competition from grade A2 or A1, based on a belief that it brings them mental growth as well as technical and musical development. To accomplish an objective nurtures one's concentration, patience, and courage to overcome any difficulties.

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Playing duo / ensemble is another key to success. Among the solo division participants, those who also participate in duo division passed the preliminary round in a higher rate (see the blue line in the chart). Especially in the grade A1 and B, the rates differ in 20%(see the blue and red lines). We would say that duo experience in the early stage could bring good influence on solo performance.

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In 2014, Masako Matano taught 4 finalists both in solo and duo divisions. She encourages her students to play duo from early childhood, as she knows having one's counterpart keeps his/her motivation at a high level. After 4 years of challenge to make them participate in both divisions, all the 21 duo groups passed the preliminary round this year. She prefers to match students with different characters to make "chemistry" happen, and to expect their personal and musical growth.


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