1. PRACTICE efficiently and effectively. Don’t waste time racing through your solo at break neck speeds! You’ll do more good by practicing hard passages at HALF TEMPO with a metronome at this point.
2. Photo copy the original of the piece for yourself. Give the judge the original. (Ensembles must have a SCORE of all parts for the judge. If one isn’t available, you must write it out yourself.)
3. Clean up the judge’s copy and number all the measure, including rest measures. If the beginning is an incomplete measure, do not count it. DO NOT give the judge a photocopied part!.
ON THE DAY:
1. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the performance time. Check in with the warm-up chairperson in the warm-up room immediately.
2. Don’t be surprised if they are running behind and you have to play later then you originally were scheduled. Be flexible. If your accompanist is not there, politely say your accompanist is with someone else and let someone go ahead of you.
3. Dress to show respect for your art. That means girls in a dress or skirt and top and boys in dress pants and shirt and tie and/or sweater or jacket. Always wear comfort able shoes.
4. You should warm-up a little before you come if time permits. But be careful. There is such a thing as “over practice.”
WARMING UP:
1. Warm-up slowly, with long tone studies from your lessons, including Trevor Wye Practice Book, #1, scales in whole notes, crescendo and diminuendo exercises, always thinking about BREATHING!
2. Run through difficult passages in your solo SLOWLY. Don’t freak yourself out by playing them too fast.
3. Ensembles, check your tuning. Use a tuner.
4. Don’t be intimidated by “show-offs” who are whizzing up and down their instruments. Smile politely at them and go to the other side of the room!
THE PERFORMANCE:
1. When you come up to the performing area, IF there is applause, acknowledge it with a bow. Turn and face your accompanist and tune. Breathe.
2. Adjust the stand so that your pianist, the judge and the audience can see your face! Move the piano if you need to. Don’t hide behind the stand. Try not to place yourself and the stand behind the piano. Breathe!
3. If the judge is still busy with the previous event when you first get in the room, ask the room chairperson if you may tune. Take your time tuning – have your pianist help you if you are inexperienced or need help. Breathe!
4. After your event is announced, smile at the judge and the audience as if to say “hello”. Breathe!!
5. Before beginning, give yourself mental cues for stance, posture and breathing. Take one deep cleansing breath to help settle yourself. Be sure your accompanist is ready. Enjoy yourself! BREATHE!!
GOOD LUCK!