Toby,
I find there are always extremist in any worthwhile endeavor. The end
result of any competition is comparable to what you take in as you go.
Those that 'must win' and 'be best' have their reward - or frustration-
whichever.
I do not know very much about Scottish competitions, however, I suspect
competitions are universally akin. I have only competed three times in one
of the Highland Games here in the US. I am relatively new to the harp and
started when I was old enough to retire. Not being Scottish, all that I
know is what I have learned either during the workshops there, preparing for
competition, and now THIS wonderful list.
Year before last while getting ready to compete I chose three tunes--all
named after Castles. The wonder world of the internet allowed me to learn
much about them and their history. I even downloaded pictures, enlarged
them, framed them and take them with me to present programs to Middle
Schools and play the tunes. This has been fun for me and the kids really
love learning about things they are not exposed to in this country. ( BTW-I
have managed to win and place-probably because of lack of competition!)
I AM familiar in traditional Old Time competitions. You are absolutely
correct when you speak of egos and grandstanding, but I must admit that most
of these folk are really good musicians and much can be learned from them.
Here again, I enter for the love of the music, people and the excitement of
being able to play for an audience. Even though I play in a band and do
lots of solo gigs, nothing beats the shear fun of comparing tunes and
arrangements.
NOW- the thrust of this is : If I did not enter these competitions I
would not put forth the effort to learn, understand, express and perfect. I
would only learn and play - and it would be acceptable for my audiences. I
love performing more than I do competing, but the competing , I believe make
me a better performer!
Thanks, Toby fo all the great comments and information you share!
Mary Umbarger
Harmony, NC
From: "Toby Rider" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 11:08 AM
Subject: Re: [scots-l] Tempos
> I don't know about this Sue. I have to say that I disagree with the
> people who are into these contests. Especially the ones who use
> competitions as a balm to their egos.. IMHO, there's something wrong with
> that. In Ireland they have trad. music competitions as well and I think
> those are not good either.
> I've met some fiddlers *especially* who have some serious ego issues. If
> anything, they could use being cut down a couple notches.. Then again, I
> seem to remember this discussion coming up on this list about 6 years
> ago.
> I'm actually a competitve cyclist as well, and that sport is psycho
> competitive. To the level where even amateurs will do some pretty nasty
> things to each other in order to try to win. I don't let it go to my head
> whenever I win, because it's just a sport, there's no emotional exposure
> when you're competing in a sport. It's just a raw test of strength, speed
> and tactics, those are pretty easily quantifiable. You aren't laying your
> guts and emotions out on the line like you do when you play music. Music
> is different then sports. Music is about self-expression. Who is to judge
> that?
>
> The whole musical competition atmosphere creates a bunch of players who
> sound like robots. I can't stand listening to those GHP competition
> recordings, they're dull as cold oatmeal, because they all sound the
> same. However I am totally crazy about Barry Shears, Paul MacNeil, Gordon
> Duncan, because they're different, they're taking chances, they're
> expressing some emotions. They've made the GHP a real musicial instrument
> to me again.
>
> Imagine this, we have a competition to see who is better, Mile Davis,
> Charlie Parker or Dizzy Gillispe. Or who is better, The Smiths, The Cure,
> or Jesus and The Mary Chain. Or The Beatles, The Byrds, or Cream.
> It would never happen (not just because some of those guys are dead, or
> play different instruments). Just the thought of it actually seems
> amusing.
> There are plenty of subtle ways of affirming that what you're playing
> sounds good, and plenty of ways to motivate yourself to continue to
> improve your music, without having to be officially judged.. For example,
> you play a gig, and you get asked back to play again. You start getting
> phone calls to play at different places and they actually pay you, you
> play a gig and get a nice little write up in the paper, you're playing
> somewhere and women start throwing things (not vegatables) onto the
> platform :-)
>
>
>
> > There are many people in the Scottish musical world who agree
> > with
> > you, and competing is not for them. But there are many many people who
> > love the challenge of competing, and I think we should be careful about
> > discounting them. If we have "rules" it is because we want the playing
> > field to be even, and everything understood clearly. It is NOT because
> > we get off on ordering people around.
> >
> > Many people use competitions as a balm to their egos, and it is
> >
> > dangerous to have comp rules that would allow the judges too much power.
>
>
> --
> Toby Rider ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
>
> "He either fears his fate too much,
> Or his deserts are small,
> That puts it not unto the touch
> To win or lose it all."
>
> - James Graham, Marquis of Montrose
>
>
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>
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