An Enriching Alternative to Competitions Darlene Irwin

This year in my studio, I decided to try something completely different. This past spring, I hosted a ‘Music Enrichment Day’ for my students. This was not a competition, but rather like having a mini lesson with another teacher. Each student had the opportunity to perform two to four songs while I sat in the waiting area the entire morning so that I could encourage them and keep things running smoothly. Memorization was not mandatory, but it was encouraged. Our guest teacher was my friend and colleague, Frances Balodis. 

My students participated for various reasons. Some wanted to gain confidence performing for another teacher. Others were preparing for an upcoming exam. Some just wanted to share their music and perform the best that they could. For some, it was their first time playing for another teacher. One brave adult student played 2 songs from memory. He was so proud of himself because he had not performed in many years and this was WAY out of his comfort zone! 

My ultimate goal was for each student to continue to grow and develop as musicians. 

Here are five tips to help you plan the best Music Enrichment Day ever:

Think Ahead

• Pick a date early. Let your students know in September that you are planning a special musical event in the spring. This year, April worked well because I had several students doing exams in June. 
• I did charge a registration fee for this event. This gave me funds I needed to pay the adjudicator plus a little extra for treats and adjudicator awards. 
• All registration forms and fees were collected by the middle of February. Click here to download a fillable PDF Information Sheet and a also a Registration Form that you could use for your own Music Enrichment Day. Feel free to copy and change these forms to suit your own needs.

Finding the Right Person

• Book the adjudicator early. Find a teacher in your area who shares your vision of teaching. I wanted someone who was competent, kind and understanding. 
• You could keep the cost down by teaming up with another teacher and offering to listen to their students as an exchange. 

Timing is Everything

• Know the length of each piece being played. This will help you to plan the day.
• Allow extra time so that the adjudicator can work on one or two problem areas. My students loved the fact that they had a mini lesson with Frances. She took the time to demonstrate and even danced a Bourrée with one of them! Click here to download a scheduling sheet (Excel).

Make it Special

• I made a small goodie bag for each student and Frances gave these out as they were leaving. Each bag had a tag that read "Thanks for Making Sweet Music Today". Even the adults appreciated receiving recognition for a job well done.
• Have the adjudicator compile a list of outstanding performances. Consider giving out some small adjudicator awards at the year-end recital. Click here for a fillable, downloadable PDF form for Adjudicator Awards.
• If you didn't want to give out awards, you could give each student a special certificate instead. 

Have Fun

• Music Enrichment Day is a great idea, especially for students who feel intimidated or overwhelmed with a formal festival or competition. It's also excellent for those who are performing for the very first time. Above all, you want this to be a fun and encouraging experience for everyone. 

My students had a great time. But you don’t have to take my word for it! Here’s what some of them had to say about our 2015 Music Enrichment Day:

• “I liked how she taught us different things that we could do with our songs”.
• “It was fun! It wasn’t stressful and I wasn’t scared. The lady was really nice”.
• "I really liked that she's a composer and I got to play a piece that she had written! It was very cool to know what her ideas and thoughts were when she wrote the song. She told me what she was imagining. It was amazing!
• “She gave us lots of great advice. I loved that it was such a comfortable feeling”.
• “This was my first time playing for someone else. I liked that she taught me something. It was fun when she showed me how to dance to my Bourrée”.
• “Miss Frances was really nice. She allowed us to let loose and play our best and she gave us great tips on how to improve our songs”.
• “I got to play in front of someone that I didn’t know. She helped me get ready for my exam”.
• “We got to work with an actual composer. She made me feel welcome”.
• “She liked my songs AND we got treats afterwards!”
• From a Grade 8 Student - “I loved how friendly she was. It wasn't intimidating at all and I instantly felt comfortable playing for her. Her passion for music was so obvious through her comments and excitement when she found out what songs I was playing for my exam. I thought it was a very encouraging event and made me feel more confident about my songs”.

And from my adult student (who also had 2 of his children participate). 

• “We had an opportunity to get an unbiased 3rd-party view. It provided validation for what I was doing and for what my teacher was teaching. I also liked that we were expected to perform at a high level. This encouraged me to work hard. It was a great opportunity to perform with nothing on the line. The most important thing was that she was kind and encouraging to everyone”.

Music Enrichment Day is a great opportunity for students to perform their pieces for another professional in a relaxed, friendly environment. It's also a great way to help students gain performance experience and confidence. Frances was the perfect choice for an adjudicator. She was able to reinforce the things that I had been saying in my teaching. Repetition is always good, especially from another person! My student’s playing improved significantly after this event. In the end, everyone had a wonderful time sharing their music. 

Have fun planning your own Music Enrichment Day.

♥︎ Remember - Great Music Comes From the Heart ♥︎