Congratulations and good luck! Look for me in 2014

Thank you, Eddy!
Ok, I hope so...

That's great news! Hope you have a wonderful time.

I appreciate that, Andrew. Thank you!

Monica,



Congratulations! I went to the website and I think I may be able to go to it . I graduate from SIU in early May, so I should be in Chicago around that time.

What piece(s) are you playing?!? Or is it a surprise?

I was looking on the website but I didn't find a place where tickets are sold. Do you pay for them the night of?

Riley

Thank you, Riley. You, Andrew, and Eddy make me feel good.



I would love to see you in Chicago Looks like I'm playing at about 11:15 on the morning of May 23rd, but if you can't come that day, I will also be there most of the other days too. Most likely I will not advance after the first round, but I like to watch/listen to the other competitors too. You hear some really great music.

Regarding tickets - I don't know, but I'll check into it. As to what I'm playing - they will probably post that information when it gets closer but right now I'd like to keep it secret. I'll tell you on Facebook though.

Six days, nine minutes, and 10 seconds to go....but who's counting...

Here is some information on the event if anyone is interested:

http://chicagopianocompetition.org/home/

They will be streaming all of it on live tv too.(I play on Wednesday morning at 11:23 Chicago time) The site is called Gigity.TV. You have to set up an account in order to view the broadcast, but it's easy to do. Here is the link:

http://gigity.tv/home.php

Good luck Monica! What a great experience. I'm sure you'll do well. I look forward to watching the stream.

Matt

Thank you, Matthew. I need a lot of luck - I'm sure I will make a total fool of myself....
Sorry I have not listened to your new recordings; I have no time currently.

No worries Monica. No matter what happens, you will not look like a fool. Nothing ventured, nothing gained right? Even if you don't "gain" a 1st place trophy this experience will enrich you in many ways... I believe you said this is your second competition, so you're an old pro practically!

Considering what I've learned about you through these forums, I'm quite positive that you are well prepared and have undoubtedly put in the practice time. Although, I do understand that there's always the feeling that one could/should have practiced more!

Now don't you feel SOOOOO much better after such an inspiring pep-talk??

Anyway, all the PS members including myself will certainly be rooting for you!

Matt

I'm sure you'll be fine; your submissions always sound well-prepared and clean. Best of luck!

Thanks, Matthew and Andrew!

One more day to go. I'm very nervous and pretty much scared to death (what was I thinking when I signed up for this... ). Well anyway, I know I'll survive, but it's just knowing what happens to my fingers when I get nervous. They shake so badly that they go all over the place and I have a hard time trying to control them , like make them land on the right notes. That's the part I hate! I love to play piano and I like to have others listen to the music I like to play, except I'm terrible in public. I know the music well, but I can't control my shaky fingers. I also have another little problem: I bought some new shoes to go with my new dress but the shoes fall off when I walk. I'm a little worried that one of them may fly off my foot when I'm walking to the piano and possible hit a camera or something. Actually, that would be a good thing - maybe I can knock out all the power . Then I can play in the dark! Hmm....

I don't know how much public performance you have done, but it can be a good idea to do mock concerts in front of friends. I also sometimes rehearse for a public concert by going to the piano, running through the programme and treating it as a performance - i.e. imagine that it is recital day, imagine that there is an audience there, dress as I would on the concert platform, and run through my pieces in exactly the planned order, no stopping for anything. Re the shoes: get an appropriately coloured and camouflaged tape to hold them in place? But do check that this doesn't affect your pedalling! (Tbh, if they aren't a great fit, I would check pedalling wearing them anyway.)

I have not played in public nearly enough in order to gain confidence. That's my main problem. But I have been playing my piece in front of my family all this past week - almost every night. Just made them all sit on the couch and watch me play. That made me feel different when playing, so hopefully it helps a little. And my new shoes fit fine, except when I walk. They have a pretty high heel and I have been practicing while wearing them (pedaling). Also yesterday I had them on the whole time in order to break them in. According to my sons I looked very silly because I was walking around in high heels all day while wearing gym/workout shorts.....

Just accept that things will go wrong. Don't worry about it at all, just give it your best shot and when something happens keep the stony face and pretend it was written just like that. Good luck !