While reading Didi Neumann his article about the inclusion of a 'Chromatic Jazz Competition' during the 1997 Harmonica World Championship in Trossingen, some problems arise.
1) Should this competition include a test piece? 2) If yes, is it a fair pre-selection to give only the players who are able to read music the oppertunity to join the contest? 3) Are different categories even necessary? Isn't 'no category at all' much more interesting? 4) Should the audience be involved as a member of the jury?
These are the questions that arise while reading Didi Neumann's article.
My answers to these questions are as follows:
1) Should this competition include a test piece? Yes, maybe a couple of different test pieces in different jazz styles, so a player is able to choose a style that fits his way of playing the best. Playing a transcribed solo or some interesting themes is an available option as a test piece.
2) If yes, is it a fair pre-selection to give only the players who are able to read music the oppertunity to join the contest? Yes, I think it is a good pre-selection. Only players who can read music can join the competition. Reading music is so simple and such a useful tool within a serious study of music. Although a lot of jazz players in the early days could not read music, now-a-days almost every jazz player must be able to read chord progressions and themes.
3) Are different categories even necessary? Isn't 'no category at all' much more interesting? It is still not possible to compare styles. Is one style better than the other? Is one style more difficult to than another style? As long as prices are involved within the competition (a 1st price, 2nd price etc. ) categories are necesary to avoid music comparesing.
4) Should the audience be involved as a member of the jury? A player should have a certain faith in the knowledge of the jury members about what he is playing. In a competition, the player only playes for himself, not for the jury and not for the audience. He in completely doing his own thing. Interesting about joining a competition is to get a jury-overview about your playing and one is able (to a certain degree) to measure his capabilities with those of other players. A competition should never be interpreted as 'a possibility to play ON STAGE'. It has nothing to do with a real playing situation, but only with 'a studying situation'. The possibility to get an idea of ones development.
This is my idea about music competitions. A jazz categorie is very interesting and I will enjoy joining it.
I am very interested in the opinion of other Harp-L members. Maybe it is a good idea to collect interesting opinions and send them all to Mr. Kutzli.
