The Virtue and Vice of Musical Performance Competitions for Children

Abstract

For more than two decades the authors have been involved in music performance competitions. We have collective experience as organizers, participants, judges, parents of participants, and teacher of participants in competitions ranging from the local to the international level. We have been impressed at the powerful events competitions are, and have become increasingly aware of their potential outcomes, most positive and some negative. These events have been largely bypassed by experts in child development and education in their study of children. We believe performance competitions have much to offer young people and their families, and are worthy of consideration when the topics of music and child development merge.