Although you can say I messed up my audition for a music competition a few weeks ago...I still consider auditioning a good thing to do.
For starters, I made new friends. In my normal regular routine life, it's pretty difficult to differentiate and know who's a musician in class. (mainly cause musicians don't have a certain look)
It's amazing to have friends who share a musical passion and have the commitment & the long enduring patience it takes to learn music.
Secondly, I finally completed learning a piece that I always wanted to, but lacked the motivation to do so. Keeping the auditions as the "deadline" to finish mastering the piece, it surely helped me find motivation to do it. I honestly have been putting this piece on a constant hold before signing up for these auditions.
Thirdly, It gives you a reality check. Many a times, I tend to think I know it all in music. But the truth is....I don't. And even the most skilled and professional musician needs to be humble enough to realize that they can't know it all when it comes to music cause of the ocean of musical knowledge that keeps extending as the number of compositions keep accumulating.
I came to know about the brilliantly talented people around me and basically how much I still need to learn and I still need to practice to get to that level of expertise.
And the thing about learning is that...it never can be fully accomplished...but that is what makes it so attractive and daring.
Next, is the fact that I never challenge myself enough and that's what holds me back from becoming better. It takes courage, okay? It takes courage to walk in front of a crowd and play a piece on an instrument by-heart, fully knowing that they may not like it, they may hate you, they may judge you for it and you may not live up to their standards. But do so anyway. Why? Because it helps you build yourself some confidence and courage.
Now, by all that I've expressed to you right now, you maybe thinking that I got selected for the main event...but the thing is...I didn't. And I know I avoided playing my instrument for about a week after that cause I couldn't stand the memory of my auditions.
But then, I'm glad I didn't give up because I gained experience, I went out of my box for once, I achieved something that I normally wouldn't do.
I won over my fears of embarrassing myself that day...and that for me...is a great reward in itself.
