Saturday, October 27, 2018 | Success

As we encourage the young musicians in our lives, we should be mindful of the actual praise terms we use.

In music exams, festivals, and competitions, judges/adjudicators should always...

• Offer recommendations for continued musical growth.
• Provide evaluation that is clear, encouraging, and educational.
• Evaluate the performance without bias from other factors.
• Do not let anger, ego, or fatigue affect judgement.

Judges/Adjudicators will often productively use...

• Accurate
• Articulation
• Artistic
• Balanced
• Beautiful
• Bold
• Clarity
• Clean
• Clear
• Commendable
• Confident
• Continuity
• Controlled
• Correct
• Dynamic
• Exact
• Great
• Interpretive
• Intonation
• Light
• Masterfully
• Melodic
• Musical
• Outstanding
• Peaceful
• Perfect
• Phrased
• Playful
• Pleasing
• Poised
• Prepared
• Quality
• Relaxed
• Rhythmic
• Steady
• Strong
• Stylistic
• Super
• Superb
• Superior
• Technical
• Tonal
• Tunefully
• Wonderful

Comments most often written in exams & by judges/adjudicators...

• Don't let fingers collapse at the first joint.
• Play to the bottom of the keys.
• Practice slowly - no more than half-tempo.
• Aim for a more refined balance.
• Know thy Left Hand!
• Work on the togetherness of hands.
• Pedal with your ears.
• Detach Left Hand (I assume this is style-specific).
• Play at a more comfortable speed - especially List B (classical era)
• Aim for a richer tone.
• Make sure staccatos are not too short - only half the value.
• More bass line.

Best Scenario (from judges & teachers)...

1. General Praise ("well prepared pieces!")
2. Very Specific Praise ("I thought your articulation in the Sonatina was excellent - you must have worked on those 2-note slurs!")
3. Well Worded Critique ("I heart eh forte at the end of the Tarantella, but I thought it would have been even more drastic if your other dynamics were more extreme. Have you tried a super soft piano at measure 12?")

Encouraging Words (for parents & family members) - always use the matching facial expressions & be sincere - your comments can make or break your child's music enjoyment - empty platitudes aren't effective.

Lovingly Support Musicians (instead of simply saying, "Good Job!")...

• 1. That's it!
• 2. You've got it"
• 3. Not bad!
• 4. I'm proud of the way you worked today.
• 5. Simply grand!
• 6. Super!
• 7. Exactly right
• 8. You're on the right track.
• 9. That's the best you've ever done.
• 10.That's right 
• 11. You've just about got it.
• 12. Nice going.
• 13. I'm glad to see you working that way.
• 14. That's nice.
• 15. You are very good at that.
• 16. Great
• 17. Now you have it.
• 18. Sensational
• 19. Good for you
• 20. I knew you could do it.
• 21. Congratulations
• 22. You are doing that better today
• 23. WOW!
• 24. You're working very hard today.
• 25. That's quite an improvement.
• 26. That's the way
• 27. Keep working on it, you're getting better.
• 28. That's coming along nicely.
• 29. I think you've got it now.
• 30. Couldn't have done it better myself.
• 31. You are really learning a lot.
• 32. You did it that time.
• 33. Terific!
• 34. That is not half bad.
• 35. One more time and you'll have it.
• 36. Nice going.
• 37. You are getting better every day.
• 38. Perfect
• 39. You really make my job fun.
• 40. That's much better.
• 41. You are learning fast.
• 42. Superb!
• 43. Now you have figured it out.
• 44. Right on. 
• 45. You didn't miss a thing.
• 46. That's better
• 47. Wonderful
• 48. Tremendous
• 49. Congratulations, you got things right.
• 50. Fantastic.
• 51. You make it look easy.
• 52. You've got you brain in gear today.
• 53. Good going.
• 54. You did good work today.
• 55. You're really going to town.
• 56. Marvelous
• 57. I like that.
• 58. Well, look at you go.
• 59. Good thinking.
• 60. You're doing fine.
• 61. Excellent.
• 62. That is the best ever.
• 63. You're a hard worker.
• 64. Now that is what I call a fine job.
• 65. That is right way to do it.
• 66. Much better.
• 67. That's better than ever.
• 68. That's the way to do it.
• 69. Good for you.
• 70. Keep up the good work.
• 71. Outstanding.
• 72. That was first class work.
• 73. Good remembering. 
• 74. You've mastered that.
• 75. You figured that out fast.
• 76. That's great.
• 77. That is a good boy/girl.
• 78. I've never seen anyone do it better.
• 79. Keep on trying.
• 80. You sure did well today.
• 81. You must have been practicing.
• 82. I'm very proud of you.
• 83. Good job _________-(Name)
• 84. That kind of works makes me very happy.
• 85. You're doing beautifully.
• 86. You are really improving.
• 87. You did that very well.
• 88. That's really nice.
• 89. It's a pleasure to teach you when you work like that.
• 90. Now you have the hang of it.
• 91. You remembered.
• 92. You did yourself proud today.
• 93. Fine job.
• 94. You've got that down pat.
• 95. Keep it up.
• 96. That's it!
• 97. Way to go, ____(Name)
• 98. Nothing can stop you now.
• 99. I'm so proud of you!

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