Hallow all - Workers and Drones here;
Decided not to give up last year but this year maybe!?
The NSP competitions were and weren't! Some were competed for and contested and some weren't. This was my second year of entering in my now 3rd year of playing and it is clear that there are only a handful of willing competitors in some classes and none in others. This has probably been kicked around for a number of years and as a new(ish) player the day in my opinion clearly needs a bit of a shake up!. I'm not advocating that the day should be scrapped; there's far too much history there to be swept away in an instant, however maybe more could be done to encourage more players to come forward in the coming years. Perhaps a non-competitive class where players can offer a piece to gain the all important encouraging comments from a judge/experienced player. Classes with a set piece perhaps could be looked at. Even a class without any judgement or boundaries allowing a platform to give a first solo experience. Maybe more demonstration work by the experts in piping to highlight common difficulties or an open rehearsal, expert to student/beginner on a particular piece. I'm certain these will have been thought of by others way before me and its easy to forget competition day the day after until the following year arrives and the situation is again mirrorred. I can say that having competed over the last 2 years (not always well - performances not up to par etc. etc.) I have always left the event feeling nothing but positivity and feeling encouraged sufficiently enough to go away and work that bit harder on my weaker areas (many).
Judging has been nothing other than honest and positive; and where standards have not been met awards have not been given which is right and proper. I have still found that playing in a group may be the norm and great socially but it remains for me a hurdle and something I will have to try again at some point. The many groups I have tried, work on the same format and the common aim seems to be to play as one - if you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got! Come on peeps give that solo person a chance to get out!...... you know! - the one who gave that fantastic performance in the kitchen at home when no-one was there to hear except the cat/dog!. Make next years entry a record breaking one!