We’ve all probably (at least secretly) enjoyed watching shows like American Idol or The Voice at one point or another. But what has your experience (or that of your students) been as a participant in competitions? Whether it be small local competitions, or a regional, national or international competitions, have your experiences been largely positive? Or not so positive? You might have some strong feelings about competitions, and whether your students should enter competitions or not. And so in this month’s conversation, I chat with both a researcher and a musician who can speak to different aspects of this question, and help you better prepare yourself, your students, and their parents for the music competition experience. Get all the nerdy details in the full episode below (there’s also a transcript with timestamps if you’d like to jump right to a few key points of interest): George Waddell: On the Hidden Consequences of Music Competitions ==== Why do things sound better at home than they do on stage? If you’ve been confused (and frustrated) by the inconsistency of your performances, I put together a FREE 4-minute quiz called the Mental Skills Audit, which will help you pinpoint your mental strengths and weaknesses, and figure out what exactly to adjust and tweak in your preparation for more consistently optimal performances. You can take the Mental Skills Audit online at bulletproofmusician.com/msa. It’s 100% free, takes only 4 minutes, and you’ll get a downloadable PDF with a personalized breakdown of where you stand in six key mental skill areas, plus curated articles that will help you adjust and tweak your preparation for more consistently optimal performances. Take the quiz here: bulletproofmusician.com/msa