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So my state competition is in a few weeks. For all you people done with state already (is anyone yet?), how was it? What's everyone's program? I'm in the senior division. Feel free to comment on my program and choice of order.

My program (in that order):

Bach Prelude and Fugue in E Major, WTC I
Beethoven Sonata Op. 10 No. 3, Mvmt. 1
Chopin Polonaise in G Sharp Minor, Op. posthumous
Liszt/Schumann Widmung (or Dedication)
Prokofiev Piano Sonata No. 2, Mvmt. 4

So, discuss!

I'm competing November 9-11... they haven't told me which day
I'll also be in the Senior Division, and this is my first time.
My program is:

Beethoven 32 Variations in c minor, WoO 80
Paganini/Liszt Etude No. 2 in E Flat, S. 141
Scarlatti Sonata in b minor, K. 27
Chopin Etude Op. 10 no. 4, in c# minor
Prokofiev Sonata op. 14, mvmt. 4 (me too!)

Have you done MTNA before?
As for order, my state allows me to choose the first piece, and then the judge tells me. So, if that's the case for you, choose something profound, but the piece you feel most confident playing. I chose my Beethoven because it's powerful, but not the hardest of my repertoire. For example, my Chopin Etude is a bad choice (in my opinion), because if the piano has a really slow or fast action/ sounds funny, I want something else to start off!

My competitions November 9 and it's my first time also, I'm only a freshman oh I was about to play the Scarlatti sonata also! It's the same way in our competition, that we can only pick the first piece. But idk I've heard that sometimes the proctors just say, ok just put your pieces in the order you want. Anyway, if I can only choose the first piece, I think I'm going to go with the Bach, the prelude really gives me a chance to test out the piano

How's the Prokofiev going for you? I find its really hard to stop your hands from tiring in the later vivace section, do you!

Okay. Did they email you what time? I don't know what my state is waiting for...
As for the Prokofiev, tiring is not a problem for me at all- just the notes! My Études tire me out far more, and the Beethoven is emotionally draining.
How close are you to being ready? I feel like I'm pretty far away, but that I'll be ready by the day. Everything is memorized, but I still have a lot of technical issues. Do you?

Nice program.

In the case of transcriptions, one usually lists the original composer first, then the arranger/transcriber; e.g: Schumann/Liszt : "Widmung."

Regards,

No I get my time like next week. I don't know either, maybe they're organizing the other instruments first... Could you advise me on how not to get tired when the big leaps on notes start? Yeah I feel like I have a lot to work on too.

@BruceD: ok thanks

Okay!
What measures, specifically?

I'll be home in a few minutes, then I'll edit this post accordingly

Edit: m. 97-112 (though that's not too bad)
m. 309-332

Also, it's generally a case of gradual tiring out. How do you keep your hands loose and preserve strength?

Thanks

Scheduling the MTNA competitions can be difficult. Competition officials are unpaid volunteers who usually have full-time jobs, and they have to work with the people in charge of the facilities at the venues and coordinate the schedules of all competitors, monitors, and judges. (A single judge might have multiple duties - for example, a woodwind judge might also be on the jury for the chamber music competition.)

Having been involved in the competitions for many years as a competitor, coordinator, and accompanist, it's definitely a lot of work. It's also rewarding, the judges tend to be of high quality, and the competitions are well-run. I hope people here on the forums keep us informed of how they do. I'll be attending the Iowa, division, and national competitions this year and would love to hear you all if I get a chance!

@Kreisler: wow, scheduling sounds a lot harder than I thought it would...

I think 97-112 is the hardest spot jump-wise.
309-312 isn't bad for jumps, just note hitting. The chords aren't "orthodox," so it's just a little harder.
If you have tension, you need to stop, practice really slowly. Increase the metronome in intervals of 5 or 10- I usually start from 40. Keep playing until you can play with no mistakes for at least 3 times. Speed up the metronome! This really helps me, with the addition of different rhythms, et cetera.
321 to the end is pretty hard, especially with the chord/10th jumps, but with enough slow practice, it's not that bad.
Anything else?

Ok thanks! I'll make sure to do the "notches" practice, as my teacher calls it, more often for those spots. Do you have any tips on how to stay loose throughout the whole piece? Thanks!

Never play with a "claw." Always move as little vertically as possible.

Ok thanks

My state competition is next week. I'm in the young artists division. I'll be playing Beethoven op. 81a, Liszt Ballade 2, and Ravel Jeux d'eau. I was going to do four Chopin etudes, but I was afraid they were still a bit too new to me.

Nov 1 for me (Senior Division)

Program:

Scriabin Sonata no. 5
Liszt Ballade No. 2
Beethoven Op. 31 no. 3 Mvt. 1

Do your states usually come out with a program listing everyone's repertoire?

Yes, every state I know of prints programs for the competition. They do not, however, list competitors' or their teachers' names, nor are the programs usually available prior to the competition.

Oh okay. I was just wondering about other states. Our state lists the program for all instruments' competitions beforehand with the ID number, then after the competition has a results pdf with the names of the students, their rating, their ID number, and their teacher.

Well actually, the ID number is just for the competition that only goes to state (not beyond). There aren't ID numbers in our states MTNA