Besides deep knowledge of the relevant literature, a teacher must continue to perform the literature himself and so remain actively intrigued with the physical challenges and aesthetic rewards of piano playing. Finally, a young teacher should very quickly become a member of local, regional and national organizations that bring piano teachers together. Music is the right career only for those individuals who would find Life meaningless and sad doing anything else. Once music is chosen as a career path, one must pursue it with burning passion. Only sincerity of expression insures success in this field.
Competitions have great potential for good and for harm.
As an educational tool, competitive activity usually takes a young pianist to deeper, more intense levels of concentration in response to pressures even greater than those of a solo recital. More frequently than not, competitive activity has figured significantly in the education of most major performing artists. It has often been the venue through which major careers have been launched. But competitions can be very harmful unless their positive educational benefits are stressed above the glamour of winning first place. I tell my students that the only losers in life are those who learn nothing from a particular experience.