Music festival... ?

Kay, well.. i live in Canada so im not sure if any other countries have the music festival but im just wondering how big of a difference it will make in marks if a song is played by memory versus not. I mean, in the royal conservatory exams, each song you play by memory you automatically get 2 extra points. I'm just wondering if its the same for the festival or what because im not too good at memorizing pieces and i want to know if its really worth it. Thanks so much! (and by the way, the music festival is this annual music competion the includes like dance, piano, band, and almost all other instruments...)

Music festival... ?

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It's best to memorize the piece, no matter what. You play with more confidence that way. ^^

Music festival... ?

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It really depends on the adujicator ( sorry cant spell it right) he will be marking your preformance. I just preformed at the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival last wed and they constructor was not pleased with the fact that we ( a group) sang with the music. He felt as if it took away from the preformance and since we were paying attention to the words, we were not paying attention to the feeling of the music. However when I took part of the Festival last year a different person ( this time a lady) did not mind at all. Although she was very bad at criticing. I highly suggest you remember it. But if you cant, remember what you can and when you perform show emotion.

Good Luck!

p.s. Im not sure if the whole emotion part still works for a musical instrument but since you havent stated which, I will just base my answer on my personal experience.
Extra points aside, when you memorize a piece of music, you own that piece. You know it inside and out. You know the various musical patterns, you know what feelings and/or scenes are being portrayed. You understand, and communicate what the composer intended.

That is not to say that you could not do that if you were reading, but you are more free when you know it so well that the piece is memorized. You might now start experimenting with interpretations, so the audience can hear your unique interpretation of the piece.

Performing arts is a visual as well as an auditory experience. A performer also looks more connected with his or her piece when they are performing it from memory.

Good luck at the music festival!
I mean i would do it if its going to help you. i mean why not?