Competitive Events
By Grant
Thank you Jacob Ross for a great interview!
1) How would you describe the event to someone who hasn't read the rules for the event yet?
Music Production is a pretty unique event - you get to add your own twist and creative sparkle to
TSA. You are tasked with creating a musical clip suitable to be played at the opening and closing of the
National Conference. A contestant has a lot of freedom with what direction they want to take his/her
project, but as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "with freedom comes responsibility." Be sure to wield it well.
2) What did you do to prepare for the event (I guess prepare before you actually started making the
song(s))?
Personally, I did not do enough to prepare for the event as I should have, and that is a regret I
had during every conference. Of course no one can ever make any project 100% perfect, but you should
always fully utilize all of your talents and skills in the production of your song. My advice to anyone
thinking about this event is start with a plan, and start early.
3) What did you get out of this event? Or maybe some experience with this event that you remember
the most?
What I learned from this event is that if you want to be successful, you have to learn more about
music theory and structure to be successful; even if you have grown up with music your whole life, the
more you know the better your piece will be. One of my most vivid memories for this event occurred at a
district conference when projects were open for viewing, but of course the judges results were yet to be
released. All of the other entries boasted sick rap lyrics, crisp computer-enhanced blends, and booming
bass. My competitors created pieces that incorporated sounds and styles from the top 40s chart, and it
concerned me that my song was an extreme outlier in that set. But in the end my submission came out
on top. Judges can see how much effort and skill goes into a piece based on the organization and
structure of the song; the other competitors' projects showed a lack of music theory. Anyone who
decides to enter this event should keep in mind that although they can submit an entry with a modern
sound, judges notice the basics - don't be afraid of exploring traditional techniques (like polyphony,
tone/text painting, and cadences).