With their qualifying auditions, elimination rounds, judges, and a pressure-cooker environment, competitions at all levels can easily start to feel like the Olympics. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Sure, it’s nice to win or even advance to the finals, but winning isn’t everything. Whether you’re at the International Tchaikovsky Competition or an event sponsored by your local string-teachers association, violin, viola, cello, or bass competitions offer plenty of benefits that have little to do with being judged as good, better, or best.

Remember that ultimately you’re an artist and performer, not an athlete. It’s entirely possible, and probable, that you can participate in a competition with your self-esteem and morale intact, and have some fun while you’re at it. Here are six constructive ways to approach competitions:

1. Use the opportunity to learn and polish a big chunk of repertoire, some of which might be entirely new to you. Major competitions generally ask participants to prepare a required selection plus a handful of other pieces from a range of historical periods. At the highest end, the prestigious International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, for instance, asks participants in the preliminaries to prepare unaccompanied Bach, two Paganini caprices, a Mozart sonata, and an encore-style work. Finalists perform a Mozart concerto and another Romantic or Classical concerto with orchestra. Other events require participants to learn a hot-off-the-press piece written specifically for the competition. Since that piece won’t have been previously performed or recorded, you’ll be forced to rely completely on your own interpretive powers to figure it out. The 2010 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition will, for example, include an improvisational requirement.

2. The preparation process, which can last for months, is a chance to stretch your abilities to focus your energies, enforce self-discipline, set goals, and stick to a schedule. In other words, just getting ready for a competition sharpens skills that are always handy in the real world. “Like with orchestra auditions, the preparation that leads up to a competition is in many ways the most beneficial aspect,” says Brett Deubner, a member of the viola faculty at Temple University who has also served as a competition judge. For those who work best when faced with a clear-cut goal, competitions give them a reason to practice, Deubner adds. And if you’re conscientious, you’re sure to find that your playing will vastly improve.

3. Most competitions open their final rounds to the general public, so if you’re a finalist, you’ll have an occasion to play before an eager and enthusiastic audience. As a performer, you need to seize chances to perform, and the more you do it and the more settings you do it in, the more you’ll better your playing. Of course, some audience members might be enamored of the horse-race feel of a competition, but plenty of people will be there simply to hear and experience good music. Focus on reaching and connecting with them.

4. Take the opportunity to get feedback on your performance. At some competitions, you might receive written notes from the judges afterwards. While the judges may not attach their names to their respective comments, they’re likely to offer both encouragement and constructive criticism. Not all judges are string players, and hearing those individuals’ thoughts is as valuable as receiving feedback from people who play your instrument. Look at the competition as a master class with multiple instructors.

5. Competitions let you meet people and expand your network. You’ll run into not only fellow competitors but also accompanists, teachers, music lovers, and other players who aren’t competing but are attending just to watch and learn. Maybe you’ll meet a potential musical partner for future collaborations.

6. Take a reality check. “Competitions are a great way to get to know yourself,” Deubner says. “When you’re nervous, all your weaknesses shine through, and competitions help you to know your weaknesses and confront them. You learn about yourself when you face your fears.” Competitions, too, can give you perspective about the music world at large. Maybe you’ve already had all kinds of successes in your hometown and you’re ready to check out the outside scene to help you set new goals. Drawing many talented people from many places, a competition reminds you that the world is a big place with plenty of challenges, but also loads of opportunity everywhere you go.

For more information on participating in competitions, read “5 Things You Should Know About Competitions”