Climbing the Right Ladder: Reflections on Technique vs. Artistry at MTAC

June 30, 2026

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the MTAC Conference in Los Angeles. Throughout the event, I listened to fantastic young musicians perform across competitions, masterclasses, and improvisation sessions. It takes a monumental group effort from children, parents, teachers, and organizers to cultivate such an impressive talent pool in California. To everyone involved: bravo!

However, while listening to the student performers, I couldn't help but reflect on one specific observation. Time and time again, I heard note-perfect renditions of complex pieces. The technical mastery these young players possess is a staggering achievement. Yet, truly inspired musical moments seemed to be the exception rather than the rule.

Why is this? MTAC showcases regional winners from previous competitions, so we may simply be witnessing the inherent bias of audition panels that prioritize flawless execution over musicality. Hitting the right notes is an objective, easily measurable metric. Perhaps this is just the nature of the competition circuit.

That is why it was so refreshing to watch master clinician Tina Chong work with these young musicians. She challenged the pianists to find the expressive moments hidden in the score and make every phrase special. Instead of accepting a monotonous, paint-by-numbers style, she guided them toward discovering highly specific, artistic sound palettes.

Thinking about the thousands of practice hours required to build that level of technical proficiency, it feels like a missed opportunity when a student doesn't squeeze every ounce of musicality out of a piece. It reminded me of a profound piece of wisdom Chicago Symphony Tubist Gene Pokorny once shared with me:

“We spend our lives climbing a ladder. Sometimes we get to the top and realize we climbed the wrong ladder.”

Are we, as a community of teachers and judges, inadvertently favoring the technical over the expressive? Music that is merely an execution of notes misses the fundamental purpose of our art form. This weekend served as a powerful reminder for me: in my own studio, I am redoubling my efforts to prioritize musical expression and artistry from day one.