Yamaha Music will be having their Guitar Festival 2004 on 5 December. Kudos to them for organising such an event that helps to promote our beloved instrument and create, hopefully, healthy and positive competition. 

That said, there are a couple of things that puzzle me though. Firstly, why is it called a Festival? According to the Oxford dictionary, the definition of festival is, ‘day or time of celebration; series of musicals etc.; performance held regularly in town etc'. It says nothing of a competition, and this so-called “Guitar Festival” is nothing more than a Guitar competition! Secondly, the rules state and I quote “Participants are required to use their own guitars during the Semi-Finals but only Yamaha guitars are allowed in the finals”.* Now what happens if the participant has an expensive Spanish guitar (a professional one!?) that he or she is used to, is he or she suppose to trade that for a Yamaha guitar which they are probably not used to? Will this affect their chances of winning in the competition (or festival)? The last time I checked, the label for the make of guitar is inside the guitar, looking through the sound hole, in small writing. Now unless the audience seated some distance away has a pair of binoculars or Superman's X-ray vision, I don't see how they can tell what brand the participants' guitars are.** So what is the organiser's rationale for such a rule?*** 

Whatever it is called, this event could be an exciting one (provided you have a Yamaha guitar!), for all you guitar enthusiasts to take part in. For more information call Ms. Chong/Ms. Paula/Ms. Laila at 03-78030900. Hurry! The closing date is on the 5 November 2004. 

Ernest Thomas

Editor's note: 

*Will the organiser be providing this Yamaha guitar? 

** One can tell the make of a guitar by looking at the head design. And in some Yamaha guitars, there is a logo too. 

***Granted that the organiser's intention is not solely to promote our beloved instrument but their wares!