The Duxbury Music Festival (DMF) is under way, running from July 15 through Friday, July 27. The Festival brings together distinguished young music students from near and far with distinguished faculty from the South Shore Conservatory and beyond. Such festivals give students and teachers a chance to concentrate on their music in a setting that is both intensive and relaxed.

How can it be both? There are no grades, and the Duxbury experience includes recreation time – beach, sailing or meeting new and old friends. At the same time, attending such a program offers a chance to concentrate on the music day in, day out, with similarly focused peers. For a developing musician, the Festival is a resume builder, and includes elements of completion (there are winners in various categories), but it’s also liberally sprinkled with opportunities to play for fun. Like other performing arts or sports, music blends collaboration with competition. Skill, talent, drive and experience are not equally distributed. Everyone may get a trophy, so to speak, but audiences and fellow performers will always be keenly aware of the differences between good, better and fantastic. Orchestras and other ensembles are organized by chairs and sections – first, second, third and so on – which are often determined by challenges. A musician who wishes to move up the ladder challenges someone higher, and both are assigned a challenge piece to perform for the director. In modern practice, challenges and auditions are performed with the director facing away, while the performers work in random order. This approach opened doors for women in symphonic circles, and doubtless shattered other glass ceilings based on race.

You can participate in the process. Performers always benefit from an engaged audience. Student recitals for the DMF have already started. They are free, and held at the Ellison Center for the Arts on St. George Street (near the Duxbury schools). The next is today, July 18 at 4:30 p.m., followed by Friday, July 20 at 4:30 p.m., also at the Ellison Center. Two recitals in a row will be held at the Village at Duxbury Thursday, July 26, at 4 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m., also free. You get hours of top-quality music, and a chance to contribute to the performance as only an attentive, engaged audience can do. Remember to be silent for the music, and to leave your clacking water bottle in your car. Applause and chatter come after the performance, not during.

Fundraising events continue, including a faculty concert July 19, 6:30 p.m.($125), Music Mania Friday, July 20 at 7 p.m. on the Town Green (Washington Street near Hall’s Corner, $10, $5 for children), Rhythm & Blues on the Green (Saturday, July 21, 6:30 p.m., Town Green, $75), and more. Check out the Festival web site at duxburymusicfestival.org, and click on “events.”

One climax for the Festival is the Family Fest, Sunday, July 22, 10:30 a.m. ($15, $5 for children, Town Green). This one features Puppeteer Dan Butterworth, a drum circle, an instrument petting zoo and more. On the same day, also on the Town Green, at 5 p.m. you can enjoy Sunday in the Park. This one is free, and features both students and faculty playing their favorite dazzlers without the competition pressure. There’s a picnic atmosphere, but under the tent you can hear live music played up close. I’ve been astonished there. I especially like the way the students and faculty hang out to hear each other play. It takes the pressure off for them, or rather, it replaces the pressure with aspiration driven only by the love of the music and its performance. It’s an opportunity to hear a world-class faculty perform for fun, and most importantly, it’s a chance to bring children to hear such music without risk of being scowled at by crusty old curmudgeons like me. But do me a favor – remember again to leave your clacking water bottles elsewhere. Peoria, for instance.