IMTA PRE-COLLEGE COMPETITIVE PIANO AUDITIONS
For this year's information click:
2010-2011 Audition Schedule and Contact List
Current FeesClick on a heading to go directly to that section:
- Purpose
- Eligibility
- Ages of Levels
- Repertoire Requirements
- Repertoire Time Limits
- Keyboard Proficiency- Click here for Requirements
- 30 Second Warm-up
- Written and Aural Music Theory Tests
- Registration and Fees
- Audition Centers
- Large Level Splitting
- Disqualifications
- Choosing Winners
The purpose of the Iowa Music Teachers Association Pre-college Piano Auditions is the promotion of comprehensive musicianship. The Auditions provide a competition in which the pre-college student may demonstrate his/her performance ability, keyboard proficiency and knowledge of theory.
· Participants in piano auditions must be students of teachers holding membership in IMTA/MTNA (and local association if applicable) by September 1 of the year in which the students are to participate. Students must have studied with the teacher who presents him/her in the audition at least three months immediately prior to the audition.
· A participant's age as of September 15 preceding the audition date determines the level he/she must enter:
Level B: age 10-11
Level C: age 12-13
Level D: age 14-15
Level E: age 16-17
Level F: age 18
- Exceptions to the above age classifications are as follows:
- Any student who has been a district winner in Level A-E may not compete again in the same level, but must advance to the next higher level regardless of age. If a winner is disqualified following a district audition, he/she may perform at the same level the following year, if age permits.
- Any student who has been a district winner in Level F may compete again in the same level and be named district Winner twice. A student who has won two times at the district Level F may compete at the state level again without competing at the District Auditions. Registration forms and the district registration fee must be sent to the State Chairperson by the deadline date. A Level F State winner is no longer eligible to compete in the IMTA Pre-college Piano Auditions.
- A student who has mastered the repertoire, technique and theory requirements of a level higher than his/her age, may enter at a higher level.
- After registration forms have been submitted, should it be discovered that a student has not met all the requirements for participation and the situation cannot be remedied, the student may play for evaluation only. He/she will not be awarded a rating, but will receive written comments. Circumstances under which a student may play for evaluation only include: Misplaced music, insufficient number of measures, wrong age, repertoire requirement incorrect or repertoire level wrong. The student will be allowed to take the theory exam and be eligible for the theory honor roll.
A winner from a previous year who does not wish to compete at the next level may play for evaluation only, but must be scheduled in a time slot apart from the rest of the performers at that level. A Level F State Winner is no longer eligible to compete in the IMTA Pre-college Auditions.
- All literature must be from the current IMTA repertoire list, with the exception of Level F material. Only in the years of syllabus revision may teachers use either the old or new list. A student shall play only repertoire from the level at which he/she is entered.
Level A:
Entrants will choose a minimum of three pieces in contrasting styles totaling a minimum of 48 measures, excluding repeats.
Level B:
Entrants will choose a minimum of three pieces, one from each category: 1) Baroque; 2) Classical or Romantic; 3) Impressionistic or Contemporary. Each category must have a minimum of 16 measures, excluding repeats.
Level C:
Entrants will choose a minimum of three pieces, one from each category: 1) Baroque; 2) Classical or Romantic; 3) Impressionistic or Contemporary.
Level D:
Entrants will choose a minimum of three pieces, one from each category: 1) Baroque; 2) Classical or Romantic; 3) Impressionistic or Contemporary.
Level E:
Entrants will choose a minimum of three pieces, one from each category: 1) Baroque or Classical; 2) Romantic; 3) Impressionistic or Contemporary.
Level F:
The list is merely a suggestion. The teacher is free to choose other literature, provided all three categories are represented: 1) Baroque or Classical; 2)Romantic; 3)Impressionistic or Contemporary. The repertoire must be at the appropriate level of difficulty for Level F and cannot appear at a lower level unless it is a piece at Level E which is marked with an asterisk (*).
Please note that the categories at levels E and F differ from levels A, B, C, and D.
- The district chairperson will check all entrants' repertoire to be sure it meets the requirements of the current syllabus. If it does not, the teacher will be notified promptly so adjustments can be made. Any such adjustments must be finalized at least one week prior to the audition.
- The teacher must fill in the entire registration blank before submitting it to the district chairperson.
- All repertoire must be performed from memory. The only exception to this rule occurs when a Level F student chooses to perform a 20th-century composition that utilizes the avant-garde idiom. Such a composition may be performed with music.
- An original score of each composition (with numbered measures) must be furnished for the judge. NO REPRODUCTIONS of copyrighted music may be given to the judge.
- Time limits, to include the keyboard proficiency requirements and all music to be performed, are as follows:
Level A: Not to exceed 6 minutes
Level B: Not to exceed 8 minutes *increased July 1st, 2008*
Level C: Not to exceed 8 minutes
Level D: Not to exceed 10 minutes
Level E: Not to exceed 15 minutes
Level F: Not to exceed 18 minutes
Compositions to be performed at levels E & F must be timed and the times recorded on the application form.
District winners must perform the exact repertoire at State Auditions that was performed at District Auditions.
All variations of a set shall be performed unless otherwise stated in the syllabus. Each movement of a sonata or a sonatina serves as one piece unless otherwise stated.
If an asterisk (*) appears before a selection, the selection may be played at the level at which it appears in the syllabus or at the next higher level in the appropriate category.
30 SECOND WARM-UP
- Keyboard proficiency test is mandatory at all levels. The student must receive a satisfactory rating on the keyboard proficiency performance to be considered a winner or alternate at district and state levels.
- REMINDER: Be sure to check proficiency requirements every year as they may have changed.
- Immediately prior to his/her performance, the student will be allowed a 30-second warm-up on the performance instrument. The warm-up is optional, but is the only warm-up allowed on the performance instrument.
WRITTEN AND AURAL MUSIC THEORY TESTS
REGISTRATION AND FEES
- A written and aural music theory test, covering the material outlined in the IMTA Piano Pre-college Music Theory Guide in the current syllabus (Levels A-F), will be given on the day of the district auditions, at the auditions site.
- Level A students will be offered an optional exam. Levels B - F students will take a required exam. Failure to take the required theory test will automatically disqualify a student from becoming either a winner or an alternate.
- Levels B - F students must receive a minimum score of 50% in order to be awarded a I rating; a score of 65% is required to be named a winner or alternate. In the event of a tie the theory grade will be used to determine the winner.
AUDITION CENTERS
- Registration forms are available from your local chairperson and on the IMTA website. These are to be filled out entirely and returned FOUR WEEKS in advance of the audition date. Information about each District Audition can be found in the current fall issue of the Iowa Music Teacher magazine.
- Fees are determined by the IMTA Executive Board and printed in Iowa Music Teacher. Fees are also printed in the current audition materials and posted on the IMTA Website. Fees must accompany the District Auditions registration forms and be received by the registration deadline date.
- No refunds will be made to any teacher or student by the District chairperson after the application deadline date has expired.
- The local district shall be defined as: A) the center closest to the teacher's home or studio or B) the center within reasonable driving distance of the teacher's home or studio which is most similar in size and lifestyle to the teacher's community. In the case of a teacher maintaining a studio in one town and living in another town, only ONE audition center can be claimed.
- The teacher's home or studio defines the district audition center no matter where the student may reside.
- No student will be allowed to perform outside of his/her teacher's district for any reason. Should a conflict arise that is unresolvable, the student must forfeit the district performance for that year.
- Teachers entering students in a District Audition center are expected to attend and assist with administrative duties. Teachers of students who advance to the state level are expected to assist at that audition.
- An out-of-state teacher wishing to enter an Iowa student in IMTA auditions or festivals must hold current Iowa membership.
- A teacher is not allowed to enter any one student in more than one level in the same year.
- Teachers with students participating in the State Auditions are expected to assist or pay a workers' fee.
- In order to establish a new or continue an existing local district audition center, that center must have a minimum of three (3) participating teachers AND a minimum of twenty-five (25)* participating students. If these minimum criteria are not met by an existing center, for an audition year, the situation will be evaluated by the state audition chair.
*changed April 25, 2010
When the number of students in any one level of a district or state pre-college piano audition exceeds 31 in levels A-D or 18 in levels E or F, the level at that center must be split into an older and younger group according to age on September 15. District winners will perform at the appropriate age level at state auditions even if the level was not split in the district audition. Winners in both the older and younger groups of a split level must advance to the next higher letter level the next year (i.e. All Level A winners advance to Level B the following year.) Repertoire, theory and keyboard proficiency requirements will remain as now given in the syllabus for each letter level.
CHOOSING WINNERS
- A District Audition student will be disqualified as a winner or an alternate if there is a change in repertoire after the repertoire has been accepted by the district chairperson.
- If a winner is disqualified for any reason following District Auditions, he/she may perform at the same level the following year, age permitting.
- Failure to follow any State or District Audition rules and regulations by any teacher, parent or student, may result in disqualification.
- If a district winner is unable to perform at State Auditions because of a scheduling conflict, illness, or injury, and an alternate performs in the place of a winner at State Auditions, BOTH students must move to a higher level in a subsequent year.
DISTRICT AND STATE: Levels A, B, C, D a judge will be allowed to choose 1 winner and 1 alternate per 15 competitors. This number (15) may not include registered applicants who cancel or are absent. Levels E and F: The judge will choose 1 winner and 1 runner-up per 10 competitors. If the judge feels the quality of performance does not meet State Auditions standards, he/she has the option of not naming a winner or alternate.
Whether or not to give honorable mentions will be left to the discretion of the judge.
At State Auditions no reference to 1st or 2nd will be made and runner-up will be used instead of alternate.
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