When/Where to Meet:

CLICK HERE to see which recital time your student has been assigned. If they are playing in ensembles, please carefully note their ensemble time as well.

• Times: Recitals are at 5:30, 6:15, 7:30, and 8:15. Awards are at 7:00. Students should quietly meet in the hallway outside of Burckart Hall 10 minutes before the recital begins. (We will line up in the hallway leading to Janet’s office as opposed to the hallway leading to 214. This will help with traffic flow).
• Recital Location: All recitals are in Burckart Hall.
• Awards Location: Awards are in Alumni Hall at 7:00. Prep School Seniors will also be recognized at this time.
• Directions: Map of Old Main and Campus Map

Student Preparation:

Students not playing duets must have their recital pieces memorized. Students playing duets need to have their pieces fluently learned. When preparing, students should remember to think about the phrasing, play their piece with the music frequently, check their tempo consistency with the metronome, practice their memory bookmarkers, practice their problems spots until they can accurately play each problem spot 3 or more times in a row, and practice perform for family and/or friends as much as possible.

What to Bring:

• Families with one student should bring a plate of “finger foods” that do not require refrigeration for the reception time.
• Families with two or more students should bring a plate of “finger foods” that do not require refrigeration and a 12 pack of a chilled beverage of your choice—soda, juice or water.
• Please bring refreshments to the tables in the entry way of 2nd floor of Old Main.
• If, for whatever reason, you cannot bring something, absolutely no problem—but please email me so that we can plan accordingly—jtschida@mbbc.edu.

Etiquette Guidelines:

• Students should sit quietly during the recital.
• For time sake, students will not be introducing themselves (programs will be available).
• Students should start walking up as soon as the audience begins clapping for the performer before them.
• Students should remember to place their hands on their lap and take a deep breath before playing.
• At the end of the piece, students should “hold the moment”…(they know what this means), and then place their hands back on their lap.
• As a courtesy, students need to bow after performing (stand up, take a step forward from the bench, stop, smile, bow for 2- 3 seconds—the time it takes to say “hippopotamus,” and return to their seat.)
• No gum or candy allowed during the recital.
• Rings that clink while playing need to be removed.

What to Wear:

Students performing should wear a nice outfit – one that they would wear to a church service or a school concert (please see general policies online for specific concert dress guidelines below). Also, students performing should be sure to trim their nails before the recital.

Boys

• Nice looking dress pants
• Collared shirt or sweater
• Dress shoes
• Ties and Suit Coats are optional
• No t-shirts, shorts, jeans, tennis shoes or flip flops

Girls

• Nice looking dress pants, skirts, or dresses
• Dress shoes
• No t-shirts, shorts, jeans, or tennis shoes
• Because of bowing, please avoid low/loose necklines
• Please avoid hemlines shorter than the top of the knee

Guidelines for Maranatha’s Awards Program:

• Students should be working towards two goals. The teacher will choose which two goals the student will work towards; the teacher’s decision will be based upon the student’s need(s) as well as the desire of the parent and student.
• Progress should be tracked by both the teacher and the student or student’s parents (depending on age) in the student’s notebook. Students need to take self-initiative in tracking their progress.
• Students can begin working towards these goals during the summer months; however, work towards these goals cannot be carried over from the previous school year.
• When a student completes the requirements for one of the awards, the parent/guardian should send an email to jtschida@mbbc.edu with the SUBJECT heading of “PREP AWARDS”
• Students who reach their goals will be recognized and awarded at the end of the year awards ceremony.

FLASHCARD AWARDS
Level 1 Note Recognition (only available to students in the Pre-Level)
Bass C-Treble G
30 seconds and No errors

Level 2 Note Recognition (only available to students in Level 1 or 2a)
Bass F to Treble G
60 seconds and No errors

Level 3 Note Recognition (only available to students in Level 2b and above)
Bass Ledger Line A to Treble Ledger Line E
60 seconds and No errors

Symbol Recognition
Pink Cards in Hal Leonard Set A
60 seconds and No errors

Advanced Symbol Recognition
Pink Cards in Hal Leonard Set B
60 seconds and No errors

Key Signature Recognition
12 Major and Minor Keys
60 seconds and No errors

PRACTICE AWARDS

• Consistent Practicing (6 days/ week for 10 of the 12 weeks during the semester)
• Students must keep an accurate weekly record of this in their notebook (with parent/guardian initial).

MEMORIZATION AWARDS

• Memorize 250 measures or more
• A top award will be given at the end of the school year to the student who memorizes the most measures.

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

• Perform for a minimum of 250 people
• A top award will be given at the end of the school year to the student who performs for the most people.

COMPOSING AWARD

Composition Guidelines

• Must be a minimum of 16 measures
• Strongly recommend using a piece as a model
• Must be transcribed in FINALE
• Must write a paragraph explaining the process used when composing etc.
• Must be evaluated by two instructors
• Must implement changes suggested by instructors
• Must be performed publicly

ORCHESTRATION AWARD
Orchestration Guidelines

• Must orchestrate a piece from piano repertoire
• Must be a minimum of 16 measures
• Must use at least four different instruments
• Must write a paragraph explaining the process used when orchestrating etc.
• Must be transcribed in FINALE
• Must be evaluated by two instructors
• Must implement changes suggested by instructors

ARRANGING AWARD
Arranging Guidelines

• Must be a minimum of 16 measures
• Strongly recommend using a piece as a model
• Must write a paragraph explaining the process used when arranging etc.
• Must be transcribed in FINALE
• Must be evaluated by two instructors
• Must implement changes suggested by instructors
• Must be performed publicly

COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROGRAMS AWARDS
Music Ace Maestro
Complete all of the lessons and games in Music Ace 1 (students 11 and younger)

Alfred Theory Course
Complete all of the lessons in Alfred’s Essential Music Theory Level 1, 2, and 3 (students 12 and older)

Auralia
Complete all of the lessons in Auralia

Musition
Complete all of the lessons in Musition

TECHNICAL FACILITY AWARDS

• Level 1: 12 Major or Minor 5-finger patterns (only students in Level 1 or below)
• Level 2: 12 Major or Harmonic Minor 1-octave scales (only students in Level 2b or below)
• Level 3: 12 Major or Minor 2-octave scales, 2-octave arpeggios in root position, cadences in root position, and chord inversions (only students in Level 5 or below)
• Level 4: 12 Major or Minor 4-octave scales, 4-octave arpeggios in all inversions, cadences in all inversions, and chord inversions (students no longer using methods)
• Scale Marathon Completion at 108 MM: Name on Permanent Piano Prep School Wall Plaque

THEORY AWARD
Complete a theory book (must be either Sound Advice or Fundamental of Piano Theory).

MUSIC LISTENING AWARD

• Listen to 30 minutes of classical music that they haven’t listened to before on a weekly basis.
• Watch the score if possible, and listening must be active and focused listening (as in not doing other activities while listening).
• Write 1 paragraph containing a “description” and “reaction” for every 30 minutes of active listening.
• Complete 6 hours of music listening (30 minutes for 12 weeks)

SIGHTREADING AWARD

Option 1: Complete a progressive sight-reading book at the student’s level.

Option 2: Sightread 240 hymns (an average of sightreading 2 hymns day, 5 days a week for 24 weeks).

• Beginning Level: Sightread the hymns “as written” (in 4 parts)
• Intermediate Level: Sightread the hymns in 5 part style (3 note chords in the RH; octaves in the LH)
• Advanced Level: Sightread the hymns in 6 parts (4 note chords in the RH; octaves in the LH)

CHORD ROOT MELODIES AWARD

• Learn the chord root melodies for 48 songs. (an average of 2 chord root melodies per week for 24 weeks)
• The student’s teacher will listen to the chord root melodies during the weekly lessons.

Why Participate in Evaluation Programs?

• Evaluation programs serve as a motivation for many students. In one program, if students earn a superior rating for three years, they earn a “gold cup trophy.” In other programs, awards are given for the top scorers in each level etc., and awards are given for level achievements. Some students thrive with competition, and there are evaluation programs that give out first, second, and third place awards as well.
• Evaluation programs help in accountability for student progress. Students regularly participating in an achievement program such as the guild are challenged to attain the next level each year. Some programs are more rigorous than others. We often remind parents that soccer wouldn’t be as much fun if all they did was practice and scrimmage here and there. Soccer players want to WIN a game/tournament. Similarly, we have students in Taekwondo who have earned their black belts. Anyone familiar with martial arts knows that this is a huge accomplishment. We asked the students if they would like doing Taekwondo if they didn’t test at each different level, and they said resoundingly “NO WAY!!!!” Students in music also acquire a huge sense of accomplishment by successfully completing a level in an evaluation program.
• Both students and teachers greatly benefit from outside assessment. Often, we find that when students realize that an “unbiased” adjudicator is giving them the same feedback as their teacher, they start to follow their teacher’s directions better. Also, as teachers, we look over all of our students’ evaluations carefully. When we see that we are consistently weak in an area, this helps us improve as teachers. So, participation is valuable for both.

Why do we pay a fee?

• Organizations often have rigorous requirements and expectations for their judges. For example, to ensure fair and meaningful evaluation, one evaluation program we participate in requires their adjudicators to successfully complete a performer and pedagogy examination, three weeks of training, and a judging apprenticeship. This same organization covers the adjudicators’ cost of transportation and boarding in addition to payment for adjudicating services. Because of their requirements, similar to the meaning of a black belt in martial arts, when someone shows us that they scored a 90 at level 3 in this program, we know how they play. We can also see their evaluation form to note their specific strengths and weaknesses. Also, do consider the fees of standard martial arts testing or tournament fees for sports when considering the fee for these various programs.
• In addition to paying the adjudicators, these evaluation programs have headquarters to organize the programs, they pay for testing sites, piano tunings, and official hall monitors.

Why so many options?

• We offer many options for students because we feel each student is unique and needs an option that will best suite his/her needs.

Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs Website

Location:

Hartland Conservatory, Hartland

Date:

First Saturday in February

Cost:

Approximately $42

Brief synopsis of the requirements:

• Take a Theory Test
• Piano Solo Event (2 memorized solos)
• Theory Practice Tests (scroll to the middle of the page)

Timetable:

• Students participating must indicate their desire to do so by the 2nd lesson of the semester.
• Students need to have their pieces completely memorized before Christmas Break.
• Students must resume lessons one week early during the winter semester.

National Piano Guild Website

Location:

Hosted at Maranatha in the Spring

Date:

April 5th and 6th. 

Schedule:

Click Here for the 2013 Guild Schedule

Cost:

$42 (this flat rate amount is billed to your account)

Brief synopsis of the requirements:

• Memorize only 1 or up to 20 pieces
• Play scales, cadences, chords, and arpeggios (depending on level) in the key of the memorized pieces.
• Optional: substitute a memorized piece for a musicianship phase such as sightreading, ear-training, improvisation etc.

Guild Timeline:

By Feb 10

• Paid Fee: $42 (please make a separate check payable to Maranatha Piano Prep School with “guild fee” as the memo)

By Feb 18

• Pieces must be learned.
• Students must have access/own the originals.

By March 4:

• Pieces MUST BE memorized and Student must own or have access to the original music.

By March 25:

• Type a list of the pieces that you will be playing in the order that you plan to perform. Be sure to list the name of the piece, the book the piece is in, and the key of the piece (feel free to edit the list your teacher made for you). You can use this form if the pieces are listed in the correct order.
• Print off two copies of the list (one for yourself and one for your judge)
• Erase extra marks in your music if possible.
• Neatly number the measures in pencil (remember, only number the complete measures).
• Place large “post it” notes upside down on the first page of each piece (as a bookmarker) with the title of the piece written on the part of the post it note sticking out at the top.
• Attend a Guild Practice at Maranatha date and time TBA (meet in Old Main 214)
• ACADEMY PARENTS: If your students are performing during the academy school day, you need to send a note to the principal asking your students to be excused at least 15 minutes before their scheduled performance.

On the Day of Your Audition:

• Bring 2 copies of your list of pieces, and bring your original music (copies will disqualify you).
• Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
• Please wear recital dress: no jeans and/or tennis shoes (what you would wear to a special church service or concert).
• Please treat the judge and hall monitors respectfully.
• No candy and gum.
• Please make sure your nails are trimmed appropriately.
• Take your time-breathe and think before you play.
• Place your hands on your lap and take a deep breath between each piece.
• If the judge claps, please stand up and bow (bowing is a courteous way of saying “thank you for clapping”)
• Remember: the judge is not required to hear all of your pieces.

Guild IMMT Requirements:

• Elementary A: None
• Elementary B: Scales of pieces programmed, one octave HA; Cadences of pieces programmed: I-V (V7)-I, root position HA
• Elementary C: Same as Elementary B
• Elementary D: Scales of pieces programmed, one octave HT; Cadences of pieces programmed: I-V (V7)-I root position HT
• Elementary E: Scales of pieces programmed, two octaves HA; Cadences of pieces programmed: I-V-I and inversions HA
• Elementary F: Scales of pieces programmed, two octaves HA; Cadences of pieces programmed: I-V-I and inversions HT
• Intermediate A: Scales of pieces programmed, two or more octaves HT MM 60 to the quarter (play as eighth notes); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I root position HA
• Intermediate B: Scales of pieces programmed, two or more octaves HT MM 72 to the quarter (play as eighth notes); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I root position and 1st Inversion HT
• Intermediate C: Scales of pieces programmed, three octaves, HA MM 60 to the quarter (play as triplets); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I and inversions HA
• Intermediate D: Scales of pieces programmed, three octaves, HT MM 60 to the quarter (play as triplets); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I and inversions HT
• Intermediate E: Scales of pieces programmed, three octaves, HT MM 72 to the quarter (play as triplets); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I and inversions HT
• Intermediate F: Scales of pieces programmed, three octaves, HT MM 80 to the quarter (play as triplets); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I root position HA
• Prep A: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HA MM 72 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I root position HT
• Prep B: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HT MM 80 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I and inversions HA
• Prep C: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HT MM 92 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I and inversions HT
• Prep D: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HT MM 100 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I and inversions HT
• College A B C D: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HT MM 112 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I and inversions HT

The Achievement Program Website

Location:

Hosted at Maranatha Piano Prep School or Hartland Music Center

Cost:

Depends on the level—See Fees

Brief synopsis of the requirements:

• Complete a Practical Piano Comprehensive Exam including 4-6 memorized pieces, 1-2 etudes, technical requirements, ear tests, and sightreading.
• Complete a Theory Test (not necessarily on the same day or same year).

Timeline for Participants:

• Decide on Participation by October 10.
• Please email janet.tschida@mbbc.edu indicating your intent to participate.
• Choose on a Level and become familiar with the requirements for your level by October 17.
• Purchase Books by November 1. Please check with your teacher to find out if you need to purchase the 4 star sightreading and ear training book, the repertoire book, the technique book, and the etude book for your Level (if you are in levels 1-10). Bookstore.
• Finalize Repertoire by December 1.
• Register by January 15.

To Register:

• Enter the requested candidate information
• Enter your teacher’s number (email your teacher for this number)
• Select your examination grade (be very careful to enter the correct level), subject (Piano—Practical Exam), and preferred examination center (272 Watertown)
• Arrange for an online payment
• Select an examination time
• Print a copy of the Confirmation Summary
• Write down your Confirmation Number for later use
• Completely fill out the Examination Form by March 1

Teachers:

• Register for a teacher number (teachers only need to do this 1X).
• Read through the handbook’s general information and the requirements for the levels your students are entering.
• Determine their students’ level (Students must be in at least level 2A for the preparatory A.
  Please choose the level by which pieces the student is currently studying.).

WACS Website

Location:

Calvary Baptist Christian School, Watertown

Run off Dates for Watertown:

• Date Unknown: WACS Academy Run Offs at MBA
• Jan 16-20: Junior/Senior High WACS Run offs at CBCS
• Feb 16: Elementary WACS Run offs at CBCS

WACS Dates:

• March 9: Junior/Senior High WACS
• March 30: Elementary WACS

Cost:

See your band/choir director

Brief synopsis of the requirements:

• Students must choose to enter one or more of the following categories: sacred, classical, or one piano/four hands.
• The selection must be memorized.
• Participants must attend a WACS affiliated school.
• Students participating need to inform their piano instructor by October 1o.
• Students need to contact their school regarding run-off dates and requirements asap.
• Students need two originals of their music for the judges.

WSMA Website

Location:

Contact your band or choir director

Cost:

Contact your band or choir director

Brief synopsis of the requirements:

• The selection must be chosen from a specified list.
• The selection should be memorized.
• Participants must attend a public school.
• Students participating need to inform their piano instructor by October 10.
• Ask your piano teacher about the performance level he/she recommends for you.
• Students need an original copy of their music for the judge.