Piano Festival Guidelines

1

Contents Objectives ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

General Information .................................................................................................................................................................. 2

Who may participate? .......................................................................................................................................................... 2

Hymnals ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Participation Categories ..................................................................................................................................................... 2

Registration.............................................................................................................................................................................. 2

Copyright Considerations ...................................................................................................................................................3

General Guidelines for All Categories .................................................................................................................................3

Guidelines for Category I ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Category I.................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Category I-A ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Category I-B ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Guidelines for Category II ....................................................................................................................................................... 5

Category II ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Category II-A ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Category II-B ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Guidelines for Category III....................................................................................................................................................... 7

Category III ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Category III-A .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Category III-B .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Guidelines for Category IV ....................................................................................................................................................10

Category IV .............................................................................................................................................................................10

Adjudication Criteria ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

2

Southwest Baptist University’s Department of Music is pleased to host these piano events to help improve the music ministries of individual churches by training pianists to facilitate worship.

Objectives Spiritual:

o To lead young people to deeper discipleship through the playing of music o To challenge young people to share their faith through music

Musical: o To develop the musicianship skills needed by church pianists o To encourage piano instructors to teach playing hymns and praise and worship music

General: o To encourage young people to develop and use their talents in the local church

General Information

Who may participate? Students in grades 1-12 may participate in the piano festival. Each participant, with the assistance of his/her teacher, will select a category for participation. A student may repeat a category, even when the

score is superior. All students will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Hymnals Specific hymnals will not be needed for beginning students in Categories I, I-A, and I-B. Students are required to play only easy and short hymn versions or arrangements.

Students participating in Categories II, II-A, and II-B are encouraged to use:

Baptist Hymnal, Simplified Edition, 1991 or

The Baptist Hymnal, 1991 or 2008 or

Other published Baptist or non-Baptist hymnal

Students participating in Categories III, III-A, III-B, and IV are encouraged to use:

The Baptist Hymnal, 1991 or 2008 or

Other published Baptist or non-Baptist hymnal

Participation Categories Categories I, I-A: Designed for beginning students. Students will receive written, constructive

comments, but will not receive adjudication for ratings.

Categories I-B, II, II-A, II-B: Designed for beginning and intermediate students. Students will receive adjudication for ratings.

Categories III, III-A, III-B, IV: Designed for students with varying degrees of skills. Students will

receive adjudication for ratings. Students in these categories who receive Superior ratings and are in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate in the SBU Honors Piano Festival.

Registration Each participant is responsible for his/her own registration and should submit it to his/her teacher. The piano teacher is encouraged to include his/her entire group of participants in one mailing. A registration form is available at www.SBUniv.edu/pianofestival.

3

Copyright Considerations Do not use copied music unless the publisher has granted permission to copy. Make sure to note the permission on the music. The teacher is responsible to obtain permission from publishers. Please be aware that obtaining publisher permission may take several weeks.

When you receive permission, please use the copyright acknowledgement as it appears on the music and add “Used by Permission” at the bottom of the page. Copying music without permission from the copyright owner is prosecutable by law.

General Guidelines for All Categories Participants should play from published music, not copies. Photocopied music, without written

permission from the publisher, will result in the disqualification of the participant.

Participants should provide published copies of all pieces for the adjudicators.

All adjudicators’ music should have measures numbered consecutively beginning with “1”.

Participants may participate in a category more than one year, even if they have previously

received a Superior rating. There are no age restrictions in any category.

The Praise & Worship Chorus/Song portion (Category II and above) is designed to encourage students to develop the skills necessary to play piano in a more contemporary worship setting. Students will develop the ability to play praise and worship songs from lead sheets. Evaluation criteria includes knowledge of key, proper use of chords and inversions, creativity and expressive freedom, as well as piano fundamentals such as tempo, rhythm, continuity, and overall musicality.

Out of respect for other performers, please remain seated during performances. Students will receive certificates and adjudication/comment sheets at their designated recognition times.

Parents, teachers, and friends may attend the festivals and are the congregation for the hymn singing as listed in the requirements for some categories.

Only one guest may accompany a student during sight-reading.

High school students in Category III and above receiving Superior ratings at the district level will be eligible to participate in a half-day festival at SBU in April.

4

Guidelines for Category I Categories I, I-A, and I-B are for beginning piano students who are not yet ready to play from Baptist

Hymnal Simplified Piano Edition, 1991 or similar.

Category I Hymn – A very easy hymn version, such as those found in method books (minimum 8 mm)

o With music or from memory o With or without pedal

Recital piece – Beginning recital piece (8-16 mm) o From memory o With or without pedal

Scales – C and G major 5-finger patterns o Ascending and descending o Hands together

Category I-A Hymn – A easy hymn version, such as those found in method books (8-16 mm)

o With music or from memory o With or without pedal

Recital piece – Beginning recital piece (minimum 8 mm) o From memory o With or without pedal

Scales – C and G major scales o One octave ascending and descending o Hands together

Category I-B Hymn – A short version of a hymn such as those found in method books (minimum 16 mm)

o With music or from memory o With or without pedal

Recital piece – Appropriate-level recital piece (minimum 16 mm) o From memory o With or without pedal

Scales – C, G, and D major scales o One octave ascending and descending o Hands together

5

Guidelines for Category II Categories II, II-A, and II-B are for students using Baptist Hymnal Simplified Piano Edition, 1991 or Baptist

Hymnal, 1991, 2008, or similar.

Category II Hymn – one stanza of a prepared hymn with 3-4 part harmony

o As written in the hymnal o Not from memory o No introduction o With or without pedal

Praise & Worship Chorus/Song – play one praise & worship chorus/song from lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only); OPTIONAL at this level

o With music o Choose from C, G, D or A major o Use I, IV, and V chords and inversions

Recital Piece – classical recital piece (minimum 24 mm) o From memory o With or without pedal

Scales – C, G, D and A major scales with primary chord cadences o One octave ascending and descending o Hands together

Sight-read – A very easy version of a hymn selected by the adjudicator o As written o With or without pedal o No introduction

Sight-read – A short chorus from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only) o Selected by adjudicator o Selection will be in C or G major

Category II-A Hymn – one stanza of a prepared hymn with 3-4 part harmony

o As written in the hymnal o Not from memory o With introduction o With pedal

Praise & Worship Chorus/Song – play one praise & worship chorus/song from lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only); OPTIONAL at this level

o With music o Choose from C, G, D, A, E or B major o Use I, IV, and V chords and inversions

Recital Piece – classical recital piece (minimum 32 mm) o From memory o With or without pedal according to the stylistic period of the piece

Scales – C, G, D, A, E and B major scales with primary chord cadences o Two octaves ascending and descending o Hands together

6

Sight-read – A very easy version of a hymn selected by the adjudicator o As written o With pedal o With introduction

Sight-read – A short chorus from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only) o Selected by adjudicator o Selection will be in C, G, D or A major

Category II-B Hymn – one stanza of a prepared hymn with 3-4 part harmony

o As written in the hymnal o Not from memory o With introduction o With pedal

Praise & Worship Chorus/Song – play one praise & worship chorus/song from lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only); OPTIONAL at this level

o With music o Choose from G, D, A, E, B or F major o Use I, II, IV, and V chords and inversions

Recital Piece – classical recital piece (minimum 32 mm) o From memory o With or without pedal according to the stylistic period of the piece o Suggested time: 2-4 minutes

Scales – C, G, D, A, E, B and F major and a harmonic minor scales with primary chord cadences o Two octaves ascending and descending o Hands together

Sight-read – A very easy version of a hymn selected by the adjudicator o As written o With pedal o With introduction

Sight-read – A short chorus from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only) o Selected by adjudicator o Selection will be in C, G,D, A or E major

7

Guidelines for Category III Category III is for students using Baptist Hymnal, 1991, 2008 or other published hymnal.

Category III-A is for students using Baptist Hymnal, 2008 or similar.

Category III-B is for students using Baptist Hymnal, 1991, 2008 or other published hymnal.

Category III Hymn – one stanza of a prepared hymn with four-part harmony

o As written in the hymnal o Not from memory o With introduction o With pedal o Following a music director as the congregation sings

Hymn Arrangement – short, published arrangement of same hymn o Suggested time: 2-4 minutes o Not from memory o With pedal o Must play from published music o May have a page turner

Praise & Worship Chorus/Song – play one praise and worship chorus/song from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only); OPTIONAL at this level

o With music

o Must choose two different keys o Choose from G, D, A, E, B or F major o Can use all chords including non-harmonic tones

Recital Piece – selection from traditional, classical piano literature o Suggested time: 3-6 minutes o From memory o With or without pedal according to the stylistic period of the piece

Scales – G, D, A, E, B and F major and A and D harmonic minor scales with primary chord cadences

o Two octaves ascending and descending o Hands together

Sight-read – a hymn selected by the adjudicator o As written o With pedal o With introduction

Sight-read – A short chorus from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only) o Selected by adjudicator o Selection will be in G, D, A, E or B major o Using all chords including non-harmonic tones

Category III-A Hymn – one stanza of a prepared hymn with four-part harmony

o As written in the hymnal o Not from memory o With introduction

8

o With pedal o Following a music director as the congregation sings

Hymn Arrangement – short, published arrangement of same hymn o Suggested time: 2 minutes o Not from memory o With pedal o Must play from published music o May have a page turner

Praise & Worship Chorus/Song – play one praise and worship chorus/song from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only)

o With music

o Must choose two different keys o Choose from G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat and A-flat major and A, D, G, C or E minor o Can use all chords including non-harmonic tones

Recital Piece – selection from traditional, classical piano literature o Suggested time: 3-6 minutes o From memory o With or without pedal according to the stylistic period of the piece

Scales – G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat and A-flat major and A, D, G, C and E harmonic minor scales with primary chord cadences

o Two octaves ascending and descending o Hands together

Sight-read – a hymn selected by the adjudicator o As written o With pedal o With introduction

Sight-read – a short chorus from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only) o Selected by adjudicator o Selection will be in G, D, A, B-flat, E-flat or A-flat major o Using all chords including non-harmonic tones

Sight-read – accompaniment of an anthem selected by the adjudicator o As written – observing all tempo, dynamic and interpretive markings o May have a page turner

Category III-B Hymn – one stanza of a prepared hymn with four-part harmony

o As written in the hymnal with improvisation optional o Not from memory o With introduction o With pedal o Following a music director as the congregation sings

Hymn Arrangement – short, published arrangement of same hymn o Suggested time: 2 minutes o Not from memory o With pedal o Must play from published music

9

o May have a page turner

Praise & Worship Chorus/Song – play one praise and worship chorus/song from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only)

o With music

o Must choose two different keys o Choose from G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat or D-flat major and A, D, G, C, E or B

harmonic minor o Can use all chords including non-harmonic tones

Recital Piece – selection from traditional, classical piano literature o Suggested time: 3-6 minutes o From memory o With or without pedal according to the stylistic period of the piece

Scales – G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat and D-flat major and A, D, G, C, E and B harmonic minor scales with primary chord cadences

o Two octaves ascending and descending o Hands together

Sight-read – a hymn selected by the adjudicator o As written o With pedal o With introduction

Sight-read – a short chorus from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only) o Selected by adjudicator o Selection will be in G, D, A, B-flat, E-flat or A-flat major or A, D or G minor o Using all chords including non-harmonic tones

Sight-read – accompaniment of an anthem selected by the adjudicator o As written – observing all tempo, dynamic and interpretive markings o May have a page turner

Modulation/Transposition – Play “O How He Loves You and Me” (#146 in Baptist Hymnal, 1991 or

#170 in Baptist Hymnal, 2008) o With music o With pedal o May not use written modulation/transposition o Play one stanza in original key A-flat major, then transpose up half step to A major and

play one stanza

10

Guidelines for Category IV Category IV is for students using Baptist Hymnal, 1991, 2008 or other published hymnal.

Category IV Hymn – one stanza of a prepared hymn with four-part harmony

o As written in the hymnal with improvisation optional o Not from memory o With introduction o With pedal o Following a music director as the congregation sings

Hymn Arrangement – short, published arrangement of same hymn o Suggested time: 3 minutes o Not from memory o With pedal o Must play from published music o May have a page turner

Praise & Worship Chorus/Song – play two praise and worship choruses/songs from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only)

o With music

o Must choose two different keys o Choose from any key except C major o Can use all chords including non-harmonic tones

Recital Piece – selection from traditional, classical piano literature o Suggested time: 4-8 minutes o From memory o With or without pedal according to the stylistic period of the piece

Scales – ALL major and ALL harmonic minor scales with primary chord cadences o Two octaves ascending and descending o Hands together

Sight-read – a hymn selected by the adjudicator o As written o With pedal o With introduction

Sight-read – a short chorus from a lead sheet (melodic line/words and chords only) o Selected by adjudicator o Selection will be in any major key o Using all chords including non-harmonic tones

Sight-read – accompaniment or vocal parts of an anthem selected by the adjudicator o As written – observing all tempo, dynamic and interpretive markings o May have a page turner

Modulation/Transposition – Adjudicator will select one hymn: “All Day Long” (#463, F major),

“Alleluia” (#223, G major), or “Trust and Obey” (#447, F major); all from Baptist Hymnal, 1991 o Adjudicator will indicate whether modulation will be up or down one half or whole step

from original key o Participant may not play from written modulation/transposition o Play in original key, then play modulation to new key, then play hymn in new key

11

Modulation/Transposition – prepare one praise and worship chorus/song in participant’s choice of key

o Adjudicator will choose transposition up or down one half or whole step o Transposition will be done on sight with appropriate modulation o May not play from written or printed modulation or transposition

12

Adjudication Criteria Students will be evaluated on the following aspects of each piece performed.

Accompaniment o Introduction o Appropriate tempo o Skill at following director o Dynamic Level

Accuracy o Time values – as written o Correct notes – as written

Interpretation o Appropriate tempo o Dynamics o Phrasing

Pedal o Legato o Clear o Technique

Poise o Confidence o Stage presence o Posture

Technique o Fluency o Tone o Touch o Hand position