News

Description and Purpose: This contest-recital gives validation to the performance and appreciation of jazz, popular and folk styles of music as legitimate art forms.

Eligibility: Pre-K through grade 12, Adult Hobbyist. This event is open to non-HMTA members at no additional cost.

Registration Deadline: Form(s) and fee due October meeting

Classifications: Competitive and Non-competitive.

Repertoire Requirement: Any Ragtime, Folk, Country & Western, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Big Band, Broadway, Latin American (ex. samba), Improvisation or Original Composition solo or ensemble of any instrumentation.

Levels and Time Limits:

1. Beginner: 5 minutes
2. Late Beginner: 5 minutes
3. Intermediate: 7 minutes
4. Late Intermediate: 7 minutes
5. Advanced: 10 minutes

Determining the level of a student is problematic due to the lack of a universal standard. For points of reference, let Wm. Gillock’s “3 Jazz Preludes” mark the lowest level of the Intermediate range, and let Joplin’s original version of “The Maple Leaf Rag” mark the lowest level of the Advanced range.

Setting and Dress Code: Recital Hall (competitive) and Large classroom (noncompetitive); Semi-Formal Attire; no jeans, shorts, t-shirts, or sneakers. The dress code applies to students, teachers and judges.

Event Rules:

1. Only music in the styles listed above will be allowed.

2. Students may play as many pieces as they like so long as they do not exceed the time limit.

3. Memorization is required for competitive entries, but not for noncompetitive entries. Playing from memory is optional for noncompetitive entrants.

4. Students must bring an original copy of their music for the judges. Noncompetitive entrants should bring a second copy or photocopy to perform from. Student’s who do not bring an original copy of their music will not be allowed to play (exception: improvisation category)

5. The judge has the right to disqualify a student if the level of the performance is two levels (or more) above that which was indicated by the teacher.

6. Students will be judged on the merits of their performance, not the difficulty of their piece(s).

7. All judging decisions will be left to the discretion of the judges and will not be contestable.

Awards:

Those participating in the competitive category will receive a Certificate of Participation and a written critique. There will be three large Trophies for three winners in each group and one small Trophy for Honorable Mention.

Those participating in the noncompetitive category will receive a Certificate of Participation and a written critique.

Registration:

1. Online registration is available for this event.

2. HARD COPY REGISTRATION: Please make sure to use the correct Master Registration Form and to fill out all parts of it. All students who are entered on a form for COMPETITIVE entries will be put in a competitive group.

3. HARD COPY REGISTRATION: Please include the Age (whole numbers only) and Level (letter only) of each student. For Competitive entrants it is important that this information is reliable. Entrants will be grouped according to their level in order to make the competition as fair as possible. For Noncompetitive entrants, this information helps us to put students in groups with their peers.

4. Students may be disqualified if they are entered at an inappropriate level.

Fee: $20/ soloist; $16/ ensemble member

Teacher Responsibility: See standing Rules #1 and #6.