Festivals: What is the VMTA Fall Festival?

Presser Hall houses the Music Department at Hollins University

The Piano School participates in two festivals each year: the VMTA Fall Festival at Hollins University and the MTNA Studio Festival in my studio. I require my students to participate in at least one festival each year. So what are these festivals about, and which one is best for your child?

I have all of my very young, first-year students participate in the MTNA Studio Festival. Other students are free to select either festival. There are differences, however, and I will explain the VMTA Fall Festival in this post. Let's just call it the "Fall Festival" for the rest of this discussion.

VMTA Fall Festival

Saturday, November 17, 2012

The Fall Festival is always held in November, and it has taken place at Hollins University for as long as I can remember. Students register for the event one month in advance, but begin preparing before that. Here are the basic things to know:

• Students are assigned a private "audition" time. 
• There is no audience.
• Each student must play two pieces for a panel of two judges:
• One historical piece in original form (Things from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods are eligible.)
• One piece in a contemporary idiom in original form (something written in the 20th or 21st Century with a component that music theorists call "contemporary"...irregular meter, tone clusters, nontraditional notation, dissonance, whole tone scales, etc.)
• Both pieces must be memorized.
• The student must provide music scores (their books or sheet music) of the pieces for the judges to use.
• The measures in the music must be numbered.

Sounds a little intimidating, right? But it's not. At least it's not bad for students who like undertaking challenges in piano. I don't recommend the fall festival for all students, but I do urge some types of students to give it a try. Certainly, advanced students should play in this festival. It gives them enough of a challenge that they have an achievable goal toward which to work. Elementary- and Intermediate-level students who are consistent practicers should try this festival as well. Here's the thing: if you hate it, I won't make you do it again next year. If you like it, then fabulous! You will have completed a substantial task and received encouraging commentary from the judges for your efforts. It's a good thing.

There are some students that I do not put in the Fall Festival: 

• Those who have severe anxiety
• Those who don't have time and/or desire to finely polish and memorize two pieces
• Students who have just started taking lessons
• Students who have trouble maintaining a consistent practice schedule

The Fall Festival is not perfect. It's important to remember that the comments made by the judges are subjective and not entirely consistent:

• One judge may say, "Terrific pedaling in the B Section!" The other judge may say, "I think you could use more pedal in the B Section."
• One judge may circle a Superior rating and the other may circle a Very Good. Usually they are closer in line with each other than that, but the judges are only human. They may hear and interpret things differently.
• There are occasionally new judges who are not familiar with the norms at this festival, but they are assigned to an audition room with a more experienced adjudicator.
• The teacher will sometimes disagree with something a judge writes. No big deal! It's good to hear different points of view. Once I gave a student an "Excellent" rating because I felt her first piece was "Superior" and her second was "Very Good." I averaged the two. Her teacher did not concur with my assessment. That's fine. I've read comment sheets that had nothing but glowing remarks for both pieces, yet the judge circled an "Excellent" instead of "Superior" (Superior is the best.) That's fine, too. It's just a festival, and it's not the most important part of your journey as a piano student. Regardless of what a judge writes, you will still be a better pianist for having learned, memorized, and performed your pieces.

For those students and parents who are intrigued by the possibility of participating in the Fall Festival but don't understand some of the requirements listed above, please don't worry. I take care of selecting eligible music that is at the pianist's current level and make sure that the music is marked appropriately for the judges. All the parent has to do is provide transportation to and from the event.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Who are the judges? They are piano teachers from the Roanoke Valley. I'm a judge myself, but teachers do not judge their own students.
2. What do the judges do? They listen to each student and write encouraging commentary and suggestions on a sheet of paper and circle a rating at the bottom of the sheet. The comment sheets are returned to the teacher after the festival. I discuss these at subsequent lessons and return the comment sheets to the student.
3. What should students wear to the festival? Clean, casual clothes that are on the slightly nice side. Jeans and flip-flops are discouraged.
4. How much does the festival cost? This year the fee is $12, and if you are my student, you have already paid your festival fee.
5. What if a student makes mistakes or forgets part of the music? No problem. It happens all the time. The best thing to do is just go on as though there were no mistakes, or start back in on a part of the music you remember. 
6. Is there a winner or a score given? There is no winner, and this is not a competition. There are ratings on the bottom of the comment sheet (Superior, Excellent, Very Good, Good, and Fair), and the judges will circle one of these. The overall rating is the higher of the two .
7. Can I bring photocopies of the music instead of the actual music books? No. That is not allowed (and it makes your teacher look like a nincompoop).
8. How many students participate in the Fall Festival? There are usually around 110 students from all around the Roanoke Valley at our festival location. Statewide, there are many more.
9. How do I register for the Fall Festival? Your teacher takes care of that. You just have to make sure your calendar is clear for the morning of the festival.

For more information about the VMTA Fall Festival, you may be interested in visiting the Roanoke Valley Music Teachers Association website: VMTA Fall Festival Information