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Section XI Part 4 - Student Honors Program | PMTNM

SECTION XI - PART 4

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PMTNM Student Honors Program

The PMTNM Student Honors Program is a competitive audition at the district and state levels. The program was designed and implemented to encourage students to study, prepare and present recital caliber repertoire in a polished performance. Participants have the opportunity to perform before qualified judges who provide careful and constructive criticism. All participants have an incentive and forum for musical and personal development; outstanding student winners perform in recitals at the culmination of the state competitions. The repertoire dates, and general rules are determined by the PMTNM Students Honors Committee. (Duties of the Student Honors Program Chairman are detailed in Section VII of this Handbook.)

Entrant Responsibilities

  1. The entrant is responsible for all financial obligations at any level of the competition.
  2. District winners are obligated to advance to the state level of the competition. Should an unforeseen circumstance prevent winner or alternate from advancing to the state level of the competition, they must immediately notify the state chairman.
  3. PMTNM/MTNA recommends that students below the age of 18 be accompanied by an adult at all levels of competition. PMTNM will exercise all reasonable caution to provide a safe environment for all entrants but cannot guarantee the safety of all entrants.

State Winners Responsibilities

  1. State winners are required to perform at the PMTNM State Conference.
  2. Failure to appear in the scheduled Winners Recital will make the winner and the winner's teacher ineligible for any awards, honors, or recognition pertaining to the competition.

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Eligibility

  1. The entrants must be studying with a teacher who is a member in good standing of PMTNM.
  2. Students below age 8 may enter the Honors Program at Level I. The teacher must submit a recording of the student playing the audition piece to the State Honors Chairperson for a decision on whether the student may or may not enter the Honors Program.
  3. Students may enter both the Honors Program and the Junior/Senior or College Auditions in the same year, but on different instruments. Students may enter two categories in Honors on different instruments. No contestant will be allowed to enter on more than two instruments.

Fees

  1. District Audition Fee: This amount is set by each district. This fee should consist of the District Fee for each student who enters the district audition plus a fee to cover local expenses for judging, facilities, etc. The District Fee, indicated in the Current Fee Schedule (Section III, Student Honors) is to be forwarded to the State Honors Chairperson by the specified deadline. Any additional amount is retained by the district to pay for local expenses.
  2. State Audition Fee: The State fee indicated in the Current Fee Schedule (Section III, Student Honors) is to be sent to the State Student Honors Chairman by the specified deadline.
  3. State Student Activity Day Fee: The State fee indicated in the Current Fee Schedule: Student Activity Day Fee, Section III, is to be sent to the State Student Honors Chairman by the specified date. This fee is only collected from District Winners.

Performance Levels

Performance Categories

  1. Piano Performance
  2. Instrumental Performance
  3. Vocal Performance

Repertoire & Performance Requirements

General Guidelines

  1. Music for all instruments must be of recital or concert caliber.
  2. Music to be performed must be memorized.
  3. The entrant will furnish a copy of the music for the judge. (Reproductions of copyrighted music may not be used.)
  4. Teachers or students may not edit music by cutting certain sections out of the music for any instrument.
  5. District winners must play the same selection at the State audition.
  6. Time limits for the Auditions are:
    • Level I, II Up to 6 minutes
    • Level III Up to 8 minutes
    • Level IV, V Up to 10 minutes
    • College Up to 12 minutes
  7. Time limits are strictly enforced. Students who go over the time limit will be disqualified.
  8. The State Honors Auditions are offered only to students of those teachers who are registered for the Conference.

Piano/Instrumental

  1. The PMTNM General Auditions (PEP) Music Guide in the Appendix of this Handbook should be used as a guide for repertoire in piano. Entrants should be playing level three material or higher to enter.
  2. The U.I.L. music and All-State music should serve as a guide for other instruments.
  3. The National Association of Organ Teachers Handbook may serve as a guide for organ and/or the PMTNM Organ Syllabus compiled by Marian Henry and Linda Rice, available from the State Honors Chairman. Selections must be legitimate organ music and not arrangements of piano music.
  4. Pianists and other instrumentalists may play one composition. More than one composition may be programmed as follows:
    1. Multiple movements of one sonata, sonatina, or suite.
    2. Pieces must have the same opus number.
    3. Pieces from the same work (but not if different opus number), Examples:
      • Bartok Mikrokosmos - any pieces from the 6 Volumes,
      • Debussy Preludes - any pieces from Volume 1 or 2,
      • Bach - Preludes and Fugues - any from Book I or II of Well-Tempered Clavier,
      • Tansman - Pour les Enfants - choose any from the 4 books.
  5. Non-keyboard students must furnish an accompanist (which may be their teacher) for all Auditions (when necessary).

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Voice

  1. Purpose of the Auditions
    1. Encouragement towards more diligent study in the preparation of appropriate repertoire.
    2. An opportunity to perform under conditions designed to provide the most complete and total consideration for the student.
    3. Stimulate the desire and incentive for vocal and musical self-improvement.
    4. An opportunity to sing before qualified and impartial judges, and to receive careful and constructive criticism.
    5. Opportunities for public appearance by outstanding students.
  2. Repertoire Requirements
    1. Youth - Under 19 years of age on September 1. (Levels are listed in Section III.)
      • One English song
      • One art song of contrasting nature in any language.
      • All songs may be sung in English.
      • It is recommended that operatic arias NOT be programmed.
    2. College - Ages 19-25 years of age on September 1.
      • One aria (opera or oratorio) sung in the original language or in an English translation.
      • One Italian, French, German or Spanish art song performed in the original language.
      • An art song in English selected from any national genre NOT represented in the list above.
    3. The Suggested Vocal Materials for Honors Auditions Preparation in the Appendix of this Handbook should be used as a guide for vocal repertoire.
  3. Conduct of the Auditions
    1. The Honors Voice Auditions are primarily designed to give the student an opportunity to be judged. The motivating spirit is a mutual seeking and cooperative effort towards the highest in vocal artistry and technique.
    2. Teachers are permitted to accompany their own students. Students must bring their own accompanists.

Judges (District & State)

  1. The judges will use the PMTNM Junior/Senior Audition Rating Sheets.
  2. The judges shall select a first, second and third place winner in each level of each category at both the District and State Auditions. Judges may not select any ties for a first place, but may tie a second or third place. In the event of a tie for second place, judges must designate one of the two as first alternate and the other as second alternate.
  3. The judges will reserve the right to declare "No Winner" (or "No Alternate" at the District Audition) if performance is not considered of sufficiently high quality for the age level.

Audition Procedures

District Auditions

  1. The District Vice President will schedule District Auditions in time to meet the deadline set by the State Honors Chairman to receive the list of District winners.
  2. The District Vice President will see that all entrants fulfill the requirements.
  3. First place winners for each level of each category may enter the State Student Honors Audition.
  4. Second place winners shall be alternates (unless there is declared no first place winner) and may enter the State Audition if the first place winner cannot go due to transportation, school, illness, financial or other reasons.
  5. Third place winners shall be alternates (unless there is declared no first or second place winner) and may enter the State Auditions if the first or second place winner cannot go due to reasons stated in #4 above.
  6. The State Honors Chairman will provide the Districts the appropriate application forms to be completed and returned by the set deadline. (Sample forms are found in the Section XIV.)

State Auditions

  1. The State Student Honors Auditions will be held on Friday or Saturday during the PMTNM State Conference. If facilities allow, the Auditions may be open. Students must arrive at the appointed time for competition or be disqualified.
  2. Any teacher with a student entered in any Conference competition or student activity will be required to help with that competition or activity. In lieu of helping he/she may send another PMTNM member as his/her designated helper or may pay a $50.00 fee to the State Chairperson who will hire a helper.
  3. All entrants for the State Student Honors Audition must have been first place winners at the District Audition (or the alternate if the first place winner cannot attend.)
  4. State winners are required to perform at the PMTNM State Conference. Failure to appear in the scheduled Winners Recital will make the winner and the winner's teacher ineligible for any awards, honors, or recognition pertaining to the competition. The second place winner steps into first place and will be allowed to play on the State Student Winners Recital. (In the event of a second place tie, judges must have designated them as first and second alternate.)
  5. First, second and third place District organ student winners are requested to make a taped performance for the State Winners Recital (before Conference) in case facilities do not have an organ available for the recital performance.
  6. State Student Honors winners in each level of each category will be awarded a certificate and a medal or trophy.
  7. State Student Honors first place winners in Levels I through V will receive cash awards from the Joyce Walker Student Foundation (as listed in Section III).
  8. College State Honors winners in each category will receive certificates and cash awards from the Joyce Walker Student Foundation (as listed in Section III).

Back to Section XI Main Page

Related Sections

Section XI OverviewPart 1: Introduction and General InformationPart 2: MTNA Junior/Senior Performance Auditions and Composition ContestPart 3: Performance Evaluation Program (PEP)
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