Piano Repertoire
We continuously add new teachers who are not certain as to what our guidelines are for acceptable and appropriate repertoire. Therefore, it is essential we all understand what repertoire is and is not acceptable for adjudication in AD.
Repertoire MUST be original piano compositions. This simply means the piece must have been written for the piano originally. This would exclude the following:
- NO Piano transcriptions of symphony movements…examples: Ode to Joy, Dvorak’s New World Symphony, Haydn’s Surprise Symphony and others
- NO Folk songs…Examples: Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Yankee Doodle, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Hot Cross Buns, Peirrott, Frere Jacques, When the Saints Go Marching In, Camptown Races, and others
- NO Hymns, Spirituals, Gospels…Examples: Any hymn or hymn arrangement, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
- NO Broadway or Pop Tunes…Examples: Any Broadway songs, any Disney selections, any current songs from “pop or rock” artists
- NO simplified classical repertoire…Examples: Any simplified classics that the music companies publish to make the classics more “reachable” for pianists; for example, Moonlight Sonata must be in its original form and original key.
- NO cuts in standard repertoire…Example: Fur Elise must be performed in its entire rondo form, not simply the A section or main theme.
For young students, if you are choosing repertoire out of method books, you must make certain it was originally written for teaching. Anything listed above would not fall into that category. However, there is much original music available that is superb for auditions. Each method publisher has extensive listings of supplemental books and sheet music. This is a far better resource from which to pull for student auditions. Judges generally would prefer to see a standard of repertoire above that of simply the method books. (This in turn may help your student achieve a higher score.)
Applied Technique for Piano
Students attempting Extra Credit must successfully complete all Extra-Credit Technique requirements in their level to receive the bonus Crescendo point.
Voice Repertoire
For Achievement Day, judges will expect to hear song selections that are age and level-appropriate. Participants must memorize and perform two contrasting songs from the following repertoire categories:
- Classical Repertoire (Art Song, Opera or Oratorio arias).
- Musical Theater. Songs originally from other sources but adapted for use in Musical Theater are also permitted.
- Folk Songs (including Traditional and Spiritual songs). This category of songs is encouraged for younger and/or beginning students. Young students are also encouraged to explore the rich diversity of folk songs in foreign languages.
For level C and up: at least one selection has to be in a language other than English.
For level D and up: at least one of the selections must be from the Classical Repertoire.
The following categories are NOT permitted:
- “Pop music” (including Billboard hits originally written for radio/streaming).
- Rock, Country, Hip Hop, R&B, Rap.
- Church Hymns and Gospel tunes.
- Original Compositions.
All selections MUST be memorized.
All selections MUST be performed in the written key.
Each musical selection MUST include the full piano accompaniment in the score, and students have to perform the unabridged versions of their songs. NO CUTS or alterations are allowed.
A piano accompanist MUST be used at the audition. Other instrumental accompaniment (guitar, etc.) is not permitted, and acapella selections are also not allowed. The student is expected to make their own arrangements to find and pay an accompanist. The student’s teacher is not allowed to play the piano accompaniment at the audition.
Students MUST provide an original copy of their song when checking in at the registration desk. NO PHOTOCOPIES ARE ALLOWED. Students who are unable to present originals of the music will be allowed to perform, but will receive a “No Score” (NS) in Performance. Students are expected to have measures numbered in their music beforehand.
All other Achievement Day policies regarding repertoire, changes in music, or Performance time limits apply.
Performance Guidelines
- Total time limits in front of the judge (excluding the untimed theory exam):
Students in Level A will have 10 minutes, Level B – 12 minutes, Level C – 14 minutes, Level D – 16 minutes, Levels E through J – 18 minutes. - When selecting performance repertoire, please note that 3-5 minutes of each student’s time will be devoted to sight reading and applied technique.
- Students are permitted to select which category to start with.
Applied Technique for Voice
Violin Repertoire
For Achievement Day, judges will expect to hear pieces that are age and level-appropriate. Participants must memorize and perform two contrasting pieces. Participants are encouraged to choose pieces from different historical periods; however, two pieces from the same period may be selected if they are contrasting in tempo, articulation, or tonality. For information about classification of composers and historical periods, please refer to the MTNA website.
For levels A-D, pieces must be published in violin repertoire or method books, such as the Suzuki Method, Barbara Barber’s Solos for Young Violinists, or The Fairfield Fiddle Farm. For levels E-J, students may use selections from the standard repertoire, such as concert pieces or movements from concertos or sonatas.
The following categories are not permitted:
- “Pop” Music
- Arrangements of Disney Songs
- Church Hymns or Gospel Tunes
- Original Compositions
All selections MUST be memorized.
All selections MUST be performed in the written key.
Each musical selection MUST include the full piano accompaniment in the score, and students have to perform the unabridged versions of their pieces. NO CUTS or alterations, with the exception of orchestral tutti sections in concertos, are allowed.
A piano accompanist MUST be used at the audition, unless both selections were written to be performed without accompaniment. The student is expected to make their own arrangements to find and pay an accompanist. The student’s teacher is not allowed to play the piano accompaniment at the audition.
Students MUST provide original copies of their music when checking in at the registration desk. NO PHOTOCOPIES ARE ALLOWED. Students who are unable to present originals of the music will be allowed to perform, but will receive a “No Score” (NS) in Performance. Students are expected to have measures numbered in their music.
All other Achievement Day policies regarding repertoire, changes in music, or Performance time limits apply.
Performance Guidelines
- Total time limits in front of the judge (excluding the untimed theory exam):
Students in Level A will have 10 minutes, Level B – 12 minutes, Level C – 14 minutes,
Level D – 16 minutes, Levels E through J – 18 minutes. - When selecting performance repertoire, please note that 3-5 minutes of each student’s time will be devoted to sight reading and applied technique.
Applied Technique for Violin
Sample Theory Tests
These sample tests are examples of the types of questions and the materials that will appear on the tests. The actual tests may be in a different format.
Violin
- Violin Level A
- Violin Level B
- Violin – Levels C-J same as piano