Updated 10/15/2019

WMTA District Auditions This PDF has many active hyperlinks to make finding information quick and easy. Click on a section in the Table of Contents to be taken directly to that topic in the PDF. Other links take you to the appropriate page on the WMTA website.

Table of Contents

▪ About ▪ Registration

• Non-members

• Entering Students in a Different District ▪ Tracks

• Piano

• Duets

• Vocal

• Brass, Classical Guitar, Percussion, Strings, and Woodwinds

• Organ

• Adults ▪ Repertoire Information ▪ Music Theory Test ▪ Points and Awards

About WHAT Depending on which Track they choose, students (Grades 1-12 and adults) play 2-3 pieces for written feedback from an adjudicator, and take a Music Theory Test assessing written and aural music theory skills. Students also accumulate points, and receive awards at various achievement levels.

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➢ This event is different from the MTNA Competitions. Information regarding those events can be found here. WHERE There are 14 Districts across the state, and students generally participate in their home district, though it is possible to enter in a different district. Click here for a list of District Audition Dates and Contact info, and here for a map of Districts. WHO This spring event is open to any student of a current WMTA member who has renewed their dues by October 15 of the year preceding the audition. Click here to renew. Click here to join as a new member. Non-members, please click here for info on entering your students.

➢ Teachers may only enter their own students, and not those of another teacher. ➢ Teachers who enter students are expected to work the day of auditions. Click here for more info.

QUESTIONS? Please see the links for more detailed information. If you have questions, please contact your District Chair.

Rules and Requirements REGISTRATION All students must be registered by their teacher online using the “Ovation” system. If you have difficulty logging in, or are a new member, please contact the WMTA District Auditions Chair, Sandra Statz. A helpful user guide is available here. Fees are $20 (D2, D2-NM) or $25 (D3, State, Duets) per student. Teachers must send one check, payable to WMTA, along with their Teacher Fee Summary report (available in Ovation) to their Local District Chair. Non-Member Teachers

Teachers who are not WMTA members may enter students in District Auditions by following these steps: 1. Contact the District Chair in their area 2-3 weeks before the entry deadline. 2. Pay a non-member entry fee of $100. Please contact our Treasurer Sydney Alexander for more information.

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Entering Students in a Different District Permission must be obtained from that Local District Chair before that District’s entry deadline. 1. All records remain in the teacher’s Local District. 2. Fees for the student(s) are sent to the Local District Chair where the student will perform. 3. Audition fees cannot be refunded or transferred to other Districts. 4. All materials will be sent to the student’s teacher after the Audition. 5. Awards will be ordered by the teacher’s Local District Chair.

TRACKS District Auditions are open to all students in Grades 1-12, as well as adult students. There are four “Tracks” (participation levels) available to the student: D2, D2-NM, D3, and State (also known as the State Badger Competition).

Rules common to all Tracks: ▪ Students must provide the judge with an original score (no photocopies), with measures numbered

o For students Grade 7 and above, one point will be deducted from total performance points if measures are not numbered

o If legally downloaded music is used, it must be accompanied by this “Copyright Representation and Indemnification Agreement Form”

▪ Compositions must be at least 16 measures long, excluding repeats o Two or more pieces that are less than 16 measures, but by the same composer, may be grouped as a suite to

meet this requirement ▪ All students must take a Music Theory Test ▪ Students will receive written comments, a certificate of participation, their graded Music Theory Test, and points ▪ Teachers may not change repertoire choices, track, or theory level after application deadline has passed ▪ Use of recording devices during District Auditions performances is prohibited ▪ Neither students nor parents may discuss or challenge the score (points awarded) with the judge

Specific Rules for Piano (in addition to Rules common to all Tracks)

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D2 ▪ Perform two pieces from memory ▪ Grades 1-6: Pieces must be contrasting, and different composers are strongly encouraged but not required

o Repertoire time limit = 8 minutes ▪ Grades 7-9: Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers

o Repertoire time limit = 10 minutes ▪ Grades 10-12: Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers

o Repertoire time limit = 12 minutes ▪ Maximum of 5 points possible for each piece ▪ Closed audition (no audience allowed) ▪ Not eligible for advancement to the State Badger Competition

D2-NM ▪ Only open to students in Grades 7-12 ▪ Perform two pieces (memorization not required)

o Repertoire time limit = 12 minutes o A page-turner is allowed, but cannot be the student’s teacher

▪ Must have two original scores ▪ Maximum of 4 points possible for each piece ▪ Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ Closed audition (no audience allowed) ▪ Not eligible for advancement to the State Badger Competition

D3 ▪ Only open to students in Grades 7-12 ▪ Perform three pieces, two must be memorized

o Repertoire time limit = 15 minutes o A page-turner is allowed, but cannot be the student’s teacher

▪ Must have two original scores for non-memorized piece ▪ Maximum of 5 points possible for each piece ▪ Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ One piece must be by a Baroque or Classical era composer ▪ Closed audition (no audience allowed) ▪ Not eligible for advancement to the State Badger Competition

State ▪ Open to students in Grades 1-12 and adult students o Grades 1-3 are not eligible for advancement to the State Badger Competition

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▪ Perform three pieces from memory o Repertoire time limit = 10 minutes (Grades 1-6), 12 minutes (Grades 7-9), 15 minutes (Grades 10-

12) o Juniors and seniors can request a longer audition of 20 minutes; teachers should contact their

District Chair ahead of application due date ▪ Maximum of 5 points possible for each piece ▪ Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ One piece must be by a Baroque or Classical era composer ▪ Open audition (depending on available space at audition location) ▪ Students who earn a minimum of 14 performance points and 4 theory points advance to the State Badger

Competition Specific Rules for All Duets (in addition to Rules common to all Tracks)

▪ Duet auditions may not be held in every District. Please contact your Local District Chair during the Fall preceding the audition date if you have students who wish to participate by entering a duet

▪ Duet partners must both be currently studying with a WMTA member, but they don’t need to be studying with the same teacher

▪ Students can enter with only one duet partner per year ▪ Points received apply to the instrument the student played in the duet; see additional info on points here ▪ Duets are judged as a team, not as individuals ▪ Arrangements are allowed. In Ovation, include the arranger’s name along with the composer. For example, “‘Dance of

the Sugar Plum Fairy, for piano duet’ by Tchaikovsky, arr. Matz” Specific Rules for Piano Duets

▪ Only repertoire originally composed for one piano, four-hands (including arrangements) is eligible o This includes arrangements for one piano, four-hands of works originally written for other instruments

▪ Students must play at least one primo and one secondo part

D2 ▪ Perform two pieces (memorization not required) o A page-turner is allowed, but cannot be either student’s teacher

▪ Must have two original scores

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▪ Maximum of 5 points possible for each piece ▪ Grades 1-6, pieces must be contrasting ▪ Grades 7-12, pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ If students are in different grades, repertoire requirements are based on the member in the higher grade ▪ Closed audition (no audience allowed)

State ▪ Perform three pieces (memorization not required) o A page-turner is allowed, but cannot be either student’s teacher

▪ Must have two original scores ▪ Open to students in Grades 1-12 and adult students

o Only Grades 7-12 piano duets are eligible for advancement to Badger ▪ Maximum of 5 points possible for each piece ▪ Contrasting pieces by different composers, one piece must be by a Baroque or Classical era composer ▪ Open audition (depending on available space at audition location) ▪ Duets that earn a minimum of 14 performance points and 4 theory points advance to the State Badger

Competition o Both duet partners must receive at least 4 theory points to advance

Specific Rules for Vocal (in addition to Rules common to all Tracks)

▪ Vocal auditions may not be held in every District. Please contact your Local District Chair during the Fall preceding the audition date if you have students who wish to participate

▪ Any music used by the student must be an original copy ▪ One selection must be with accompaniment

o If a selection was composed with an accompaniment, it must be used ▪ Information about accompaniments

o Must have two original scores (one for judge, one for accompanist) o Arrangements are allowed o Recorded accompaniments are not allowed

▪ Information about accompanists o No accompanists are provided by WMTA o Teachers may accompany their own students o Page-turners are allowed

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D2 ▪ Perform two pieces (memorization not required) o Repertoire time limit = 10 minutes (Grades 1-6), 12 minutes (Grades 7-12)

▪ Students with 1-2 years of study: Pieces must be contrasting ▪ Students with 3+ years of study: Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ Maximum of 5 points possible for each piece ▪ At least one piece must be sung in the original language

o The original language composition may be in English and could be combined with an English translation of a composition originally written in another language

D2-NM ▪ Only open to students in Grades 7-12 ▪ Perform two pieces (memorization not required)

o Repertoire time limit = 12 minutes ▪ Students with 1-2 years of study: Pieces must be contrasting ▪ Students with 3+ years of study: Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ Maximum of 4 points possible for each piece ▪ At least one piece must be sung in the original language

o The original language composition may be in English and could be combined with an English translation of a composition originally written in another language

D3 ▪ Only open to students in Grades 7-12 ▪ Perform three pieces (at least two from memory)

o Repertoire time limit = 15 minutes ▪ Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ One piece must be by a Baroque or Classical era composer ▪ Two pieces must be sung in the original language ▪ Maximum of 5 points possible for each piece

State ▪ Perform three pieces from memory o Repertoire time limit = 12 minutes (Grades 1-6), 15 minutes (Grades 7-12) o Juniors and seniors can request a longer audition; teachers should contact District Chair ahead of

application due date ▪ Pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ One piece must be by a Baroque or Classical era composer

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▪ Two pieces must be sung in the original language ▪ Maximum of 5 points possible for each piece ▪ Students that earn a minimum of 14 performance points and 4 theory points advance to the State Badger

Competition

Specific Rules for Brass, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Strings, Woodwinds (in addition to Rules common to all Tracks)

▪ Auditions for each instrument may not be held in every District. Please contact your Local District Chair during the Fall preceding the audition date if you have students who wish to participate

▪ Memorization is optional for D2/D3 Tracks; for State Track, one piece must be memorized o Any music used by the student must be an original copy

▪ If a Concerto movement is performed, an accepted cadenza version must also be performed ▪ One selection must be with accompaniment

o If a selection was composed with an accompaniment, it must be used o Exception: Guitar and Percussion may be entirely unaccompanied (if originally unaccompanied)

▪ Information about accompaniments o Must have two original scores (one for judge, one for accompanist) o Arrangements are allowed o Recorded accompaniments are not allowed

▪ Information about accompanists o No accompanists are provided by WMTA o Teachers may accompany their own students o Page-turners are allowed

▪ Students may enter on more than one instrument o If entering on two instruments in the same area (i.e. strings), different compositions must be performed o Points are accumulated separately for each instrument a student enters on

▪ Additional Acoustic Guitar Information o Instrument should be an all acoustic guitar, with standard scale and nylon or steel strings o Finger-plucking and picking techniques are allowed o Repertoire may be of any idiom intended for acoustic guitar o Grades 1-6, pieces must be contrasting

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o Grades 7-12, pieces must be contrasting and by different composers ▪ Additional Percussion Information

o Acceptable instruments include: parade drum, concert snare drum, timpani, marimba/vibraharp, multiple percussion (not the same as drum set)

o Arrangements and transcriptions are acceptable o Neither popular music nor Musical Theatre arrangements are acceptable o Music Theory Test should be taken at student’s piano grade level

Specific Rules for Organ (in addition to Rules common to all Tracks)

▪ Organ Auditions may not be held in every District. Please contact your Local District Chair during the Fall preceding the audition date if you have students who wish to participate

▪ D2-NM is an option for students in Grades 7-12 ▪ At least one piece must be memorized for D2, D3, and State Tracks. Arrangements and transcriptions are acceptable,

but simplifications of standard organ literature are not. Students may perform chorale preludes based on hymn tunes.

Additional Information for Adult Students (in addition to Rules common to all Tracks) ▪ Memorization is not required for D2 or D3, but is for State (piano) ▪ Vocalists must sing contrasting pieces by different composers ▪ Students that participated in auditions as a child will continue to accumulate points from adult participation ▪ Music Theory Test level is at the discretion of the teacher, and will have no minimum level

Repertoire Information

Rules ▪ Consult the Eligible Baroque and Classical Composers List if your track requires a piece from these eras ▪ Transcriptions are allowed ▪ Folk songs/spirituals are allowed ▪ Original manuscripts with no composer (“Anonymous”) are allowed

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▪ Students may perform one or more movement from Suites and Sonatas/Sonatinas ▪ Students may perform any selection of variations from Theme and Variation sets ▪ Students may perform either the Prelude or Fugue of a set, or both ▪ For all repertoire, make sure the correct option is selected when entering in Ovation ▪ Minuet and Trio compositions must be performed in their entirety ▪ Arrangements are allowed (except for solo Piano tracks; this includes arrangements of hymns)

o Simplified standard repertoire is not considered an arrangement, and is not allowed ▪ Musical Theater works are not allowed (except for Vocal tracks) ▪ Student compositions are not allowed ▪ Only published music is allowed

o Exceptions are for unpublished works by a composer whose other works are published; permission must be obtained by your District Chair before the application due date

▪ Number all measures of each piece that will be performed ▪ Changes to repertoire can be made on Ovation only up until the application due date

Disqualification

▪ Students whose repertoire does not follow the rules will be disqualified o Disqualified students will still be allowed to play for comments, but no points

▪ If you have any questions about whether a piece can be used or not, contact your District Chair at least six weeks before the application due date

o The decision of the District Auditions Chair is final in any disputes over repertoire o For some examples of piano pieces that are not allowed, with explanation, click here

Music Theory Test MUSIC THEORY TEST

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Understanding music theory and music history makes the study of music more comprehensive and holistic. Students who are taught their application and relevance will have a more solid understanding of the music being studied, leading to more informed performances. Requirements

▪ Each student who participates in District Auditions is expected to take a Music Theory Test (written and aural) o The Aural exam will include two (2) hearings of each example, unless additional time is requested in advance by

contacting your Local District Chair Levels (D2, D2-NM, D3)

▪ The level is at the discretion of the teacher o Levels are not associated with school grade levels o If more than one teacher is involved in a student’s audition, they should confer to determine the test level needed. o Students must progress to the next level if they have scored 90% or above for two successive years on the same level

Levels (State)

▪ Students entering State Track have a minimum level (see table below) ▪ Students who enter in more than one instrument are allowed to take two separate levels of theory tests because there may

be two different minimum level requirements for each instrument entered o Theory points earned will count toward WMTA awards for each separate instrument entered o Alternately, students are allowed to take just one test level, and have the points earned count toward both

instruments; if this option is used, the student MUST take the higher level of test required ▪ Students entered in the State Track must score at least 80% on their Music Theory Test to advance

o They must also receive a minimum of 14 performance points on their repertoire ▪ Students who discover they took an ineligible level must take the appropriate level or forfeit the points

o Students will have an opportunity to take the correct test either on auditions day or at a later date (not to exceed one week)

▪ Minimum Test Levels by grade in school

Grade Piano/Organ Vocal/Instrumental 1-3 Pre-Elementary (PE) Pre-Elementary (PE)

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4 Elementary B (EB) Elementary A (EA)

5 Elementary C (EC) Elementary A (EA)

6 Elementary C (EC) Elementary A (EA) 7 Intermediate A (IA) Elementary A (EA)

8 Intermediate B (IB) Elementary A (EA)

9 Intermediate B (IB) Elementary A (EA) 10 Intermediate C (IC) Elementary B (EB)

11 Intermediate C (IC) Elementary C (EC) 12 Advanced A (AA) Intermediate A (IA)

Study Guides, Practice Exams, and Practice Exam Answer Keys All of these resources are here

Points and Awards Earning Points in District Auditions

▪ All students earn points for participating that accumulate year to year ▪ Students in D2, D3, and State Tracks earn between 1-5 points for each piece performed

o The rubric for points is found under “Guidelines and Rubric” here ▪ Students in D2-NM Track earn between 1-4 points for each piece performed

o The rubric for points is found under “Guidelines and Rubric” here ▪ Students earn up to 5 points for the Music Theory Test, based on their score

o 5 points (90-100%) o 4 points (80-89%) o 3 points (70-79%) o 2 points (60-69%) o 1 point (50-59%)

▪ Students participating on different instruments will earn points in each area; these are not combined o All points earned for the same instrument will be combined. (Ex: piano solo and piano duet)

▪ Points earned from the WMTA Competition for Young Composers will be incorporated into students’ cumulative points total

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Earning Points in State Badger Competition ▪ All students earn points for participating that accumulate year to year, and are combined with any District Audition points

earned from the same instrument o 10 points for participating o 5 points (additional) for Winners o 4 points (additional) for Runners-up o 3 points (additional) for Honorable Mentions

Earning Awards

▪ Students can earn awards by accumulating points earned from participation in both the District Auditions and State Badger Competition

▪ After a student has earned 22 points, he/she will receive a WMTA plaque, to which can be added: o A 50-point gold bar o A 75-point gold bar

▪ After a student has earned 100 points, he/she will receive another plaque, to which can be added: o Subsequent gold bars earned in 25-point increments

Teacher Award of Excellence The WMTA Teacher Award of Excellence awards are presented to teachers based on participation of their students in WMTA auditions.

▪ One point is given to the teacher for each award their students earn through WMTA ▪ An award certificate is earned at the following milestones: 10, 50, and 75 points ▪ A plaque is earned at 100 points, followed by bars in 25-point increments ▪ To receive any of these awards, the teacher should submit a list of students and the awards they have won to the Teacher

Award of Excellence Chair