Performance Opportunities

The mission of MTNA is to advance the value of music study and music-making in society and to support the professionalism of music teachers.

Programs and Events for Pianists:

Comprehensive Piano Exams: A curriculum consisting of twelve levels of keyboard skills, sightplaying, and repertoire (Levels Preparatory-11: Capstone).

Popular Style Exam: Students learn to play and recognize melodic and harmonic patterns essential to popular music such as folk, blues, rock and pop; sing/clap short melodies that have heard; play solo arrangements of popular music; and improvise from lead sheets.

Theory Exams: A curriculum consisting of 8 levels that aims to develop skills in music theory notation, ear training, analysis of structure and form, and integration of theses elements in repertoire and keyboard facility.

Piano State Contest: An event to encourage high performance standards for students and teachers. A curriculum of 8 levels (Pre-Primary, Primary, Junior A, Junior B, Intermediate A, Intermediate B, Senior A, and Senior B) that encourages high performance standards. It is an annual contest with two rounds (Preliminary and Finals). The repertoire selection is picked from a MMTA Annual Contest List.

Piano Solo Festival: An annual event for students who do not want to wish to compete in Piano Contest but do want to get a written critique from the judge. The repertoire selection is picked from a MMTA Annual Contest List.

Young Artist Piano Contest: A high-level competition for middle (grades 7-9) and high school (9-12) students.

Programs and Events for Voice and Instrumental:

Comprehensive Voice Exam: A curriculum of 5 levels consisted of repertoire, theory, and sight singing.

Comprehensive Flute Exam: A curriculum of 7 levels consisted of repertoire, scales, theory, and sight playing.

Comprehensive Guitar Exam: A curriculum of 12 levels consisted of repertoire, scales, theory and sight playing.

Comprehensive Violin/Viola Exam: A curriculum of 8 levels consisted of repertoire, scales, theory and sight playing.

Voice and Instrumental Young Artist Contest: An event to encourage high performance standards for students and teachers in voice, guitar, organ, strings, winds, and percussion. The event provides students with a written critique and winners perform at the Final Concert.

Programs for Composition:

Student Composition Festival and Contest: A program to encourage students to learn about the art of music composition and creatively apply the principles learned in music study.

Programs for all Instruments:

Music Bridge: It is a program open to students of any instruments or voice. It provides a critiqued forum where students can present a performance that features high achievement tailored to each student’s individual abilities and interests. This program is one in which students can explore and experience all areas of music and relationships between music and the other arts.

Purpose: The MMTA Challenge Award provides an incentive for participation in the MMTA programs. The intention is to reward students at every level of ability.
Guidelines:

• Teacher must keep accurate record of each student’s events and provide documentation if requested by MMTA Office.
• A teacher may begin recording points earned as of Fall 2010, *with exception of events starred in the list below – only points earned after 2015 may be counted.
• Points are cumulative indefinitely.
• Only MMTA events qualify for points.

Points are awarded as outlined below:

1. 100 point events:
   • Piano Contest Preliminaries
   • Piano Contest Finals
   • Honors Concert *
   • Piano Solo Festival
   • Voice & Instrumental Contest
   • Student Composition Contest
   • Theory Exam
2. 200 point event:
   • Young Artist Contest *
   • Music Bridges
3. 300 point events:
   • Comprehensive Piano Exam, Flute, Guitar, String, or Voice Exams

Awards:

How to Obtain Awards:

• The cost of the awards is included in event registration fees.
• Ribbon and pin awards are available through the MMTA website and for pick up during MMTA office hours.
• Trophies will be custom engraved and are ordered through the MMTA online store. Orders must be received by certain dates, and will be ordered only on those dates regardless of when the trophy request is submitted. Finished trophies will be available approximately 4–6 weeks after the order date – teachers will be notified upon arrival.

Purpose: To develop proficiency and musicianship through twelve levels of curriculum encompassing keyboard skills, sightplaying, oral questions, and repertoire (Levels: Preparatory - 11: Capstone).

• Repertoire: each level’s requirements can be found in the 2020 Piano Syllabus.
• Keyboard Skills include scales, chords, and arpeggios from elementary to advanced (Level Preparatory – Level 11: Capstone).
• Sightplaying -helps students gain proficiency by playing at sight at the keyboard.
• Oral questions: a set of questions about the repertoire for Exam levels 3 -11. Can be found in 2020 Piano Syllabus on page 11.

Procedure:

1. Determine the appropriate exam level.
2. Pick the pieces form the repertoire list. Learn the keyboard skills, practice sightplaying, and learn the answers for the oral questions.
3. Pick an exam date and location. The dates and locations are available on our school calendar on our website and are hung at our bulletin board at both schools.
4. Submit the exam request to your teacher. The instructors will email the exam requests to Eleonora Fishman at least one week prior to the exam registration deadline.
5. The MMTA exam fee will be collected by the school prior to registration.
6. One week before to the exam, the registered students will receive all the exam info from Eleonora Fishman.

Piano Exam Level 10, Level 11, Level 11: Capstone – A student must have a passing grade for Level 10 exam before Level 11 exam may be taken.

Theory Requirements for Piano Exams:

• The MMTA Theory Exam is a separate exam requiring a separate registration and fee.
• Students may take a Piano Exam without having passed the required level of theory. However, they will not be eligible for a monetary award and will receive a Performance certificate only in place of a Comprehensive certificate.

MMTA Theory Requirements

Virtual/Pre-Recorded Piano Exams:
Students record videos of the repertoire, keyboard skills, and sight playing. Videos are then submitted to MMTA through the MMTA website. A judge reviews each student’s videos and provides written feedback and a score just as they would at an in-person exam. After judging has been completed, e-critiques and certificates will be emailed to teachers.

Purpose: Students are invited to design a logo for MMTA. The winning design will be printed on MMTA t-shirts. “Logowear” items will be sold to thousands of MMTA contest, exams, and convention participants during the next calendar year.

Registration: Submit a digital file of artwork (i.e. JPG, PNG, etc.) online at www.mnmusicteachers.com OR submit artwork by mail to: MMTA Office (108000 Lyndale Ave. S, Ste. 120, Bloomington, MN 55420).

Fees: Free to all students whose teacher is a current MMTA member (free to all Kramer’s School of Music students).

Rules and Procedures

1. Limit of 1 submission per student per year.
2. Content of artwork should promote music and musical creativity, including piano, voice, and all instruments.
3. If desired, instruction as to where the artwork is to be placed on the apparel items and totes may be included with design submission. For example: “please place the artwork on the back of the t-shirt instead of the front.”
4. Keep the design simple so it looks clear no matter what size it is when printed.
5. Artwork can be hand-drawn or computer designed. (If hand-drawn), please use black ink). Must be original and not a reproduction of pre-existing or trademarked logos from another company or artist.
6. Must include the words “MMTA [current year]” noticeably within the design.
7. Musical symbols, words, instruments, or an abstract design may be sued. The shape of the state of Minnesota may also be incorporated into design.
8. The design must contain the student’s initials somewhere above/below the design.
9. Colors in design need to be limited to two (black lines are considered a color).

Store
To purchase logowear, go to http://minnesota-music-teachers-association.square.site/s/shop

Purpose: It is a program open to students of any instruments or voice. It provides a critiqued forum where students can present a performance that features high achievement tailored to each student’s individual abilities and interests. This program is one in which students can explore and experience all areas of music and relationships between music and the other arts.

Procedure:

1. Program levels are defined by their length:
   Short: Maximum student presentation time is 12 minutes for a 20-minute program.
   Medium: Maximum student presentation is 20 minutes for a 30-minute program.
   Long: Maximum student presentation time is 30 minutes for a 40- minute program.
2. There is no age limit or theory requirement.
3. One acoustic piano will be available unless notified otherwise.
4. Memorization is optional for all pieces.
5. All parts of the program need to be related to music in some way.
   • The five events of the program may be, but not have to be, related to each other.
   • Presentations from other areas of the arts are encouraged, but the student must articulate how their project relates to music.
6. Audience members are welcome to observe the student performance.
7. Students are encouraged to present their own work in a polished manner.
   • For artwork, this means matting paintings in a polished manner.
   • For dancers and actors, this means wearing appropriate costumes.
   • For written work, this means neat handwriting or typed format with work in a binder or folder.
8. Students must select Five Events:
   • 2 required pieces or movements selected from standard or quality teaching literature, which must be performed in their entirety. Repeats must be omitted.
   • 3 optional events of the sections may be other musical selections, poetry, dance, a piece of art, etc.

Materials:
For more information about the Music Bridges program, download a free booklet at: www.mnmusicteachers.com/program/music-bridges

Purpose: To encourage high performance standards, MMTA sponsors an annual Piano Contest. Pianists select repertoire from an annual list. Students with the highest scores in the Final Round are invited to an ensemble performance in the Honors Concert. The concert is a gala event involving 500 young performers playing on 20 grand pianos in ensemble groups.

Procedure:

• Select a piece from the current year MMTA contest list located at Kramer’s School of Music 2023-2024 Binder.
• Purchase the piece from the local music store or online. No copies are allowed at the contest.
• The teachers submit the registration request to Eleonora Fishman no later than a week prior to the registration deadline. Time Requests can be submitted with the registration.
• The students will receive the contest information one week prior to the event.

Theory Requirement:

• All piano students in levels Intermediate A and B must pass MMTA Theory Exam Level 2 or higher before preliminaries.
• All piano students in levels Senior A and Senior B must pass MMTA Theory Exam Level 3 or higher before preliminaries.

Repertoire & Performance:

• Music must be memorized for both Preliminary and Final Contest.
• A student must perform one memorized selection from the current year Piano Contest List.
• The same selection must be performed at both Preliminaries and Final Contests.
• If using a source other than the one listed, the teachers need to compare the different source to the one recommended, to assure the content is the same.
• Repeats, Da Capos, and Dei Segnos must be observed as indicated on the Piano Contest List.
• Students must bring music to the contest with measures numbered.
• A critique will be issued without a score if the music is not present.
• Only the judge and the student are allowed in the Piano Contest room.
• 30-60 seconds warm-up time is allowed in which students may play anything except the portions of the contest piece.

Disqualification-Final Contest:
Performers may receive a non-winning score for these reasons:

• Playing a different piece than the one that was performed at Preliminary Contest.
• Not following Repeat in piece, or D.C. al Fine or D.S. al Fine as indicated on the Contest List.
• Playing for contest without providing music for the judge; or for providing incorrect or photocopied music.
• Music is not memorized.

Honors Concert:

• Students selected as winners at the Final Contest are invited to play in the MMTA Honors Concert.
• Students play an ensemble with others in their category. A conductor will lead the performance of each ensemble.
• Each student is expected to attend three ensemble rehearsals prior to the Honor’s Concert.
• Each student is assigned an ensemble part which they are to learn prior to the first rehearsal. Music must be memorized by the second or third rehearsals, depending on the student’s category.

Locations:

Preliminary Round: Virtual or in-person at Bethel University
Final Round: In-person at University of Minnesota

Purpose: Students learn to play and recognize melodic and harmonic patterns essential to popular music such as folk, blues, rock and pop; sing/clap short melodies that have heard; play solo arrangements of popular music; and improvise from lead sheets (melody and chords).

Repertoire: each level’s requirements can be found in the 2020 Piano Syllabus.

• Keyboard Skills include scales, chords, and arpeggios from elementary to advanced (Level Preparatory – Level 11: Capstone).
• Sightplaying -helps students gain proficiency by playing at sight at the keyboard.
• Oral questions: a set of questions about the repertoire for Exam levels 3 -11. Can be found in 2020 Piano Syllabus on page 11.

Procedure:

• Determine the appropriate exam level. There are Popular Styles Exams Workbooks levels 1-4. Students can be entered at any exam level, and may skip a level, depending upon a student’s individual facility.
• Lead sheet performance: Students are to submit a recording. Backing track may be used as usual, but live accompaniment is also encouraged.
• Lead sheet and solo arrangements: repertoire selection is not limited to the lists on the MMTA website. Any level - appropriate arrangement or lead sheet may be used.
• Online resources including: workbooks for teacher use, guided listening resources, repertoire lists, and improvisation resources. Go to www.mnmusicteacers.com , then look under Program/Popular Styles.

Virtual/Pre-Recorded Popular Piano Exams:
Students record videos of themselves playing their exam as if they were at an exam site with a judge. Videos are then submitted to MMTA through the MMTA website. A judge reviews each student’s videos and provides written feedback and a score just as they would at an in-person exam. After judging has been completed, e-critiques and certificates will be emailed to teachers.

Purpose: To encourage students to learn about the art of music composition and creatively apply the principles learned in music study.

Procedure:

1. Register online at www.mnmusicteachers.com and upload composition (and optional digital recording or video).
2. Students must register for the appropriate category. Categories are as follows:
   • Primary: Grades 3 and under
   • Elementary: Grades 4-6
   • Junior High: Grades 7-9
   • Senior Hugh: Grades 10-12
3. Only one entry per student.
4. The entrant certifies that the composition is an original work, and that the score was produced by the entrant.
5. Compositions submitted in previous years may not be re-entered.
6. Compositions may be written for more than one medium, but for no more than 10 performer.
7. Multi-movement works are allowable.
8. Submissions must be less than 10 minutes in length.
9. The score must follow these presentation requirements:
   • The score must be computer generated using music notation software.
   • Cover art should not be included.
   • Measures of the composition must be numbered at the beginning of each system on the left-hand side of the page.
10. Teachers should expect to receive mailed results 6-8m weeks after the submission deadline.

Purpose: To develop skills in music theory notation; ear training; analysis of structure and for; and integration of these elements in repertoire and keyboard facility.

MMTA Theory Exams are required for all students pursuing the MMTA Comprehensive Certificates on the Piano Exams as well as for students participating in MMTA State Piano Contest including Junior and Senior Young Artists Competitions.

*Please refer to the MMTA Piano Exams and MMTA Piano State Contests Overviews for the detailed information.

Summary:
MMTA Theory Exam Preparatory Classes at Kramer’s School of Music:

• The school offers regular theory exam preparatory classes.
• The classes are divided into levels and taught in small groups of 4-7 students. Both in-person and virtual options are available.
• Each Level consists of set number of hours:
  

  MMTA Level	Number of Hours for Preparatory Classes at KSM
  Level 1	12 hrs.
  Level 2	12 hrs.
  Level 3	14 hrs.
  Level 4	18 hrs.
  Level 5	18 hrs.
  Level 6	20 hrs.
  Level 7	22 hrs.
  Level 8	24 hrs.

• Kramer’s School of Music takes care of the entire exam registration process.
• Please see the school’s website for class tuition.

Procedure:

• Determine the appropriate exam level.
• Teachers email Eleonora Fishman with the request to be placed into the theory groups.
• Eleonora Fishman will contact each family and will do the class placement.
• Parents and the teacher will pick the exam date. The dates and locations are listed on this sheet. They are also available at our website school calendar and are hung at our bulletin boards at both schools.
• Submit the exam request to your teacher. The instructors will email the exam requests to Eleonora Fishman at least a week prior to the exam registration deadline.
• The MMTA exam fee will be collected by the school prior to registration.
• One week before to the exam, the registered students will receive all the necessary exam information from Eleonora Fishman.
• Kramer’s School of Music will charge each registration an extra dollar for the credit card fees.

Books: Theory Workbooks Level 1-8 are available to purchase from the MMTA Office, Schmitt Music, or Groth Music.

Virtual/On-Line Theory Exams
The written and aural portions of the Theory Exam will be done by students in their home. Students will meet with a judge by FaceTime or Google Meet on the exam date to play the keyboard portion of the exam.

Completed written and aural exam papers will be submitted online through the MMTA website. After grading has been completed, score sheets will be emailed or mailed to the teachers.

All the necessary information and materials will be sent to students a week prior to the exam.

Purpose: To encourage high performance standards, MMTA sponsors an annual Piano Contest. Pianists select repertoire from an annual list. Students with the highest scores in the Final Round are invited to an ensemble performance in the Honors Concert. The concert is a gala event involving 500 young performers playing on 20 grand pianos in ensemble groups.

Procedure:

• Select a piece from the current year MMTA contest list located at Kramer’s School of Music 2023-2024 Binder.
• Purchase the piece from the local music store or online. No copies are allowed at the contest.
• The teachers submit the registration request to Eleonora Fishman no later than a week prior to the registration deadline. Time Requests can be submitted with the registration.
• The students will receive the contest information one week prior to the event.

Theory Requirement:

• All piano students in levels Intermediate A and B must pass MMTA Theory Exam Level 2 or higher before preliminaries.
• All piano students in levels Senior A and Senior B must pass MMTA Theory Exam Level 3 or higher before preliminaries.

Repertoire & Performance:

• Music must be memorized for both Preliminary and Final Contest.
• A student must perform one memorized selection from the current year Piano Contest List.
• The same selection must be performed at both Preliminaries and Final Contests.
• If using a source other than the one listed, the teachers need to compare the different source to the one recommended, to assure the content is the same.
• Repeats, Da Capos, and Dei Segnos must be observed as indicated on the Piano Contest List.
• Students must bring music to the contest with measures numbered.
• A critique will be issued without a score if the music is not present.
• Only the judge and the student are allowed in the Piano Contest room.
• 30-60 seconds warm-up time is allowed in which students may play anything except the portions of the contest piece.

Disqualification-Final Contest:
Performers may receive a non-winning score for these reasons:

• Playing a different piece than the one that was performed at Preliminary Contest.
• Not following Repeat in piece, or D.C. al Fine or D.S. al Fine as indicated on the Contest List.
• Playing for contest without providing music for the judge; or for providing incorrect or photocopied music.
• Music is not memorized.

Honors Concert:

• Students selected as winners at the Final Contest are invited to play in the MMTA Honors Concert.
• Students play an ensemble with others in their category. A conductor will lead the performance of each ensemble.
• Each student is expected to attend three ensemble rehearsals prior to the Honor’s Concert. The dates of the rehearsals: 4/12, 5/3, 5/17, 5/31.
• Each student is assigned an ensemble part which they are to learn prior to the first rehearsal. Music must be memorized by the second or third rehearsals, depending on the student’s category.

Locations and Dates:

*Kramer’s School of Music will charge an extra dollar for each registration to cover the credit card fees.

Purpose: To develop proficiency and musicianship in flute, guitar, violin, viola, and voice. Exams encompass several levels from beginning to advance.

Repertoire: each voice and instrumental level’s requirements can be found in the corresponding syllabus. Syllabi are available online at www.mnmusicteachers.com.

• Keyboard Skills include scales, chords, and arpeggios from elementary to advanced (Level Preparatory – Level 11: Capstone).
• Sightplaying -helps students gain proficiency by playing at sight at the keyboard.
• Oral questions: a set of questions about the repertoire for Exam levels 3 -11. Can be found in 2020 Piano Syllabus on page 11.

Procedure:

1. Determine the appropriate exam level.
2. Pick the pieces form the repertoire list. Learn the scales, practice sightplaying, and learn the answers for the oral questions.
3. Pick an exam date and location. The dates and locations are available on our school calendar on our website and are hung at our bulletin board at both schools.
4. Submit the exam request to your teacher. The instructors will email the exam requests to Eleonora Fishman at least one week prior to the exam registration deadline.
5. The MMTA exam fee will be collected by the school prior to registration.
6. One week before to the exam, the registered students will receive all the exam info from the school.

Virtual/Pre-Recorded Exams:

Prior to the Exam date, students will upload their performance video to YouTube (per instructions) and send the link to the Program Director. The students will meet with the judge over Zoom to go through the sections that must be done live. The judge will score the live portions, critique the performance videos, and submit the scores.