NEW!! WMTA STATE KEYBOARD COMPETITION 2023

WMTA offers students the opportunity to advance beyond the Regional Keyboard event, to play at the peak of their ability level and to showcase their musical talents. This competition allows the designated Winner in each region, and at each grade level (grades 7-12) to compete with each other, determining one state of WI Winner in each division/grade level.

ELIGIBILITY: the winning participant in each division, grades 7-12, at each of the Regional Keyboard Competitions, S, NE, NW
TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 18 (6 divisions, 3 regions)
WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 2023
WHERE: UW – Stevens Point
REGISTRATION FEE: The fee of $40 .00 payable to WMTA along with the Fee Summary Sheet must be sent to Mary Anne Olvera, 664 Louise Lane, Hudson, WI 54016
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: The fee and form must be postmarked by: Tuesday, May 16

If the Winner of any grade level is not available or does not want to advance, the opportunity to advance will be given to the Runner Up at the grade level, in the region. If neither will participate, there is a default at the division/grade level, in the region.

ON COMPETITION DAY:

All performances will be held in the Recital Hall with a defined scheduled.
Three judges will listen to all entrants at each division at the same time.
A 15 min. deliberation time immediately follows the last entrant at each division/grade level, and all 3 judges collaborate to determine the winner at that division.
All Winners for all divisions/grade levels (there will be no Runner Up placements) will be announced at Awards Presentation at days end
Points = 15 for Winner plus Winners Trophy, 10 for participants, and all receive certificates.

Recital Hall performances will be open to the general public, with admission fees for adults ($10), for non-performing students ($5) and for under 5 (free).

OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS:

In the interest of equity, all performances will be held to a strict 15 minute time limit. There will be no option to ask for time extension.
To maintain the determined schedule, judges will cut students off if they exceed time limits.
Teachers should choose repertoire that is in line with these requirements, and/or prepare students to be cut off if their program exceeds 15 min.

Any questions regarding WMTA State Keyboard Competition, contact Mary Anne Olvera, NCTM maryanneolvera@gmail.com

FAQ’s ABOUT THE NEW COMPETITION

WILL THIS BE LIKE A LARGE RECITAL, WHERE WE GET TO SEE ALL THE FINALISTS? Yes, this competition is unlike any of the other events. All performances are on the recital hall stage. Admission (day passes) will be charged @$10 adult, $5 non performing student, under 5yo, free.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?

This competition is open to the grade 7-12 Regional winners @S, NE, NW, totaling 18 participants.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE REGIONAL WINNER DOESN’T WANT TO/CAN’T PARTICIPATE? If this occurs at any region, the opportunity to perform falls to the Runner-Up at that grade level. If the Runner-Up can’t participate, or there was no designated Runner-Up, there is a default at the grade level in that Region.

WILL THERE BE ONLY ONE JUDGE?

There will be 3 judges adjudicating the same event at the same time for all grade levels. After the last grade level winner has performed, there is a 15 min. deliberation time built in for the judges to determine that grade level winner.

WHAT DOES THE SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?

The day’s schedule is already determined, with a start time at 8:00, 15 min. for each participant, 15 min. deliberation, then turnover to the next grade level. Each Region

will be rotated for the start position in the next grade level. This continues throughout the day, with awards ceremony at 3:45pm.

ARE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES REQUIRED TO STAY FOR THE WHOLE DAY? Students are not required to stay for the whole day, but all are strongly encouraged to attend as many performances as they can. These are students playing at the peak of their ability and this is not only highly motivating for students, but highly instructive.

WHAT WILL THE JUDGES BE LISTENING FOR AT THIS LEVEL OF COMPETITION? Every student performing has already distinguished themselves as winners in their Regional competitions. They are called on to demonstrate a higher degree of mastery of this repertoire. They need to come to this with fresh ears.

Students will be evaluated on the preparedness and mastery of their pieces, not the difficulty and not the length.

Aside from precise notes and rhythms, some examples of what judges listen for are beautiful phrasing and beautiful musical statements, expressive creative dynamics, beautiful tone color, rubato well performed where needed, balanced and creative voicing, artful articulation as noted in the score.

This is a competition in search of the masterful musician, the student that understands that flawless technique is not the end game, but a tool to deliver beautiful music making.

SHOULD TEACHERS MAKE CUTS TO THE SCORE IF THEIR MUSIC EXCEEDS 15 MINUTES? No, the adjudicator will respectfully cut the student off, but teachers can prep students for being cut-off when their program exceeds 15 minutes.

IF STUDENTS ARE CUT OFF, CAN YOU STILL WIN IF THE JUDGES HAVE NOT HEARD ALL THREE PIECES IN THE ENTIRETY?

Yes, judges can certainly determine a winner even though all repertoire may not have been heard to completion. A winning performance is not dependent on the length of the piece, nor its difficulty. Students are evaluated on the preparedness and mastery of their pieces, not the difficulty and not the length.

IT SEEMS LIKE 15 MIN. IS TOO SHORT, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME PIECES. WHY CAN’T STUDENTS PREPARE PROGRAMS THAT GO OVER 15 MIN.?

The 15 minutes time limit is in place to create equity for every single student that is playing. It is not meant to discourage students from learning larger repertoire, especially those students preparing college entrance auditions. But if a student’s program does exceed 15 minutes, prepare them for the probability that they will be respectfully cut off.

(And parents and students are reminded that most college entrance auditions are capped at 10 min.)

IF THE WINNER OR THE RUNNER-UP DO NOT PERFORM FOR THAT GRADE, THEN IS THE WINNER FROM THE REGIONALS STILL THE WINNER OF THE STATE?

The grade level winner at Regionals was never the winner of the state. They were the winner of that region of the state only, either NE, NW, or S. That is what this new True State competition is all about – the opportunity for regional winners at grade level to meet the other regional winners and compete, thereby determining one true winner at grade level in the state. The Regional/Badger competitions did not do this. And that’s what makes this exciting!

WHEN WILL WINNERS AND AWARDS BE ANNOUNCED?

After all participants have performed, after the last participant at grade 12, and deliberations are complete, the winners will be announced. They are not announced at the end of each grade level.

We will be posting to the WMTA Facebook page.

If there are any additional questions contact Mary Anne Olvera, maryanneolvera@gmail.com