Academy Music Festival - Teacher Overview

ACADEMY OF MUSIC FESTIVAL - May 26 - June 2, 2024
A. Timeline - Prep / Registration

The Academy music festival is a (primarily) competitive event that we host for our own students;
we bring in adjudicators to evaluate our students and award medals in all of the competitive
classes/categories. Students are grouped according to age and how long they have been taking
lessons, and in some instruments also select the genre of the piece(s) they are entering.
Students may enter in competitive and/or non-competitive categories, though most tend to
choose the competitive categories. In the competitive classes, students who place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
receive a medal, and all students receive an oral adjudication as well as an adjudication form
with the adjudicators’ thoughts and comments on it. In the non-competitive classes, students
receive oral comments and an adjudication form.
The Academy music festival and spring recitals take place at the end of May annually. Music
festival runs from 9:00am-9:00pm each day to accommodate all classes.
Students typically begin working on their pieces in January/February.
Registration is due by March 23 with absolutely no late sign-ups accepted.
B. Week Of
Unlike Christmas recitals, there are absolutely no lessons during the week of the festival.
Students participating in either festival or recital do so in lieu of a lesson for this week. Students
not participating will need to have a makeup class scheduled, either before festival week, or
after.
We typically have a handful of Sundays open to teachers needing to schedule makeup lessons
specifically for festival.
C. Expectations of Teachers
Teachers should encourage students to participate in the music festival. Your department head
will have specific suggestions for how you can present this to your students effectively, but it's
generally best to present participation as a positive and default experience.
Teachers whose students need a live accompanist (ie: voice, strings, woodwinds/brass) are
responsible for finding one, generally selected from Academy accompanists, ideally 6-8 weeks
prior to performance. Students who require an accompanist generally use a live accompanist
(rather than backing track) for this event, and teachers are also permitted to accompany their
own students.
Teachers are expected to be present during their students’ performances. If you cannot attend,
you will need to arrange for another teacher to "sub" for you and explicitly inform both the front
desk and the student/caregiver. If possible, introduce your student to who their sub will be, or
point them out in the building so that they know who to look for.
Teachers should be sure to have a discussion with students/caregivers at song selection (in
January or February) to be clear that this event typically demands a more challenging piece and
a larger time and practice commitment in order to feel successful. Students who require an
accompanist and their families should also be made aware that there will need to be a rehearsal
with the accompanist.
D. Expectations of Students
Our festival is open to all of our students regardless of experience. Competitive classes will be
loosely arranged to account for how long students have been taking lessons. Pieces need not be
memorized, though that would be considered a competitive advantage. Students' pieces should
be as polished as possible, though perfection is never expected.
Adjudicators are not provided with the score/sheet music (other than in the RCM/CC classes),
and teachers are welcome to make any alterations to songs that they see fit.
E. Categories
Piano
-piano is divided by age (6 years and under, 8 years and under, 10 years and under etc)
-students can enter in one or more of the following categories:
contemporary/pop/jazz
movie/videogame
classical
RCM/CC (non-competitive,exam material, masterclass-style)
non-competitive (any genre, no marks/medals)
Voice
-vocal is divided by age (6 years and under, 8 years and under, 10 years and under etc)
Musical theatre ballad
Musical theatre uptempo
classical
pop/cotemporary
Non-competitive (any genre, no marks/medals)
Strings
-Strings are divided by age (6 years and under, 8 years and under, 10 years and under etc)
Violin
Viola
Cello
RCM/CC (non-competitive, exam material, masterclass-style)
Guitar
-Guitar is divided by age (6 years and under, 8 years and under, 10 years and under etc)
Acoustic guitar
Electric guitar
Bass guitar
Ukulele
Drums
-Drums are divided by age (6 years and under, 8 years and under, 10 years and under etc)
Drum solo
Drum excerpt
Woodwinds/Brass
-Woodwinds and brass are divided by age (6 years and under, 8 years and under, 10 years and
under etc)
Flute
Clarinet
Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone
PIANO ONLY: DISTINCTION CLASSES
For the competitive piano categories, adjudicators have the option of recommending a
performer to distinction for the following year. The distinction category is made up of students
who are very strong performers. The idea is that playing in the distinction category is both an
honour and an added challenge, and it also allows for students in the regular category to have a
great experience and a chance at placing as well. In order to be recommended to distinction, the
student’s playing should stand out in their class as being noticeably more advanced/proficient.
Many students were recommended to distinction last year (2023 festival), and we have a record
of this at the front desk that we will circulate closer to registration.
Students competing in distinction can choose any genre of song they wish to play.

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ACADEMY OF MUSIC FESTIVAL - May 26 - June 2, 2024

A. Timeline - Prep / Registration

Registration is due by March 23 with absolutely no late sign-ups accepted.

PIANO ONLY: DISTINCTION CLASSES

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