The Professional Staff of The Piano Lab are members of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, and we would like to see many of our students qualify for National Fraternity of Student Musicians Membership each year.
The Piano Guild is open to students of all ages and levels. The purpose of the auditions is to establish goals for the earliest beginner as well as the advanced student. These goals attempt to give music study some definite direction and provide a measurement for progress. As a result, a piano curriculum encompassing the best of piano literature and stressing American compositions has been standardized. All piano students have a yearly opportunity to attain these goals through non-competitive adjudication in the National Piano Playing Auditions. Auditions are private (student and judge only) with well-qualified musicians serving as judges. Students are judged on individual merit in the areas of accuracy, continuity, phrasing, pedaling, dynamics, rhythm, temp, tone, interpretation, style and technique.
Students may participate in Guild Auditions in many classifications; the pieces selected may be memorized or unmemorized, they may present a duet program, a jazz/pop program, an all Bach program, an all sonatina program, or a program in social music (consisting of hymns, patriotic and folk songs). A program is decided and agreed upon by the student, teacher and parent.
This year, students must appear before the Guild examiner during the week beginning March 22, 2007. The auditions are held at List Recital Hall at Hamilton College in Clinton, between 9:00 - 5:00 every day. Since Guild Auditions are generally considered a legitimate excuse for absence, parents may request permission from school authorities for their children to be absent to perform in the National Piano Playing Auditions.
Each parent is urged to cooperate with the teacher of his or her child to the fullest extent before and during the National Auditions so that the best possible preparation may culminate in the most successful Audition results and musical development.
Every year a student enters Auditions, he/she will receive the following rewards:
- A Membership Certificate according to classification.
- An NFSM Membership Pin in Bronze (Pledge, Local & District), Silver (State), or Gold (National or International.) Hobbyists also receive a bronze pin.
- A copy Analysis Chart and Report Card signed by the Guild examiner.
- The student’s name on his/her teacher’s NFSM Certificate.
- His/her name listed and photo published in Piano Guild Notes in the fifth, tenth, or fifteenth year as a National or International Winner.
| NFSM Non-Refundable Dues | ||
| PLEDGE - 1 piece | (EA-IB) $22.50 | (IC & above) $25.75 |
| LOCAL - 2 to 3 pieces | (EA-IB) $23.50 | (IC & above) $26.75 |
| DISTRICT - 4 to 6 pieces | (EA-IB) $24.50 | (IC & above) $28.00 |
| STATE - 7 to 9 pieces | (EA-IB) $26.50 | (IC & above) $30.00 |
| NATIONAL - 10 pieces: | (EA-IB) $28.50 | (IC & above) $32.25 |
| HOBBYIST (non-memorized) | $20.00 | |
| (other categories, such as duet, available on request) | ||
FEES ARE DUE BY DECEMBER 23, payable to: The Piano Lab. They MUST be separate from tuition fees. Check or cash is accepted. Most beginning students program 3 pieces, and if they have been taking for 3 years or more, they could increase to 4 to 6 pieces, or even 7 to 9. Ten piece programs are only recommended for those students that are willing to practice a minimum of 45 minutes per day. Each program is tailored to the student’s level. Elementary A through Elementary F is equivalent to students studying in the method books; Elementary A would be music from the Alfred or Faber Primer books, Elementary B would be Level 1, through Elementary F which would be Level 5. Once students are in Intermediate levels, they should be playing Bach minuets, simple sonatinas and early romantic pieces. Students in Intermediate C and about would be advanced students. Your instructor will guide you as to the number of pieces your child should program.
In addition to auditions, we will also be offering Harmony Certificates for your child, which is part of the National Piano Guild goals. Each harmony certificate contains a number of questions to be asked of a student prior to awarding the certificate by the teacher. The levels are appropriate with the level of the student. Upon correctly answering the questions, students receive a grade and signed certificate by the teacher.
Please read this over carefully and talk to your instructor if you are interested in the Piano Guild. Once your teacher and the student has agreed upon the program and number of pieces, you should submit a check for the correct amount as soon as possible.
Any questions, please call at 737-7498 or contact us.
