Thank you for registering for our 2024 Spring beta test of the Piano Comps and Evaluation Program! The deadline for submitting your evaluation video is Friday, May 3, 2024. Video submissions received after the deadline will not be scored. Here are the guidelines for participants:
1. Prepare your audition pieces, which will vary according to the level at which you will audition. Please discuss with your teacher which level you would like to attempt, and how you should prepare the requirements for that level. Your teacher will let us know which level you have prepared. Click here to view the levels and their requirements.
2. Film your audition at home using the camera on one of your devices (iPhone, Android, tablet, etc.) following these guidelines:
- Perform each piece in the same video take (no separate videos).
- Position the camera so that the judges are able to see BOTH of the student’s hands AND their feet on the foot pedals for the full length of the video. Our recommendation is to have someone holding the camera out to the side of the player’s right shoulder to ensure that the hands and feet are visible the whole time, or use a tripod, making sure all of the necessary elements are visible while you are seated at the piano.
- Film your video horizontally (landscape orientation), not vertically. (If filming on a phone, make sure the phone is unlocked so that the orientation flips correctly.)
- Make sure that the piano is clear of sheet music – all audition pieces should be memorized!
- Students should introduce themselves and announce the title of each piece prior to playing that specific piece. Take a pause between the performance of the scales and each piece but keep the camera rolling.
- Dress to impress! (No pajamas or athletic wear, please.)
- Before submitting your video, please watch it back and make sure both of your hands and your feet can be clearly seen throughout the whole video, and that your playing can be clearly heard. If you submit a video that is not in accordance with the above guidelines, you will be asked to submit another video. Videos that do not comply with the above guidelines risk a deduction in points.
3. Only one video file may be uploaded per student, so if you recorded your video segments separately, combine them into one file using a free video editing software like CapCut, iMovie, or Splice, which are available for desktop or mobile and are very easy to use!
To combine videos in CapCut:
- Create a new project.
- Add each of your videos to the project.
- Ensure they are in the order of Scales/Cadences, Composition 1, Composition 2.
- Watch the full video to make sure it all looks correct.
- Hit Export, and make sure that the resolution is at least 720p, and the file size is not larger than 1 GB.
- Save the file to your device.
4. Title your video file with Student Name (First and Last).
5. Convert the sheet music for both of your selected compositions into PDF files. We recommend the apps CamScanner (which converts pictures into PDFs) or Genius Scan (which can capture PDFs from paper documents), which are both free and easy to use. Please erase marks made by your teacher in the music and number the measures prior to sending.
6. Use this form to verify that you have completed all the requirements for the video and to upload your sheet music PDFs and video submission:
7. Deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on Friday, May 3. Video submissions received after the deadline will not be scored. Reminder: Audition fees are non-refundable.
8. Results will be available by May 15. We will email your results to you as they are available.