Parents

Plan on arriving 15 to 20 minutes before the assigned time and remaining in the room until all performers have been heard. You will need time to park and find the room. Go directly to the room; you don’t need to sign in anywhere first. However, if you are very early, you must wait QUIETLY in the hall until the previous session is released.

Should you be late, find the person in charge in the auditing room, who will allow you entrance to the room at an appropriate moment. DO NOT ENTER THE ROOM WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! Any conflicts with other schedules should be brought to the judge’s attention before the session begins in order for the judges to make any changes in the order of performance.


Performers should warm up on the piano briefly—be sure to try loud, soft, staccato/legato and the pedal if you need it. All students should practice pedaling in the shoes they plan to wear on the day of Festival. Warm-ups should NOT be from the student’s performance pieces.


Students are to provide their original music for the judges—NO PHOTOCOPIES. The needed pages are to be marked and the measures are to be neatly numbered. Students must have 2 rating sheets per event, provided by the teacher. (If you forget your rating sheets, please notify the judges immediately upon entering the room.)

Hold on to your music and rating sheets until you are called to perform and then give them to the judges. You may pick up your music at the end of the session.


Festival is to be considered a mini recital. Nice clothes are a must—no jeans or “tennies.” Families and friends are invited to listen—each performing period lasts between 45 minutes and an hour. Everyone is to remain in the room the entire time.


As a courtesy to the performers, most of whom are extremely nervous, the following are not acceptable behavior by children or adults in attendance:

  • TALKING – during performances—no whispering, giggling, knuckle-cracking, etc.

  • PHOTOGRAPHY – still, moving, video – only before or after the entire room is finished.

  • ELECTRONIC DEVICES – lap tops, cell phones, and beepers are not allowed in the rooms. Leave them at home or in the car.

  • AMUSING SMALL CHILDREN – should not be done with computer games or other noisy items or items that cause them to react verbally.

  • PERSONAL GROOMING – fingernail clipping, shoe polishing, etc. should be done at home.

  • Please respect the property of the two buildings we are visiting – no running or boisterous noise, inside or outside.

  • Discard any trash properly.