Piano Department Performance Week Information – Spring

Spring 2026

Sign-up links will open on April 13 at 10:00 AM and close on April 20 at 11:59 PM

Video Submission Jury deadline is May 5 at 11:59 PM (no need to sign up in advance).

Performance Week Schedule

• Performance Week takes place May 11 – 16
• The Piano Department’s Performance Week Schedule is available HERE.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the piano chair at your campus:

• Sayaka Jordan, Piano Department Chair (MD and Virtual Campuses), sjordan@levinemusic.org
• Deborah Lloyd (DC Campus: NW), dlloyd@levinemusic.org
• Topher Ruggiero (VA Campuses), truggiero@levinemusic.org
• Paul Bratcher (DC Campus: THEARC), pbratcher@levinemusic.org

Sign Up for Beginner Recital & Introduction to Performing and Zoom Recital

Sign up link will open on April 13 at 10 AM and close on April 20 at 11:59 PM.

• Beginner or Zoom Recital

Sign Up for General Jury and Certificate Jury

Sign up link will open on April 13 at 10 AM and close on April 20 at 11:59 PM.

Sign up for the campus of your choice:

Video Jury Submission Form

The deadline for Video Jury submissions is Tuesday, May 5 at 11:59 PM.

Beginner Recitals & Introduction to Performing (public)

• Recommended for school-age students of levels Primer – 2, performing for the first time or do not feel comfortable performing yet. They will learn about performance preparation and presentation.
• No evaluation. Students receive a certificate of participation.
• Repertoire Requirement: One or two pieces. Method book selections are appropriate. Students not ready to perform are invited to come up to the stage for a bow.
• Dress code: Performance attire

General Jury (private) – Graded, Ungraded, and Adult

• Recommended for level 1 and above.
• Each student is assigned a private jury slot (no audience) and is evaluated by two faculty judges.
• General Jury Length: The length of General Juries varies according to the student’s level.
  • Primer – Level 2: 10 minutes
  • Levels 3 – 5: 15 minutes
  • Levels 6 – 7: 20 minutes
  • Levels 8 – 10: 30 minutes
  • All adult students receive a 20-minute slot.
• Dress code: Performance attire

Graded General Jury

• Repertoire Requirement: Technique (Keyboard Skills in one key or an etude), two contrasting solo pieces, and sight-reading. Method book selections are acceptable for levels 1-2. Sight-reading must be at the same level or one level lower than Technique. Memorization: Not required. However, students must perform by memory to be considered for Distinction.
• Incomplete Keyboard Skills or pieces are not acceptable.

Ungraded General Jury

• Constructive comments only. Repertoire requirement is flexible, and memory is not required. Sight-reading is optional.

Adult Jury

• Constructive comments only. Flexible program and memory is not required. Sight-reading is optional. Judges have the option to recommend students to perform at the Adult Distinction Recital.

Certificate Jury (private)

• For adult and school-age students at level 1 and above.
• Each student is assigned a private jury slot (no audience) and receives written comments and a numerical grade from three faculty judges.
• Repertoire Requirement: Keyboard Skills in two keys, an etude, four solo pieces from contrasting periods, and sight-reading. Sight-reading must be at the same level as Technique.
• Incomplete Keyboard Skills or pieces are not acceptable in a Certificate Jury.
• Memorization: Required for Certificate Jury (except for adult students).
• Certificate Jury Length: The length of Certificate Juries varies according to the student’s level.
  • Levels 1 – 3: 15 minutes
  • Levels 4 – 5: 20 minutes
  • Levels 6 – 7: 25 minutes
  • Levels 8 – 9: 35 minutes
• Dress code: Performance attire

Level 10 Certificate Jury (private)

A student who achieved a grade of 132 or higher on the Level 9 Certificate is eligible to take the Level 10 Certificate. Level 10 Certificate Jury plans must be confirmed directly with Sayaka Jordan, Chair of Piano.

Jazz Jury (private)

• For adult and school-age studying jazz piano.
• Students receive written comments and grades from the jazz piano faculty members.
• Repertoire Requirement: Technique or transcription, two pieces, sight-reading.
• Students may opt out of grades and participate in an Ungraded Jury.

 Zoom Recitals

• Recommended for school-age students of all levels.
• No evaluation.
• Repertoire Requirement:  One or two pieces.  Method book selections are appropriate.
• Dress code:  Performance attire

Video Submission Jury

• For adult and school-age students of all levels.
• Video evaluation submitted via YouTube upload. Follow the Guidelines for YouTube Video Submission.
• Students receive written comments (no grades) from two faculty judges.
• Repertoire Requirement: Technique (Keyboard Skills in one key or an etude) and/or repertoire pieces (1 or 2 pieces).
• Memorization: Not required.
• Dress code: Performance attire

Guidelines for YouTube Video Submissions

Instructions for recording a Jury video

• Announce at the beginning of the video your name and program.
• Record in a well-lit, quiet room free of audible and visual distractions and position the camera at the side of the piano where the performer’s whole body is in the frame. The video must clearly show the performer’s face, hands, and pedals.
• Recordings made with a professional camcorder and microphones are highly recommended. The use of iPhones or similar quality devices that reproduce good quality sound are also acceptable.

Instructions for uploading your video to YouTube

1. Create YouTube account (Skip this step if you have a Google account)
   Go to https://www.youtube.com/ and create an account.
2. Verify your account (Skip this step if your video is shorter than 15 minutes) Follow these instructions from the YouTube Help Center to verify your account: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/71673?NOTE: YouTube requires a person to be at least 13 years old to have an account.
3. Upload Video to YouTube From computer, go to https://www.youtube.com/uploadFrom phone or tablet, use the YouTube App. Change privacy setting from ‘PUBLIC’ TO ‘UNLISTED.’ This ensures that only people with the specific video URL can watch the video.
4. Paste the YouTube link in your Jury Submission Form.

FAQs

Do students need to record the program in one take?
No. Students may record each piece separately, but they must record a full take of a piece (no editing).

Do students need to dress up?
Please dress up and document the best shot of your important achievement.

Are there any educational benefits in the recording process?
Absolutely! Creating a satisfactory recording of a performance is never an easy process (especially at home!). This repetitive process of recording, listening and re-recording is one of the best ways for musicians to learn and improve their performance and critical listening skills.  We hope that the jury videos will be enjoyed by friends and family. In addition, many students submit a piano performance video as a part of the supplementary packages for college applications.

My video is 30 minutes. Can I still upload it to YouTube?
Yes. With a verified account, the largest file size you can upload is 12 hours.
Note: To verify your account, please follow STEP 2 of “Instructions for uploading your video to YouTube.”

• Respectful performance attire and confident manner 
• Good posture and a comfortable position at the piano 
• A thoughtful performance (take time before you start) 
• A well-prepared, polished program 
• Playing that is expressive and tells a story 
• Playing that is stylistically appropriate 
• Respect for details in the music: tempo, dynamics, articulation, and structure 
• A steady beat and correct rhythm 
• A clear melody over a supportive accompaniment 
• Clean pedaling (if used) 
• Continuous playing, even if errors occur, in the prepared program and sight-reading