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Piano Department Performance Week Information

Piano Department
Performance Week Information
Spring 2024

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

Performance Week Schedule

The Piano Department’s Performance Week Schedule is available HERE.

Sign-Up Forms

Sign-up week is April 15 (10:00 AM) through April 22 (11:59 PM). 

The links below will open on April 15 at 10:00 AM.

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

Sign up HERE by Monday, April 22, 11:59 PM.

Sign-Up Form for General Jury and Certificate Jury

Sign up at the campus of your choice by Monday, April 22, 11:59 PM.

Video Jury Submission Form

Submit HERE by Tuesday, May 7, 11:59 PM.
Please read the guideline for Video Submission Jury below.

In-Person Options

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.
    • Levels 1 – 3: 10 minutes
    • Levels 4 – 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 sightreading. Method book selections are acceptable for levels 1-2. Sightreading 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 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, sightreading. Sightreading 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, sightreading.
  • Students may opt out of grades and participate in an Ungraded Jury.

Virtual Options 

 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 SUBMISSION

1. 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.

2. Instructions for uploading your video to YouTube

STEP 1: Create YouTube account (Skip this step if you have a Google account)
Go to https://www.youtube.com/ and create an account.

STEP 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.

STEP 3: Upload Video to YouTube

Change privacy setting from ‘PUBLIC’ TO ‘UNLISTED.’ This ensures that only people with the specific video URL can watch the video.

STEP 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 1 of “Instructions for uploading your video to YouTube.”

Faculty Judges’ Expectations 

  • Respectful performance attire and confident manner 
  • Good posture and 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