All-State Piano Ensemble

About All-State Piano Ensemble
Student Selection Guidelines
Piano Ensemble Benefits
Video Audition Information
Registration

2024 All-State Piano Ensemble

The 2024 All-State Piano Ensemble event will take place on January 26-28 at the University of Kentucky.

The registration deadline for the 2024 All-State Piano Ensemble is September 30, 2023.

The video submission deadline is November 30.

Student Selection Guidelines

Students in grades 4-12 are eligible. Students must be in method level 2 or above to participate as a 4th grader. This year promises another year of fun and excitement with music that will challenge and motivate students. If you have not entered students in the past, this is the year to begin.

Repertoire will include various styles and levels that offer the usual exciting dimension of ensemble playing.

Piano Ensemble Benefits

• A reinforcement of rhythmic skills
• Heightened skill of listening to all parts of the music
• A deeper understanding of interpretation and expression
• A rewarding experience of sound and style exploration
• The fun of making music with other piano students/teachers
• A great sense of responsibility to the group

What to Expect

It is like playing in an orchestra, a band, or a jazz combo. Each player contributes a special musical part to create a whole. Individual parts may be single lines of music, but a single-line part does not mean easier. There is the added responsibility of interacting with the other players—the balance, the pulse, the interpretation—all skills we are eager for our students to achieve in order to become fine musicians.

Friday afternoon begins with each group attending their first rehearsal.

On Saturday, students will be given a schedule that they follow all day. Parents will drop students off at a specified time at the University so they can attend classes and rehearsals. Each group will have an assigned chaperone and will eat lunch on campus as a group. We will let you know at a later date how much money they will need for lunch. They will also go on a campus tour. Exact times won’t be given until the schedule is finalized with the classes and rehearsals closer to the event date. You will have a specific time to drop off and pick up your student.

Sunday morning schedule will begin early with a last-minute dress rehearsal followed by the concert. Students should be finished and heading home by early afternoon.

Students or teachers do NOT need to have prior technology experience!

All-State Piano Ensemble Details

The keyboards will be digital keyboards equipped with multiple sounds allowing students to experience “playing in an orchestra”.

The ensemble music is packaged with a conductor’s score and individual parts; therefore, it is not practical for participating teachers or students to buy the music. The All-State Committee will purchase the music; a music rental fee is included in the audition fee. Students will return the music after the concert, and the scores become a part of the KMTA ensemble library. After registrations are received with the level of students indicated on the form, individual parts for each student will be mailed to the teacher to distribute.

Software recordings are provided for the repertoire and will be posted on the KMTA website. These allow students to listen to the complete orchestration and hear the interaction of different parts. It is not required that students practice with the software prior to the event. MP3, MP4 or midi parts will be mailed or emailed at the time the music is distributed.

Video Audition Submissions

Each group usually performs three ensemble pieces. Each student must submit a video audition of one of the pieces the ensemble will be performing. The teacher and student may decide together which of the pieces the student will use to audition.

The students need to play their part along with the recording.

We prefer the video be made in the teacher’s studio but will accept them from the student’s home. Videos may be uploaded to YouTube, but most text them. If texting, please send to (606) 465-1084. The videos will be reviewed by our conductor and the All-State co-chairs.

Audition videos are to make sure students are prepared. If the video doesn’t show the student is prepared, they may submit a 2^nd video.

The purpose of the video is not to eliminate students, but to make sure that they are prepared!

The video submission deadline is November 30.

Registration

The fee of $85 per student is to be paid at the time of registration and is non-refundable (unless the event is cancelled).

All-State Registration/Payment

If you are registering multiple students, please register them all at once and make a single payment!

Students will be divided into groups representing different levels of training. Levels will be determined from the information requested on the registration form, so it is very important to fill out this portion of the form. A confirmation letter and the music for each participating student will be mailed as soon as all registrations are received and music assigned.

For returning students, teachers should indicate Group level and the most recent year in which the student performed.

For new students, list a recent piece performed by the student including the title and composer. This will allow the committee to assign each student to the most appropriate group level. (Group A is comparable to level 2 in a method book.)

The non-refundable audition fee includes the rental of all the required music.

Auditions are open to non-KMTA members. A teacher registration fee must be paid before students can be entered. The teacher registration fee is $20 the first time. The 2nd time a non-member teacher enters a student the teacher fee will be equal to the current KMTA member’s dues.