KMTA Kentucky Music Teachers Association
KMTA
Kentucky Music Teachers Association

e-Festival

Table of Contents

e-Festival Information

The Kentucky Music Teachers Association is thrilled to announce the 6th Annual KMTA e-festival!

KMTA is excited to offer an alternative event to in-person festivals traditionally held by local associations in the spring. The KMTA e-festival is an online-only performance opportunity where students receive constructive comments and a rating as well as a chance to qualify for the State Honors Recital.

General Information

  • Before registration, please make sure that you have PDF copies of all a student’s music and links to performance video for each student. You will not be able to upload PDFs or submit videos after submitting your application!
  • Teachers can submit PDF versions of student music scores and video links through the registration page.
  • Fees: $25 per entry for KMTA members. If you are not a member of KMTA, the registration fee is $30 per solo or ensemble application (duets, trios, etc. count as one entry).
    • Non-member teachers must also pay a single $25 fee the first year they enter students. The non-member fee for following years will be the same as the current MTNA membership fee.
  • The DEADLINE for submission is May 16, 2026.
Register by clicking the button below:
e-Festival Online Registration Form

The deadline for submission is May 16

Requirements

Repertoire

  • Students will be required to perform two contrasting pieces from memory.
  • All solos must be memorized. An original copy of the music must be available for the adjudicator.  Please number the measures at the beginning of the system (line).  Individual measure numbering is acceptable but not necessary.  
  • Duet entries (4-hand, one piano) are allowed. Duet entrants should only complete one registration form with both performers’ names listed in the “Student Name” field.
  • Division I: Students submitting repertoire beginner through mid-intermediate levels will participate for comments alongside the option to qualify for the State Honors Recital (SHR). The teacher should indicate on the entry form if they would like a student to be considered for SHR.
  • Division II: Students submitting advanced repertoire (appropriate for KMTA State Competitions) will participate for comments alongside the option to qualify for the State Honors Recital (SHR). The teacher should indicate on the entry form if they would like a student to be considered for SHR.
  • Repertoire guidelines align with the State Honors Recital guidelines and can be found here.

Additional Repertoire Requirements

  • Piano solo entries:
    • The audition consists of two contrasting pieces from two different composers. Preferably, they should represent different periods /eras; however, pieces from the earlier contemporary period may be paired with more modern composers from current teaching libraries, (e.g. a Bartok piece and a Martha Mier piece).  Each selection must be at least 16 measures in length.   
    • Repertoire must be original standard piano solo literature – – that is, no pop/folk piano reductions, no reductions or arrangements of orchestral or other instrumental works, no hymn arrangements, etc.   
    • Pieces may be selected from method books but they should have good musical value. (That is, do not use pieces that are just drills in rhythm patterns, intervals, etc.) 
    • The entire piece must be played.  Individual movements may be played, such as a movement of a Sonatina, etc;  however, a student must play the entire movement. 
  • Vocal solo entries:
    • The audition consists of 2 contrasting pieces with at least one selection being from the Art/Folk song category; the second selection may be from the Musical Theatre category or another contrasting Art/Folk song.  Popular music is not acceptable for the Honors recital.  SHR vocal entrants must provide their own live accompanists; pre-recorded accompaniments are not allowed.  
  • Other instrumental entries:
    • The requirements for ensemble* entries and other instruments should follow the same general principles as those for piano and voice. Teachers and associations should use astute discretion in determining what is appropriate for the State Honors Recital.         
    • *(A second piece is optional for ensembles.)  

Evaluation and Selection for State Honors Recital

  • Students will be evaluated based on criteria relevant to their instrument and ability level.
  • For Division I and II, adjudicators will offer comments and ratings, as well as consider the top 25% of entries of each association represented (who have chosen to be considered) for State Honors Recital recommendation.
  • Feedback from adjudicators will be given 1-2 weeks after the submission deadline.

KMTA e-Festival Technology Instructions

For more information on creating and sharing PDFs, you can also view KMTA Webmaster Colin Dorman’s “How To: Technology” presentation on sharing media for competitions.

How To: Technology – Sharing Media

Creating PDFs of Music

Using your smartphone or tablet you need to scan the sheet music that your student will be presenting.

If you have an iPhone, if you go to your Notes application, you can follow the instructions in this Apple Support document to scan documents without needing to download any additional apps.

If you have an Android phone, your phone may have a document scanner built-in, or you may need to download an app from the Google Play Store.

Either way, make sure you are generating PDF documents – these are much easier to read and use for the judges. Image files (JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc.) are not acceptable.

Share your PDFs

When you are registering your students, you’ll see a spot to upload links to the PDFs of your student’s pieces. To share the links, first you’ll need to upload your files to a cloud service, and then follow the instructions linked for that specific cloud service.

Important: When you are sharing files, you’ll need to make sure they are “publicly viewable” so that anyone with the link can view the files. You cannot share them to an individual through their email address.

Recording and Sharing Video

Recording Location

You should record your video in the spirit of a live audition or recital performance.

You may record in a home, school, church, synagogue, recital hall, rehearsal room, or studio with good natural acoustics with or without an audience. You should dress professionally, as you would for a recital or live audition.

Recording

  • A tablet or smartphone is all you need.
  • To ensure the quality and consistency of the videos among entrants:
    • Set up a device to capture the full body of the student (for pianists and string players, be sure hands are visible at the instrument; for singers, be sure facial expression is discernible).
    • Limit background noise.
    • Make sure the performance space is well-lit.
    • Treat the camera as if it were the judge.

Execution

  • Run a technical dress rehearsal with everything in place.
  • Test the sound. Move the recording device, if needed.
  • Treat this as a live performance!
    • Dress appropriately
    • Keep playing from start to finish! The performance quality may diminish after 3-5 takes and it is better to have one complete recording than none.

Transfer File

  • Name your video files with the piece title and composer (for example, Minuet in G, Bach) Accepted formats: MP4, M4V, AVI, FLV, MOV, WMV, MPG, MPEG, M2V, WEBM.
  • Create an account with YouTube (or a similar video-sharing platform). Upload your recording to YouTube.
  • Scores should be in PDF format and named the same as the video file.
  • Complete the online application and share video links. You will receive an automatic email confirming the successful submission of your videos and application