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Ensemble Festival Guidelines - 2011
The Raleigh Piano Teachers Association holds the Piano Ensemble Festival every other year. The purpose of the festival is to give piano students an opportunity to perform in a duet, duo, or trio which creates an orchestral sound. Benefits to piano students who participate in the festival include sharpening musical skills such as rhythm, note reading, expressive playing, and technical skills. Students are permitted to use music for the performance. Parents and friends are invited to attend the Sunday performance. Teachers select the ensemble music for their own studios and may collaborate with other teachers to fill as many of the parts as possible.
DATES FOR 2011 ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL
Dress Rehearsals: Saturday, January 28
Performances: Sunday, January 29
Ensemble Selection Categories
A. Large Group Ensembles: Duet x 2, Trio x 2 General Ensemble Definitions
Number of Performers: 4=Duet; 6=Trio
Difficulty Level: Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced Duet: 1 Piano
Time Limit: 5 Minutes 2 Performers
Primo and Secondo
B. Duet or Duo Partners
Number of Performers: 2 Duo: 2 Pianos
Difficulty Level: Intermediate, Late Intermediate, Advanced 2 Performers
Time Limit: 5 Minutes Piano 1 & Piano 2
C. Teachers’ Ensemble Group*: Duet, Duo, Trio, Trio: 1 Piano
Number of Performers: 4, 6, 3 Performers
Difficulty Level: Late Intermediate to Advanced
Time Limit: 5 Minutes
*Note: There can not be more than 2 teacher groups per program.
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General Guidelines
1. Every student should have completed a minimum of two years of piano study before participating in the Festival.
2. Participants must be students of active members of RPTA who have renewed their membership by July 1 of the year prior to the Festival. New members of RPTA must have joined the association by October 1 of the year prior to the Festival.
3. Entry fees are $10 per student. Teachers pay the fees with the registration forms by 12 noon on the date of the November RPTA general meeting (Nov. 17, 2010). Students who are playing on two ensembles will only need to pay one fee of $10.00.
4. Students may perform on one or two ensemble selections. In an effort to fill all parts on each selection, teachers should attempt to collaborate among two or more studios as needed.
General Ensemble Definitions Duet: 1 piano 2 performers Primo & Secondo Duo: 2 pianos 2 performers Piano 1 & Piano 2 Trio: 1 piano 3 performers
5. Teachers determine the performance attire for each selection for the Festival. Simple props and costumes may be used to enhance the performance. If costumes and props are used, these should also be used at the dress rehearsal.
6. The Ensemble committee will provide the membership with student commitment letters to inform students and parents of their responsibilities in preparation for the Festival. Teachers should secure the signed commitment letters and fees from students prior to the entry deadline date.
7. Photo copies may not be used for the Festival performance. Special permission must be obtained from the publisher if a piece is out of print. In the case of difficult page turns, a page may be copied to be used with the original printed copy. Page turns need to be worked out carefully at rehearsals prior to the dress rehearsal to avoid visual distractions and fumbling on stage.
Studio and Store Rehearsals The Ensemble Committee will make arrangements with local piano stores for teachers to use for rehearsing with two pianos. Notification of the locations and times available will be given to the teachers in November and December.
Dress Rehearsal: Saturday, January 29, 2011 Students are required to attend their dress rehearsal and stay for the full one and one half hour time. Teachers will receive the specific time for each selection‘s rehearsal by December 10th. Teachers should attend the dress rehearsal and be available to assist with their students and other staging duties. Seating charts will be given to the teachers at dress rehearsals.
• Have students enter the bench from their playing side of the keyboard, put their music on the music desk stand
until all the ensemble is ready, then sit and prepare to play. Have a student appointed to count in the beats to
begin to play.
• After finishing the piece, students stand together, exit from the bench the same way they entered, then walk to
the front of the stage quickly, stand together until the teacher in the front row gives the cue to bow. Group then
exits stage left.
Festival Performance: Sunday, January 30, 2011 (Times TBA)
Students are expected to arrive and be seated 15 minutes before the performance time. Students are required to remain for the entire performance. Teachers are expected to sit with their group and/or help with staging duties. Teachers can also secure additional parent-helpers.
Ensemble Music Selections A suggested list of music will be made available to all teachers who are interested in entering groups in the Festival. When selecting music for ensemble groups, careful consideration will need to be given to meter, key signature, and tempo changes. Please select only one piece for each ensemble group. One helpful resource for teaching ensemble music is as follows: The Piano Duet: A Learning Guide by Weekly and Arganbright, Kjos Pub., WP381
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