Pop + Jazz Music Festival

Festival Mission​

• To provide students a performance opportunity focusing on contemporary popular, rock, or jazz musical styles

• To provide impactful feedback towards this style of music

• To pursue inclusivity in American music and people

Festival Guidelines

• Festival hours are Saturday 9am-5pm

• Teachers registering three or more students will be expected to assist with monitoring sessions

Registration Guidelines

• All registrations to be submitted online

• Please input your student's full name properly and correctly, as participation certificates will be printed using this information

• Please input all repertoire information, including composer and original performing artist

• All participants may enter the festival as competitive or non-competitive.  Memorization is required for competitive entries.  When entering the festival as non-competitive, the participate will not be considered for award placement.

• Please mail checks made payable to MTACC to the Treasurer within one week of registration

Repertoire Guidelines

• Students must provide a legal purchased or owned copy of the sheet music or score.  They may also provide an optional transcription or arrangement.

• If performing with a backing track, students must purchase a legal copy of the track, in addition to a printed lyric sheet. 

Student Divisions

• Please adhere to the following performance times: ​​

  • Children (Grades K-3) | $20, 8 min (max 3 min performance time)​

  • Lower Youth (Grades 4-5) | $25, 10 min (max 4 min performance time)

  • Upper Youth (Grades 6-8) | $25, 12 min (max 5 min performance time)

  • Lower High (Grades 9-10) | $30, 15 min (max 6 min performance time)

  • Upper High (Grades 11-12) | $30, 15 min (max 6 min performance time)

  • Collegiate | $30, 15 min (max 6 min performance time)

  • Recreational (19+) | $30, 15 min (max 6 min performance time)

  • Small Ensembles (2-4 players) | $60, 20 min (max 6 min performance time)

  • Large Ensembles (5+ players) | $100, 20 min (max 6 min performance time)​

• An additional 5 minutes may be purchased for $8​

Student Eligibility​

• Student must have studied with a current MTACC teacher for a minimum of 6 months

• If the student studies with more than one teacher, both teachers' names must be entered on the registration form

• Non-piano participants must provide his/her own accompanist or accompanying track

• Repertoire choices may include the following:

  • A solo work, whether notated, student arranged, or improvised​

  • A solo song, played or sung to an accompaniment track (track must be provided on a playback device with an 1/8" jack out)

  • A collaborative song, played or sung, with multiple instruments

• Students must provide their own instrument, except for a drum kit, acoustic piano, or microphone.  A keyboard is optional, but a Nord Stage 3 will be provided.  A/V accommodations include standard 1/4" or XLR jack plugs.  Technical accommodations include:​

  • A small drum kit​

  • A bass amp

  • A guitar amp

  • A keyboard

  • A piano

  • Up to two SM-58 microphones for vocalists

  • Up to two SM-57 microphones for auxiliary instruments (such as violins, flutes, saxophones, etc)

Teacher Eligibility

• Teacher must be an MTACC member in good standing OR pay the non-member rate of $65 plus student fees

• Teacher must be available to monitor for at least one session during the Festival

• The Festival is run in a master class format.  The Visiting Artist will work with each student immediately following their performance

• The Visiting Artist will award each group with a "Best of" Winner (medal) and Honorable Mention (ribbon).  The total number of awarded participants is at the judge's discretion

• "Best of" categories: Best Solo Performance, Best Ensemble Performance, Best Stage Presence, Best Creativity, Best Groove, Most Convincing Performance

• All participants will receive a certificate at the end of their session

• Please respect everyone's privacy.  No recordings (audio, video, or photography) will be permitted during the Festival

Results

• The Visiting Artist may administer gold or silver seals on the certificates, based on merit and student performance

• Each student will be awarded a participation certificate