MMTA Programs

Our mission is to nurture the developing musician
through programs that encourage and inspire.

Communication regarding any student program must be between the teacher and the Site Administrator or Program Director. It is inappropriate for a student or parent to contact MMTA program personnel and will result in the student’s disqualification.

STATE PIANO CONTEST

To encourage meticulous work and high performance standards, MMTA sponsors State Contest Preliminaries in February and State Contest Finals in March each year. Contestants must be students of MMTA members and must choose selections from the current contest list. Competition categories include piano, voice, organ, strings, and woodwinds. There are eight age divisions in which piano students may compete, ranging from the Pre-Primary division (6 years and younger) through Senior B (19-20). Age divisions in other categories are appropriate to the instrument.

Over 5000 students enter the State Piano Contest annually. Pianists with the highest grades in the Contest Finals are selected for ensemble performance in the State Honors Concert at Northrup Auditorium, University of Minnesota. This concert has grown into a gala event involving 700 young performers playing on 20 grand pianos in ensemble groups. Soloists selected from the Young Artists are also featured.

VOCAL/INSTRUMENTAL CONTEST

MMTA also holds an annual Vocal/Instrumental Contest. Performers in Flute, Organ and Voice categories with the highest grades participate in a Performance Festival directly following the Contest Finals.

YOUNG ARTIST CONTEST

Each year in March, a Young Artist Contest is held. Categories include piano, organ, strings, voice and woodwinds. Performers with the highest grades in the Contest Finals are selected either for the Young Artist Recital immediately following the contest, or for ensemble performance in the State Honors Concert at Northop Auditorium.

State Piano Contest Rules, Dates & Deadlines, Locations and Fees
State Piano Contest Materials Workshops
Vocal/Instrumental Contest Rules, Dates & Deadlines, Locations and Fees
Young Artist Contest Rules, Dates & Deadlines, Locations and Fees


Printable Contest Materials Lists:

State Piano Contest List 2009
Flute Contest List 2007-2009
Organ Contest List 2005-2010
Voice Contest List 2001 (2007 addendum)

Junior Young Artist Repertoire List
Senior & College Young Artist Repertoire List

Printable Contest Forms:

2009 MMTA State Piano Contest Registration Form (.pdf)
2009 MMTA State Piano Contest Registration Form (Word)

2009 MMTA State Piano Contest Preliminaries Scheduling Form (.pdf)
2009 MMTA State Piano Contest Preliminaries Scheduling Form (Word)

2009 MMTA State Piano Contest Finals Scheduling & Registration Form (.pdf)
2009 MMTA State Piano Contest Finals Scheduling & Registration Form (Word)

2009 Vocal/Instrumental Contest Scheduling & Registraion Form (.pdf)
2009 Vocal/Instrumental Contest Scheduling & Registration Form (Word)

2009 Young Artist Registration Form (.pdf)
2009 Young Artist Registration Form (Word)

2009 Young Artist Scheduling Form (.pdf)
2009 Young Artist Scheduling Form (Word)

Online Registration for MMTA State Piano Contest

• Contest Judge/Admin. Invoices
  • Contest Judge
  • Contest Repertoire Analyst
  • Contest Site Administrator, Registrar, Schedule
  • Expense Voucher
    

TEACHERS ORIGINAL DUET COMPOSITION CONTEST

All MMTA teachers are invited to compose a Primary or Junior A level duet for the annual competition. The winning compositions are performed at the State Honors Concert.

Teachers Original Duet Composition Contest Rules & Procedures
Teachers Original Duet Composition Contest Registration Form (.pdf)
Teachers Original Duet Composition Contest Registration Form (Word)

STUDENT COMPOSITION CONTEST

Students submit their original compositions and winners are chosen in four categories: Primary (grade 3 and under), Elementary (grades 4, 5, 6), Junior High (grades 7, 8, 9), and Senior High (grades 10, 11, 12).

MMTA Student Composition Contest Rules & Procedures
MMTA Student Composition Contest Registration Form (.pdf)
MMTA Student Composition Contest Registration Form (Word)

SYLLABUS EXAMS

COMPREHENSIVE PIANO SYLLABUS EXAMS, LEVELS I-X
Eleven levels of curriculum are outlined in the Piano Exam Syllabus. (For more on Level XI, see below.) Levels progress from elementary to very advanced in the areas of keyboard skills/technical studies, stylistic interpretation of Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary music, as well as memorization, sightplaying, and oral questions.

KEYBOARD SKILLS EXAMS
Keyboard Skills Exams are offered as a means to develop proficiency at the keyboard through ten levels of scales, chords and arpeggios from elementary to advanced levels. Keyboard Skills Exams may be taken as one part of the Comprehensive Piano Exam; or as a separate exam.

SIGHTPLAYING EXAMS (To register students online, click here...)
The Sightplaying Program is designed to develop proficiency in playing keyboard music at sight. The program consists of six levels and provides both method books and sample tests to aid preparation for these exams. In addition, Sightplaying testing has been incorporated into all levels of the Piano Exams and is a part of all other syllabus exam programs as well. Sightplaying Exams may be taken as one part of the Comprehensive Piano Exam; or as a separate exam.

COMPREHENSIVE PIANO SYLLABUS EXAM, LEVEL XI
Eleven levels of curriculum are outlined in the Piano Exam Syllabus. Level XI is the highest level of the MMTA Piano Exams. It is a culmination of a student's studies in the MMTA Piano Program, and an affirmation of accomplishment. Unlike Levels I-X of the Comprehensive Piano Exam, Level XI students must take all three components on the same day, as the exam is only offered once per year in the Spring.

MUSIC THEORY SYLLABUS EXAM (To register students online, click here...)
The Music Theory program outlines six levels of curriculum, progressing in the areas of notation and ear training, as well as analysis and understanding of the structure and form of music. Each level includes integrating these areas at the piano. A teacher's manual and student workbook is available for each of the six examination levels. Music Theory Examinations are required for specific levels of the State Contest.

SYLLABUS AND THEORY EXAMS FOR VOICE, FLUTE, GUITAR,
ORGAN, & VIOLIN
Syllabus and testing programs are also available for voice, flute, guitar, organ, cello, viola, and violin. As with piano, outstanding professionals in these areas continually work to revise and update syllabi, thus providing teachers and students with materials for a comprehensive musical education.

At the end of each academic year, monetary awards and certificates are presented to the highest scoring students in most of the above mentioned programs. In addition, MMTA provides student accompanist certificates for high school students whose teachers request them.

Why Do Piano Exams? A Student's View

Comprehensive Piano Exam Rules, Dates & Deadlines, Locations and Fees
Keyboard Skills Exam Rules, Dates & Deadlines, Locations and Fees
Sightplaying Exam Rules, Dates & Deadliens, Locations and Fees
Comp. Piano Exam Level XI Rules, Date & Deadlines, Location and Fee
Theory Exam Rules, Dates & Deadlines, Locations and Fees
Flute, Guitar, Organ, Violin, Voice Exam Rules, Dates/Deadlines, Locations, Fees

Printable Registration Forms:

Comprehensive Piano Exam Registration Form (.pdf)
Comprehensive Piano Exam Registration Form (Word)

Keyboard Skills Exam Registration Form (.pdf)
Keyboard Skills Exam Registration Form (Word)

Sightplaying Exam Registration Form (.pdf)
Sightplaying Exam Registration Form (Word)

Comprehensive Piano Exam Level XI Registration Form (.pdf)
Comprehensive Piano Exam Level XI Registration Form (Word)

Music Theory Exam Registration Form (.pdf)
Music Theory Exam Registration Form (Word)

Vocal/Instrumental Exam Registration Form (.pdf)
Vocal/Instrumental Exam Registration Form (Word)

Online Registration for Sightplaying and Theory Exams

• Exam Judge/Admin. Invoices
  • Exam Judge (Pn, Ke, Sp, Th)
  • Exam Judge (Vo/Inst)
  • Site Administrator
  • Exam Judge Coordinator
  • Exam Repertoire Analyst
  • TC Scheduler
  • Theory Analysis
  • Monitor/Helper
  • Worker Lunch
  • Piano Materials Coordinator
  • Theory Materials Coordinator
  • Pn/Ke Program Director
  • Sp Program Director
  • Th Program Director
  • Expense Voucher

ENSEMBLE FESTIVALS

Annual MMTA Ensemble Festivals have been held in various locations throughout Minnesota since 1987. All combinations of musical ensembles may participate.

Ensemble Festival Rules, Dates & Deadlines, Locations and Fees
Ensemble Festival Registration Form (.pdf)
Ensemble Festival Registration Form (Word)
Ensemble Festival Online Registration

Ensemble Festival Judge Invoice

MUSIC BRIDGES

The newest MMTA program offers teachers the freedom and flexibility to design a program to fit each individual student. Music Bridges can be used with students of all ages and abilities. In addition to repertoire performance, a student’s program may include an original composition, dance, drama, or visual art.

Music Bridges Program Rules, Dates & Deadlines, Locations and Fees
Music Bridges Information Form (.pdf)
Music Bridges Registration Form (.pdf)
Music Bridges Registration Form (Word)

Music Bridges Judge Invoice

MTNA COMPETITIONS

Students may participate in any of the following national competitions:

• MTNA Junior High School Performance Competitions
• MTNA High School Performance Competitions
• MTNA Collegiate Artist Performance Competitions
• MTNA Collegiate Chamber Music Performance Competition
• MTNA Student Composition Competition

First place winners at the state level compete in the West Central Division Competition; divisional winners compete at the MTNA National Convention. Minnesota participation in the student composition competition ranks as one of the highest in the nation.

For more information and/or to register , go to www.mtna.org and click on "Competitions"

MTNA State Competitions
MTNA Judge Invoice

The MusicLink program is designed to offer partial to full scholarship to promising music students in need. MMTA program registration fees are waived for MusicLink students, and they may purchase MMTA teaching materials (theory and sightplaying workbooks, for instance) at a discounted price.

Volunteer to teach or nominate a student on-line at the MusicLink website.  Go to www.musiclinkfoundation.org and click on "How to Participate".

MusicLink Program
Printable MusicLink Registration Form

September, 2006: MMTA Board Expands Support of MusicLink

MMTA INTERNATIONAL STUDY TOUR

Bi-annually, MMTA offers a study tour abroad, hosted by MMTA members. It is a time to learn about and see first-hand the roots of musical experience.

Click here to read the General Rules and Procedures for all MMTA programs.

Click here to view a map showing the location of contest and exam testing sites.