The Piano Composition Festival is an opportunity to share original piano compositions by students from ages 5-18, non-music major amateurs over age 18, and music teachers. This event, open to MAPTA members & non-MAPTA members, provides an opportunity for composers throughout our region to submit their compositions for evaluation & performance. This fall we will have a day of workshops, as well, with our guest composer, Dr. Teddy Niedermaier. Please see our brochure for complete details about the event. Registration is now open. For more information, please contact Jeff Stanek, chair of the Piano Composition Festival via e-mail at: pcf(at)madisonpianoteachers.org
Notation Guidelines
- Neatly handwritten scores are encouraged, but computer-notated scores are equally acceptable. Do not use a pencil or ball-point pen to make your final copy (although, using a pencil to compose drafts is a great idea!).
- Please send in a legible, high-quality, high-contrast black-and-white photocopy / printout.
- Make it look nice! Consider using a ruler if you are copying by hand. Computer users should avoid symbol collisions and unnatural spacing.
- Number the first measure of each system.
- Typically, barlines go through both staves of a piano grand staff.
- Typically, each system begins with a brace, left-hand barline, clefs, and key signature (if you use them) – but usually no time signature.
- Decide how much detail (dynamics, articulations, slurs, etc.) is right for your piece.
- For additional guidelines, an excellent, as well as very affordable and portable, book on the subject is Alfred’s Essential Dictionary of Music Notation.
- Questions? E-mail Jeff Stanek at pcf@madisonpianoteachers.org.
