2024 Virtual Syllabus - Contemporary Piano - Solo

Definition
Contemporary music is a musical term that defines a wide range of compositions that adopt ideas and elements from both classical and modern music.

This class is designed for competitors who wish to play contemporary piano pieces that were written after 1960, and do not appear in either the current RCM or CC Syllabus.

Piece Selections

a) One of the selections must have been performed at the Local Festival and received a minimum mark of 85 and the recommendation of the local Adjudicator. The second selection is the competitor's choice but must follow the rules of this category. 

b) Selections must be musically contrasting. The Adjudicator will take song choice into consideration.
c) Examples of pieces/collections that can be included, but not limited to are:

- Christopher Norton Connection Series (for pieces not in RCM or CC syllabi)
- Canadian Contemporary Repertoire Series
- Northern Lights Repertoire
- Canadian Contemporary Repertoire Series
- American Popular Piano Repertoire
- The Galaxy Series
- Violet Archer
- Boris Berlin
- John Burge
- Christine Donkin
- Anne Crosby Gaudet
- Clifford Poole
- Ann Southam

The list above is only a guideline. If you are uncertain about where a piece should be entered, please contact the office at mail@omfa.ca and we will get back to you quickly with an answer.

Conservatory Canada Contemporary Idioms
(conservatorycanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/CI-Piano-Repertoire-List-Complete.pdf) is a great source for contemporary works.

Please note that the majority of selections found in the RCM Popular Piano series are "covers" of popular songs and therefore should be played in the Popular Piano section. There are exceptions – so care must be taken.

General
d) All selections must be played from memory.
e) Pop Songs, Covers and pieces are not permitted in this class.
f) All criteria listed in the OMFA General Rules (omfa.ca/virtual-festival/rules-regulations) must be strictly adhered to.

Video Submission Requirements
g) Videos must be submitted by your Local Festival's entry deadline date for Provincials.
h) One original score of the music or purchased digital music with attached receipt for each selection must be shown on camera prior to the beginning of the performance.
i) Only YouTube videos will be permitted (i.e. google drives, vimeo, mp3's, mp4's, dropbox etc. are not permitted). Each performance requires a separate YouTube link. Performance videos should not be combined.
j) All videos must have "YouTube kid" settings turned off. You may choose to have your video "unlisted" but "private" videos are not permitted. Please also ensure that the video is allowed to be embedded in other programs.
k) The video must clearly show your full body and instrument. A stationary camera position must be used throughout.
l) No mixing or sound enhancement is allowed through any kind of soundboard, including a recording studio or computer. No reverb can be added to the recording. The recording must be honest and acoustic – as if the adjudicators were in the room listening to you perform live. You must perform live on the video. No audio dubbing over your video is allowed.
m) The video should be in the spirit of a recital or an audition and therefore you should dress appropriately.
n) You are required to introduce yourself and your selections in the video, either verbally or with a title card before each piece and must be limited to the following:
• Your Name
• The Grade/Level you have entered
• The Composer and Complete Title of your selection (prior to each piece)
o) Do not announce your teacher's name, where you are from or at which local festival you performed. Do not use your teacher's YouTube channel to submit your videos.

Contemporary Piano - Solo

Performance Requirements:

Competitors must perform two (2) contrasting selections.

The maximum performance times are listed below:

Beginner Level (Ages 6-8): Ten (10) minutes
Primary Level (Ages 9-10): Ten (10) minutes
Elementary Level (Ages 11-12): Ten (10) minutes
Junior Level (Ages 13-14): Ten (10) minutes
Intermediate Level (Ages 15-16): Fifteen (15) minutes
Senior Level (Ages 17-18): Fifteen (15) minutes
Advanced Level (Ages 19-28): Twenty (20) minutes
Adults (Ages 29 and Above): Twenty (20) minutes

There is no minimum performance time limit.

Accurate performance times must be included on the entry form. Do not guess timings.

If you do not provide all information required (your YouTube video link, the PDF of your music and payment) by your Festival's Provincial deadline, it will result in disqualification. "To Be Decided" in any field will not be accepted and will also result in disqualification.
 
The only exception to this is the field labelled "Movement/Musical".  If your piece is a sonata or a concerto, etc. you will need to define which movements you will be playing.  If your piece does not have any movements please put "none".