FAQ’s

A. Why should students compete in this event?

  • Topeka Young Musician Awards helps develop student motivation by allowing students of similar age to compete with each other.
  • TYMA provides opportunities for recognition, gifts and cash awards.
  • Each participant receives from three to nine written evaluations.

B. Who Can Compete?

  • Students must be in the 6th, 7th or 8th grade during the spring of 2013.
  • Students must live and/or be schooled within a 30 mile radius from the Kansas State Capitol building (see MAP, or listing of cities).
  • Each participant must submit a VIDEO recording and completed entry form to Midwest Musical Arts by 6:00 pm, Tuesday, January 15th, 2013.
  • Each student must be able to attend the complete two-hour rehearsal scheduled for Friday, Feb. 22nd, 7-9 pm. Accompanists need only be present during the times when the student is rehearsing his/her song. The exact rehearsal schedule will be sent via email to the contestants by Feb. 10th. (If the rehearsal is canceled due to inclement weather, the rehearsal and performance will be rescheduled one week later). The performance is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 7-9 pm.

C. Is there a fee?

  • Yes. A $25 non-refundable fee.
    Make out your check to “Topeka Young Musician Awards”.

D. What are the four categories in this competition?

  • Voice
  • Strings (includes guitar)
  • Wind-Percussion
  • Piano (includes any keyboard instrument)

E. How will the performers be evaluated?

  • All judges will utilize the ten point evaluation checklist (see 10 point evaluation). We suggest you strive to achieve the highest score in each category, even on your entry video.

F. What is the process of selecting performers for this event?

  • . After we receive the students’ recordings (by 6 pm, Jan 15th), college students at the master or doctorate levels (3 judges per category) will provide written evaluations and points values for all entries. Based on points awarded, the field of contestants will be reduced to twenty students in each category. This will be accomplished by Jan 22nd.
  • At the second stage of evaluation, two judges per category will evaluate the student recordings and select the top five (and one reserve) in each category. These judges will be music educators with a masters degree or higher. These evaluations will be finished by Jan 29th.

    All students who have submitted recordings will be contacted by February 4th (via email) of results. A certificate of participation, judge evaluations and letters conveying the results will be sent by February 15th.
  • The final stage of the Awards competition will consist of twenty students (five per category) who will perform in front of a live audience (free admission) and four guest judges. Each judge will offer written comments, but the points determining the performer’s ranking will be given by only one judge…the specialist judge in their individual category. For example, vocalists will receive comments from all four judges, but only the judge whose expertise is voice will rank the five vocal performers.

G. Are there any restrictions?

  • The piece must be three minutes or less in length. If a recording is over three minutes, the student may be disqualified. Understand that we have twenty performances planned for the Awards night, and the evening could become excessively long unless we imposed a time limitation.
  • We require that accompaniments be live…no pre-recorded “canned” accompaniments are allowed.
  • There are no restrictions on the number of categories a student can enter.
  • We provide a grand piano on stage (recently tuned). Use of any other keyboard instrument requires special permission in advance.

H. Is this competition in agreement with KSHSAA rules?

  • Yes. This is an individual, non-school related event. Contestants are not to be coached in the school setting. This keeps the competition in compliance with KSHSAA regulations. School teachers can feel free to encourage students to participate in this contest.

I. How do we comply with COPYRIGHT regulations?

  • If you use a printed score, it cannot be a photocopy. It needs to be a legitimate, purchased score.
  • If you learned your piece “by ear” –without a printed score, you still need to submit an official published score of the song. This helps guarantee that the owner of the composition has received proper copyright royalties.
  • If you composed the music yourself and “own” the piece, there is no purchase requirement.

J. When do I present my written music score?

  • Only those selected to perform at the Awards Night competition will need to present a score. Those students must bring their written score to the rehearsal on Friday, Feb. 22nd. The scores will be kept overnight and returned to the students immediately after the Awards night competition. Judges will preview the music prior to the competition and will have it as a reference during the performances.

K. What awards and recognition are given?

  • All entries that meet the Jan. 15th (6 pm) deadline will receive a certificate of participation (these will be sent by Feb. 15th)
  • Each contestant at the February 23rd event will receive a gift bag from numerous local merchants. These merchants will be listed on the program notes
  • The top 3 performers in each of the four categories receive medals and cash awards at the Awards program. Cash awards total $1400 ($200, $100 and $50 in each category). These winners may be invited to play for various events in the Topeka area in early and mid April.

L. What type of recording is acceptable? (This is due Jan. 15th at Midwest)

  • A VIDEO RECORDING using CD, SD card, flash drive or DVD is required as these will be uploaded to a private YOUTUBE account. Audio-only recordings are no longer accepted. We prefer these digital recording formats: “WMA”, “QuickTime” or “I-tunes”. Do not submit a cassette recording.

M. If I need help to make a recording, what do I do?

  • If you call Midwest Musical Arts (785.272.6868), we can refer you
    to a person who could assist you for a fee.

N. What Towns/Cities are included in this competition?

  • See MAP
  • See LIST of cities
  • If you have any questions, contact us at leroy@midwestmusicalarts.com. Answers will conform to the “30 mile radius from the capital building” rule.

O. Who sponsors the “Topeka Young Musician Awards”?

  • “Topeka Youth and Music Awards” is a project of Midwest Musical Arts, 5330 SW 17th. (see website at www.midwestmusicalarts.com) We work hand-in-hand with local businesses and associations…who provide the financial support, and music educators who have contact with the students. We believe that providing incentives to our youth will help foster a sense of excitement among our young musicians. This in turn should help enhance the music climate in the Topeka area.

P. Who are the Awards Boosters?

  • Boosters are persons who wish to see Topeka Young Musician Awards succeed. See our FACEBOOK page at Midwest Musical Arts (use the following link) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Midwest-Musical-Arts/283561391672106 and “Like Us” to receive updates and see pictures of the many aspects of TOPEKA YOUNG MUSICIAN AWARDS. If you have special skills or ideas to help improve the project, contact LeRoy at leroy@midwestmusicalarts.com.

Q. What if:

  • …more than one student in a category chooses the same solo?

    During the semifinals (the layer of judging during which the top twenty in each
    division is selected), if there is a duplication issue involving two or more of the performers, judges will be asked to select the student who performed the piece
    the best (determined by point totals). They will be asked to only allow one performer per selection title to advance to finals (including the reserve performer). If it appears to be a “tie” in terms of points, the person who submitted their recording the earliest will have top billing.

R. Do we have rules about…

  • Dress code?
    We allow the teachers and performers to decide upon their stage appearance. The bottom line is, “what will increase my chances of winning”.
  • Style of music?
    We let the performers and their teachers decide what style of music will showcase their musical abilities and skills the best.
  • Memorized music?
    We don’t require it, but it certainly increases the probability of being asked to play at the Awards night competition.

    We leave these decisions to the students because this is designed to be a learning experience and we want them to “own” their decisions.