Student Programs

In addition to encouraging students to participate in performing activities associated with individual studios, members of Des Moines Music Teachers Association also hold a Piano Festival and a competitive contest know as the IMTA District Auditions for their students.

The DMMTA organization is subdivided for these occasions into the Des Moines and Ankeny area and the local suburbs, i.e., Urbandale, Clive, West Des Moines, and Johnston.

The Festival is held in November and December, usually in private studios. This event is a non-competitive, non-rated performance before a state certified adjudicator who conducts the session as a lesson. It gives students of all ages and abilities an opportunity to present their best playing for a constructive critique.

This activity is designed to strengthen learning and performing skills and encourage students to reach for their optimum playing potential in a non-competitive environment. It also provides teachers with some objective "outside" yet qualified input on the teaching and playing.

DMMTA members participate in an IMTA sponsored competitive event which does rate performances on a scale of 1 – 4 (one being highest) and the students compete to win. Des Moines and Ankeny teachers hold this event in early December usually at one of the local Universities and the Suburbs hold their event in January – usually in a local church.

Students receive placement awards ranging from winner to alternate (runner-up) or are given honorable mention. Winners participate in a state-level competition usually held at Iowa State University in March. There is also a recital given by the winners held in early March.

There are three other competitive events sponsored by Music Teachers National Association organized for local participation which lead to a National level competition. They are:

• MTNA Student Composition Competition;
• Junior High Performance Competition; and
• MTNA High School Performance Competition.

Students of MTNA teachers statewide are provided the opportunity to enter the MTNA Student Composition Competition. Composstions may be written in any style for any medium. Categories include elementary, junior high, senior high and collegiate. Manuscripts may be handwritten or computer printout produced by the composer. The application fee is $8.00 and entries are due mid-October. Winning compositions are forwarded to the regional level, and regional winners are then judged nationally. Students statewide are encouraged and challenged to explore and develop their creative potential in composing. Specific details regarding applications are available through Karen Langstraat, 1460 Kennedy Street, Indianola, Iowa, 50125, or phone 515- 961 – 6914.

One level of MTNA student competitions is the Junior High Performance Competition for young players in 7^th through 9^th grades. Performance categories are: piano, brass, percussion, string, and woodwinds. Beginning at the state level, winners then proceed to divisional level (8 states) and finally to the national auditions. Registration blanks, repertoire requirements and further inforamtion are published in the June/July issue of the American Music Teacher.

Iowa’s state competition is usually in late October or early November with the registration deadline in September. Divisional competition is in Janauary and national finals are at the MTNA national convention in late March. Cash prizes are awarded to national winners. Students who participate always benefit from the preparation and performance as well as the excellent comments by their adjudicators. For further information, contact Sue Hudson, phone 515 – 278 – 1966.