Musicianship Requirements

The Musicianship Requirement applies to all festivals.
  • Levels are chosen at the discretion of the teacher. Choose one level from Scales and one level from Cadences.
  • Entrants must play a scale and cadence in the key of each piece entered.
  • If the pieces are in the same key, a second scale and cadence in a closely related key (dominant or parallel) must be played.
  • If a Contemporary piece is atonal, modal, or polytonal, a scale and cadence in a different key from the other piece must be played.
  • Entrants may choose when to play the scale and cadence.
  • The judge is to drop the final performance rating one degree (S to S-, S- to E+, etc.) if the requirement is performed unacceptably. Unacceptable can mean wrong notes, poor fingering, lack of pulse, or only one scale played.
  • If an entrant chooses to omit the requirement, the final performance rating may not exceed E+.
  • Write the levels on the critique sheet. (Example: 1-A, 2-B, 3-D, etc.

    • Scales

    Level Play Hands
    1 Five finger hand position Alone or together
    2 Tetrachord scales Two hands
    3 Scale - number of octaves at teacher's discretion Alone
    4 Scale - number of octaves at teacher's discretion Together
    5 Scale - contrary motion Together
    6 Double note scale - choose 3rds, 6ths, or 10ths - number of octaves at teacher's discretion Together

    Cadences

    Level Play How? Hands
    A Tonic chord Broken or solid chords Alone
    B I-V-I All root position chords Alone
    C I-IV-I-V-I All root position chords Alone or together
    D I-V(7)-I From root position; root only or solid chords in the bass Together
    E I-IV-I-V (and/or V(7)-I From root position; root only or solid chords in the bass Together
    F I-IV-I-V (and/or V(7)-I All inversions, root only or solid chords in the bass Together