Before the Day of the Festival:

• Memorize your 2 performance pieces.

• During your lesson with your teacher, number all measures on both copies of your sheet music.

• Vocalists: Gather two original copies of all music. Discuss this with your teacher because we have many studio copies that you can borrow- but you will need to have 2 copies with you, one for the accompanist and one for the judges.

• Erase all other teacher markings on your music.

• Vocalists/Instrumentalists: hire and make arrangements to pay your accompanist directly.

 

On the Day of the Festival:

• The NFMC Festival is located on the UCM campus in the UTT Music Building. Click here for a direct link to the venue on google maps!

• Dress very nicely! Judges are always happy to see students dressed up for the occasion!

• Remember to bring your original music unless your teacher is bringing your copy! (No photocopies are allowed in the rooms with the judges!)

• You should arrive approximately 20 minutes early to ensure you have time to check in at the lobby of the UTT Music building, find your assigned room, use the restroom, get a drink, etc...

• Be sure to warm up before you arrive or arrive with plenty of time to warm up! There are practice rooms that you can run through your pieces in.

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Center Stage Staff will be at the festival the entire time to assist you! Your specific teacher may be helping other students, working the check-in table, or assisting with other Festival duties when you arrive, but rest assured any CS Staff member can help you! Please find one of us when you arrive!

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After you Check-In at the Festival: 

• Be at your assigned door approximately 10 minutes before your scheduled time. Do not be late!

• Let the door monitor know who you are and that you are there! Wait for the room monitor to tell you to enter the room.

• Only students will go into the room with the judge- parents should remain outside of the room during the adjudication. In most cases, parents will be able to hear the music in the hall. :)

 

Once You (the student) are in the Room with the Judge:

• When you enter the room, say "Good morning" to the judge with a smile and hand him/her your original music unless the room monitor has already taken your music.

• When the room monitor or judge says to begin, introduce yourself and the names of your pieces. (Be sure to practice this at home!) Then begin your performance.

• When you have finished your first piece, wait for the judge to let you know that he/she is ready for you to begin your second piece (sometimes this can take a while as they write comments.)

• When you have finished your second piece, politely say thank you to the judge and leave the room. Do not show any signs of frustration in front of the judge even if you are not happy with your performance.

• Wait outside the room for the room monitor to give you back your music and then you are free to go!

• You will get your performance results from your teacher during your next lesson!

• We would love to get as many pictures of our students as possible with their teachers, as individuals, or with other students to be able to celebrate your accomplishment! If you have time, please find your teacher or another CS Staff member to take your picture!

 

Theory Test Information:

The below information is from previous years. We will update how the theory test process will work when we receive information from NFMC.

• If you are taking the theory test, you may do so at any time between 8:45am and 12:00pm. 

• The room is always open. You can just go in and give them your name and they will have your test ready for you, but be sure to double check that they have given you the correct level test as discussed with your music teacher!

• You will get your theory test results from your teacher during your next music lesson!