The Music Artistry Program (MAP), formerly Piano Adjudications, provides an opportunity for students to prepare and perform two polished pieces and receive feedback from a qualified adjudicator.
2025 Dates and Details
- Wednesday-Saturday, February 19-22, 2025
- Registration Deadline: January 10, 2025
- Chair: Selina Chu (selinachustudio@gmail.com)
Registration Instructions
Register your students online at the WSMTA Member Dashboard. Registration fees vary from $20-50 per student, depending on the adjudication time. There is an additional chapter fee of $12 per student to be paid separately to LWMTA. Teachers also must register for an oral consultation and/or written evaluation as part of this event.
MAP students play two pieces for the visiting artist. They receive a mini-lesson as well as written comments and encouragement for their performance. Memorization is not required. The focus is on presenting the highest-quality performance.
This event may be scheduled as private lessons or as a group class. Often, students will get a much better understanding of musical and technical concepts by hearing the guest teacher work with other students. This masterclass approach works especially well with students who are comfortable with an audience.
Studio Honors
Teachers may buy 5 extra minutes for the visiting artist to select outstanding performers in his/her studio. One LWMTA certificate and gold seal may be awarded for every 5 students in your class.
Teacher Consultations
Professional consultation with the visiting artist is part of MAP. After your students have played, you may discuss repertoire, technique or any teaching area of particular interest with your choice of an oral consultation or written evaluation.
Event Format:
In-Person
Locations: Crossroads Community Center in Bellevue (2/19-2/21) and Bonnie Debu Studio (2/22)
Individual adjudications, or master class format with your students.
Additional teacher responsibilities: Door monitor. Supervise masking, hand sanitizing, and cleaning of keyboard as necessary.
Online
Students submit recordings of their pieces for the Visiting Artist’s evaluation.
Comment sheets, studio schedule and PDFs of music to be prepared 2-3 weeks before MAP begins. MAP Chair will assist with sending materials to the adjudicator.
What is the Music Artistry Program?
For the Student:
- Set goals which go beyond the normal weekly routine
- Perform for a highly-respected visiting artist
- Work one-on-one with the adjudicator to improve your performance
- Receive written comments and a certificate
For the Parent:
- Visiting artists are experienced teachers with advanced training who have been carefully screened by WSMTA. They are nationally certified by MTNA and many serve on college faculties around the Pacific Northwest
- Non-competitive format encourages learning, rather than comparison with others
- The Music Artistry Program can serve as a goal for your child to prepare two memorized pieces. Students who perform two pieces from memory may enter the LWMTA Scholarship Competition
For the Teacher:
- Challenge yourself and your students to achieve artistic goals
- Observe your students’ lessons from a third-person perspective, often seeing new ways to approach difficult situations or unique problems
- Share ideas and questions with a supportive colleague. MAP includes one-on-one time with the visiting artist after they have heard your students
- Discover trends and areas which may need improvement
- WSMTA Music Artistry Program Grants are available for low-income, deserving students
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: There is a choice of 10, 15, 20 or 30-minute sessions. How many minutes does my student need?
A: Estimate the playing time for two pieces, and add an equal amount of time for adjudication.
Example: playing time for is 6 minutes. Add 6 minutes for adjudication = 12 minutes. The student should sign up for a 15-minute session.
Q: Is memorization required?
A: No. The focus for MAP is to preparing the most polished and musical performance. However, if pieces are NOT memorized, the student is NOT eligible to be the Chapter Representative at the WSMTA Conference honors recitals.
Q: What is the Studio Honors Award?
A: You may want the Visiting Artist to choose an outstanding performer among your students for the “Studio Honors Award.” Add 5 minutes of “extra time” so the adjudicator can make the decision. One performer may be awarded for every 5 students in your class.
Q: What is the MAP Recognition Recital?
A: The MAP Recognition Recital is open to any student that has participated in MAP. Performing one of their MAP pieces in front of an audience is a great way to honor and celebrate their achievements.