NATIONAL PIANO GUILD AUDITIONS
Each spring, several students participate in the National Guild Piano Auditions. Selected judges rate each student’s developmental progress in piano playing. Students may perform up to 20 memorized pieces for the judge and accumulate ratings. These ratings are only used to observe progress from previous years. Students are NOT compared to each other.
General Guild Information
Annual Guild Timeline
On Audition Day
Guild IMMT Requirements
2009 Guild Schedule
- National Piano Guild Website
- Location: Unitarian Fellowship of Houston, 1504 Wirt Rd, Houston, TX 77055
- Registration Fee: varies per level and number of pieces
- Basic Requirements:
- Memorize only 1 or up to 20 pieces
- Play scales, cadences, chords, and arpeggios (depending on level) in the key of the memorized pieces.
- Optional: substitute a memorized piece for a musicianship phase such as sightreading, ear-training, improvisation etc.
By February 28
- Number of pieces confirmed
- Fee paid to teacher
- Pieces and back-up pieces must be confirmed with teacher
By April 1
- Pieces MUST be memorized
- Student owns or has access to the original music
- Student must type a list of pieces in the preferred performance order. Include:
- Name of the piece
- Book the piece is in
- Key of the piece
- Make two copies of the list (one for yourself and one for your judge)
- In pencil, neatly number the measures in your music (remember, only number the complete measures).
- Bookmark pieces in books by placing large “Post-it” notes upside down on the first page of each piece. Write the title of the piece on the visible part of the “Post-it” note when book is closed.
April 15
- Attend Guild Practice
- Bring 2 copies of your typed list and your original music (copies will disqualify you)
- Make sure your nails are trimmed appropriately.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
- Recital dress (what you would wear to an awards ceremony at school or concert): no jeans, flip-flops, or tennis shoes
- No candy or gum.
- Treat the judge and hall monitors respectfully.
- Take your time — breathe and think before you play.
- Place your hands on your lap and take a deep breath between each piece.
- If the judge claps, please stand up and bow (bowing is a courteous way of saying “thank you for clapping”)
- Remember: the judge is not required to hear all of your pieces.
Guild IMMT Requirements
- Elementary A: None
- Elementary B: Scales of pieces programmed, one octave HS; Cadences of pieces programmed: I-V (V7)-I, root position HS
- Elementary C: Same as Elementary B
- Elementary D: Scales of pieces programmed, one octave HT; Cadences of pieces programmed: I-V (V7)-I root position HT
- Elementary E: Scales of pieces programmed, two octaves HS; Cadences of pieces programmed: I-V-I and inversions HS
- Elementary F: Scales of pieces programmed, two octaves HS; Cadences of pieces programmed: I-V-I and inversions HT
- Intermediate A: Scales of pieces programmed, two or more octaves HT MM 60 to the quarter (play as eighth notes); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I root position HS
- Intermediate B: Scales of pieces programmed, two or more octaves HT MM 72 to the quarter (play as eighth notes); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I root position and 1st Inversion HT
- Intermediate C: Scales of pieces programmed, three octaves, HS MM 60 to the quarter (play as triplets); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I and inversions HS
- Intermediate D: Scales of pieces programmed, three octaves, HT MM 60 to the quarter (play as triplets); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I and inversions HT
- Intermediate E: Scales of pieces programmed, three octaves, HT MM 72 to the quarter (play as triplets); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V (V7)-I and inversions HT
- Intermediate F: Scales of pieces programmed, three octaves, HT MM 80 to the quarter (play as triplets); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I root position HS
- Prep A: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HS MM 72 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I root position HT
- Prep B: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HT MM 80 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I and inversions HA
- Prep C: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HT MM 92 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I and inversions HT
- Prep D: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HT MM 100 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I and inversions HT
- College A B C D: Scales of pieces programmed, four octaves, HT MM 112 to the quarter (play as sixteenths); Cadences of pieces programmed: I-IV-I-V-V7-I and inversions HT