“Festivals are designed for all members of the National Federation of Music Clubs.  The Festival is not a competitive event but an opportunity to perform and receive evaluation.  The rules are set by the National Federation of Music Clubs.” (NFMC Federation Festival Bulletin, ii)

Rules & Regulations

• Review the National Festival Bulletin and added bulletin updates for all required pieces, rules, and regulations. 

• It is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that their student has complied with all of National’s requirements.

• Entrants must be age 5 or older by the festival date.

• A student may enter up to 3 events (but not more).

• Instrumental students are encouraged to warm up with a scale and cadence. 

• Non-piano instrumentalists are allowed to use music upon the teacher’s request.

• If you need further clarification of the rules, contact your area chairman.

 

Registration for the Junior and Senior Festivals

In order to participate in the Festivals, student registrations are due by JANUARY 15th through Vivace. Total Fees are due upon receipt of your invoice. Make total payment online or make one check payable to NJ Federation of Music Club, Inc. and send it to our NJ State treasurer: Christina Hansen (See membership directory for for address.).

Please note, student registrations received after January 15th are subject to a $75 late fee. There is a $20 change fee for any schedule changes.

• Every student participating in the Festivals must be registered.

• There is an additional $1 per student fee required by National for studios with more than 20 students

• Please note: in the case of duets or other ensembles, each performer must pay the fee if they are being judged and awarded points towards gold cups and trophies.  However, if a performer is only there as a “helper” and is not being evaluated, then there is no fee.

• If your student is Gold Cup eligible, indicate which number cup they are expecting (i.e.: 1st, 2nd, etc.)

• If your student has fulfilled the NJ Trophy requirements, place a check in the appropriate column. 

• Your Center Head will contact you with your students’ scheduled audition times and dates.

 

Rating Sheets

• Once your students are registered through Vivace, you will be able to print out the filled out rating sheets. Refer to the "Teachers Guide".

• Red Check students: “Red Check” students are those who have serious learning difficulties or other issues with regards to the event they are entered in for their instrument.  For example, memorizing may be painfully difficult, or there is a serious issue with hands together coordination, or rhythm is a concept they can’t quite grasp, etc. In the case of these students, a red check is discreetly placed in the corner of the judges’ sheet to alert the judges to the special needs of these students. The student is unaware of this designation.

 

Day of festival - Teachers please read.

Please note:  All children at the Festivals must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  All children are the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.  No child may be left unattended in the waiting room or judges’ room.  This includes the children of teachers/judges.

• Please note that it is a membership requirement that all teachers with students participating in the Festivals donate their services for one day as a judge. If you cannot judge, there is a waiver fee of $250.00 for non-participation.  This covers the cost of hiring an outside judge.

• You need not judge at the same festival site and/or date where your students will be participating. 

• During the registration period, all members will be sent a link to a webform where you can choose the location and date that you wish to judge. 

• Please review the Festival Judging Guidelines prior to your judging assignment.

• Lunch will be provided at all festival sites for all festival workers.

• Judges are instructed not to discuss their comments and to refer all concerns to the center head.

• At no time should a teacher address a judge in regard to his/her rating of a particular student.

• If you do have a concern, consult with your center head.

• Your professionalism in all these matters is appreciated.

Day of Festival - Students

• Your students should arrive at the registration table ten minutes prior to their scheduled audition time.
• Students will need to supply the judges with a completed Rating Sheet (see above).
• Students are to give the judges the original scores of the music they will perform.  PHOTOCOPIED MUSIC IS ILLEGAL and students will be disqualified if they do not have the original music with them.  (In the case of out-of-print music, a note from the publisher is required.)  Online purchased music is permissible but must show a purchased license to print.  Digital copies on a tablet or phone will not be accepted.
• No grades will be given out the day of the Festival.
• The completed rating sheets and participation certificates will be mailed to the teachers following the Festival.
• Parents/guardians will not be allowed in the auditions area.  Each site will have a waiting area for the parents.
• All student participants in the Festival must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  Student participants are the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.  Children may not be left unattended in the waiting room.

Festival Generated Awards

1. Superior Certificates: 

   • This certificate is awarded to every student who receives a superior in any event. (Note: it is not the same as the participation certificate.)

   • These certificates may be picked up by the teacher at any Festival site, or at the Gold Cup concert.

2. Gold Cups: The Gold Cup Plan is described in detail in the Festival Bulletin, available through the NFMC website (nfmc-music.org).  The following is a summary:

   • This is an incentive program sponsored by the National Federation of Music Clubs in which students are awarded a Gold Cup upon the accumulation of 15 points and multiples thereof in an individual event.  

   • The ratings the students receive in the festival are given points as follows:

Superior = 5 points

Excellent = 4 points

Satisfactory = 3 points

Fair = 2 points

Needs Improvement = 1 point     

• Points in any event are not combined with points from another event (i.e. – A student performing solos and duets receives 5 points for solos and 5 points for duets, not a combination of 10 points).

• In the 9th grade and above, Junior III and Senior Piano Concerto points can be combined with Piano Solo points for faster progress. The solo level MUST be Difficult I or above.  See the National Festivals Bulletin for complete details.

• The Gold Cup size increases with the point totals. 

1st Gold Cup = 15 points

2nd Gold Cup = 30 points 

3rd Gold Cup = 45 points 

4th Gold Cup = 60 points

Grand Cup (5th Gold Cup) = 75 points

President’s Cup (6th Gold Cup) = 90 points

The New Jersey Trophy

• This trophy is a special award for the purpose of encouraging students to play multiple events.

• There are two different ways to earn the NJ trophy:

  1. The NJ Trophy can be earned in 1 year by playing 3 separate events (e.g., piano solo, concerto, duet)

  2. The NJ Trophy can be earned in a 2 year period by playing 2 events for 2 consecutive years

Gold Cup Concert

• The Gold Cup concert is open to students receiving their 2nd Gold Cup or higher.

• Students receiving their 1st Gold Cups are not eligible to perform unless they are age 15 or older on the day of the concert.
  

• The location and date will be listed in the NJFMC calendar. 

• Email the Gold Cup Chair by April 10th if your student wishes to participate.

• Students perform by memory with the exception of ensembles, which may use music. 

• Important: please check on the availability of a second piano at the concert venue before planning to play a concerto.

Please plan to attend and encourage your students to attend as well.  It is a wonderful opportunity to hear our young musicians.