Students pick one of two topics for their grade level (grades one through college) and write an essay designed to explore and analyze the topic in an original, engaging way. Each article is judged at the local level and then the selected articles are judged at the state level. Judges award “Winner” and “Outstanding” articles which are published in the TMTA SA Publication Contest Book.

Winners receive certificates and cash awards. After a student’s paper is judged at the local level, the paper will be sent back to the student. If it is deemed qualified to progress to the state level, the student will have an opportunity to make corrections based on the judge’s comments before being submitted. For more information, please go to the TMTA Handbook.

IA – Music of the 19th century

IB – Music for film

Grades 3 and 4: (250 – 550 words)

IIA – Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf

IIB – Music for the organ

Grades 5 and 6: (400 – 650 words)

IIIA – American protest music of the 1960s

IIIB – Beethoven

Grades 7 and 8: (500 – 750 words)

IVA – Revolutionary music

IVB – Music and mental health

Grades 9 and 10: (600 – 850 words)

VA-“Les Six”

VB – Music for video games

Grades 11 and 12: (700 – 950 words)

VIA – Lowell Lieberman

VIB – Music and/of migration

Post-12th (750 – 1050 words)

VII – Music influenced by symbolist poetry

• • • 1. Students must be enrolled in Student Affiliate before they can be entered in the TMTA SA Publication Contest.
    • 2. There is no theory requirement for this contest.
    • 3. Young Artist (Post-12) entrants are music students who are high school graduates or collegiate students who have not reached age 27 by the state entry deadline.

  General Information (please follow the guidelines carefully to avoid disqualification)

  1. Only one entry per student is allowed.

  2. Students should take care to avoid plagiarism by rephrasing information from their sources. Teachers need to explain what plagiarism is. Quotations are acceptable but should be short and clearly cite the author and source. Formal footnoting is acceptable but not required. Any essay found to be purchased for submission will mean student disqualification from the Publication Contest for the current and following two years.

  3. Articles should be written so that others of the same age can read and comprehend them.

  4. Format:
  a. All articles must be typed in a Word document and submitted electronically.

  b. Use Times New Roman font, 12-point type, double spacing, and 1” margins with no unusual formatting.
  c. No illustrations, graphics, or borders are allowed.
  d. Articles may be typed by a parent or teacher if needed
  e. The student’s name should not appear anywhere on the document.
  f. Failure to stay within the word limit will automatically disqualify the article.
  5. All articles must include a bibliography citing the sources of information used in the paper.

  a. Entries in categories I through VI must cite at least two sources in the bibliography.
  b. In an effort to promote excellence in publications, category VII entries must not cite Wikipedia as a source.
  c. Discographies may also be included.

  6. Save the Publication essay file (doc, docx, rtf, txt – PDFs will NOT BE ACCEPTED) as DIVISION then TITLE. For example: “VB-Music for video games”7. Email the following information to the Publication Chairman

  a. Student name, School grade, and Contest level

  b. Essay title and Word count

  c. Publication teacher (only if different from primary teacher)

  d. Photo of the student (jpg, jpeg, or png) saved as LAST NAME, FIRST NAME.

  e. Publication essay file (doc, docx, rtf, txt – PDFs will NOT BE ACCEPTED) saved as DIVISION then TITLE. For example: “VB-Music for video games”

  8. If it is deemed qualified to progress to the state level, the student will have an opportunity to make corrections based on the judge’s comments before being submitted to the State level.9. Final essay and fees ($20) for the State level are due January 20, 2024.Judging (Local level)
  There will be comments given by the local judge and recommendations to advance to the State level.

  Judging (State level)
  1. All articles will receive ratings of Outstanding, Excellent, or Good.
  2. A winning article may be chosen for each topic within a division.
  3. Each student will receive a rating sheet.
  4. If judges have remarks to make, they will put them on a critique page.

  Awards (State level only)
  1. Each student will receive a Winner, Outstanding, or Participation certificate.
  2. Winning and Outstanding certificates will be presented during the Publication Contest Awards Program at the TMTA Conference.
  3. Winning and Outstanding articles will be published on the TMTA website and in a book to be awarded to those students with Winning and Outstanding articles.
  4. Authors of winning articles will receive cash awards:
  Winners in Categories I and II $ 50
  Winners in Categories III and IV $ 60
  Winners in Categories V, VI and VII $ 70

• 1. Students must be enrolled in Student Affiliate before they can be entered in the TMTA SA Original Composition Contes
• 2. All students in grades 1-12 must pass an appropriate TMTA SA state-graded theory test during the current school year as stated in the “Theory” section of this Handbook under “Theory Eligibility for Other SA Activities”
• .3. Young Artist (Post-12) entrants are music students who are high school graduates or collegiate students who have not reached age 27 by the state entry deadline.
• 4. Students in grades 1-12 who win first place in any division may not enter that same division the following year. They may enter again after skipping a year, if still eligible for that division. Young Artist (Post-12) entrants who win first place in a division may not enter again in the same division. For example: A first grade student who wins first in E1-4 may not enter E1-4 again until he/she is in grade 3 or 4; a Young Artist who won solo could enter only in a different Young Artist category.
• General Information (please follow the guidelines carefully to avoid disqualification)
• 1. Entries may be composed for any medium.
• 2. Students must enter in their grade level unless the composition is co-written. Students who co-write must enter in the division of the oldest member of their group.
• 3. A student may enter only one composition in a given division.
• 4. The entire submitted composition must be the original work of the student.
• 5. Co-writers (collaborators) may enter in any category. Each collaborator pays the entry fee.
• 6. Compositions previously entered may not be reentered in any form in subsequent years.
• 7. Compositions may be in one or more movements, but the performance time for an entire work must not exceed ten minutes.
• 8. Arrangements of pieces and/or the use of themes from a piece are allowed under the following circumstances:
  a. The original composition that is being made into an arrangement or from which themes are being used must be in the public domain.
  b. The student has permission from the composer and/or publisher to use the original copyrighted composition.
  c. Students submitting a piece under either of the circumstances above are responsible for proving that the original composition falls under one of the above categories. A paragraph explaining the circumstances should be included with the submitted composition.
• 9. Manuscript Requirements:
  a. Manuscripts are to be generated with computer software. All compositions will be submitted digitally as a PDF. The PDF should be printable on 8.5 x 11 inch letter-sized paper.
  b. Accuracy in fundamentals should be checked by the teacher before the composition is submitted. Other help from the teacher is limited to the acceptable practices used in teaching the elements of composition. Final manuscripts should not be edited or revised by a teacher or judge. Corrections should be made by the student.
  c. Only one file should be submitted for each composition (solo and ensemble) and must meet the following requirements:
  i. The composition title must be centered on all pages.
  ii. The division must be in the upper right corner of all pages.
  iii. Page numbers, starting with page 2, should be placed in the upper right corner.
  iv. All measures must be numbered, either by bar or by system.
  v. The manuscript should be free of any identifying markings such as personal identification of the composer (student’s name, pen name, age, or any other personal information), copyright holder, teacher, local association, previous judges’ comments, cover sheet, or illustrations.
  vi. All files should be saved as DIVISION then TITLE. For example: “S4 Composition Title”.
  d. Poems, performance directions, or the student’s annotations are accepted.
  i. Copyrighted text must have a written statement from the copyright holder giving permission to use text.
  ii. Text that is in the public domain must have a statement signed by the student and the teacher indicating this fact.
  e. No change may be made to the manuscript after the submission deadline.
• 10. Audio File Requirements:
  a. All entries must be submitted with audio files. Only MP3 files will be accepted.
  b. The audio file must not contain any personal identification of the composer, copyright holder, teacher, or local association.
  c. All files should be saved as DIVISION then TITLE. For example: “S4 Composition Title”.
• 11. Photo file requirements
  a. Student photos should be jpg, jpeg, gif, or png files.
  b. Photos should be saved as “Last Name, First Name”.
• 12. Submit the following information to the local chair by the deadline
  • Student name, school grade and contest level
  • Theory test (Fall or Spring)
  • Composition Title
  • Composition teacher (only if different from primary teacher)
  • Photo of the student (jpg, jpeg, or png) saved as LAST NAME, FIRST NAME.
  • Composition file (PDF) saved as DIVISION then TITLE. For example: “S4 Allegro”
  • Audio file (MP3) saved as DIVISION then TITLE. For example: “S4 Allegro”
• Contest Divisions
  1. Divisions designated by S are solo compositions with one performer only. This division does not include voice/piano or instrumental/piano.
  2. Divisions E and L are ensemble compositions. For contest purposes, an ensemble is defined as any composition requiring two or more performers.
  a. Division E: Compositions requiring 10 or fewer voices and/or instruments with one performer per part. If percussion is included, one percussion performer counts as one voice or one instrument, even though that performer may be playing more than one instrument. A piano score with text will not qualify for an ensemble division. The vocal part should be notated on a separate staff if voice/piano.
  b. Division L: compositions requiring more than 10 voices and/or instruments with one performer per part.
  3. Contest divisions are as follows:
  • Division S1-3 Grades 1-3
  • Division S4 Grade 4
  • Division S5 Grade 5
  • Division S6-7 Grades 6-7
  • Division S8-9 Grades 8-9
  • Division S10-12 Grades 10-12
  • Division SP12 Post-12
  • Division E1-4 Grades 1-4
  • Division E5-8 Grades 5-8
  • Division E9-12 Grades 9-12
  • Division EP12 Post-12
  • Division L1-12 Grades 1-12
  • Division LP12 Post-12

• 7 & 8th Grade
• 9 & 10th Grade
• 11 & 12th Grade
• Young Artist

Concerto Division

• 9 & 10th Grade
• 11 & 12th Grade
• Young Artist

OPTION 1 (preferred): Send payments via Zelle to fmteftreasurer@gmail.com. Add a message to the transfer with the memo “HFYAC enrollment for #__ students.”

OPTION 2: Mail your registration check to the chair. Your payment must be postmarked no later than the deadline. Make check out to FORUM.

Registration will be limited to first 165 entries.

Contact the coordinator to receive your individual registration form.

Completed registration forms are due by April 7, 2024. No changes or new forms will be accepted beyond that date.

Checks must be mailed to the competition coordinator, postmarked no later than April 7.

Late entries will not be accepted.

1. All repertoire must be memorized.
2. Students are allowed to enter in both their Junior and Senior Years even if they have been prize-winners the previous year.
3. The Judge’s decisions are final.

1. Solo Performance: Students perform individually one jazz solo work of their choice from memory.Ensemble: (4H or 6H, one piano) The one duet or trio is performed with or without music. Duet and trio partners may be of different ages and abilities.  Partners may include one adult with the exception that the adult may not be the teacher of the other partner(s).  One Fee per ensemble. Registration will require an ensemble name and the names of each partner.All participants must provide an original copy of the music with the measures numbered in PDF one-scan file electronically by February 10, 2023, to email address TBD. (Ensemble will submit one PDF copy.)Students will receive a critique and a rating, from 1 to 4 (with plus or minus scores). All students will receive a certificate with the appropriate colored ribbon sealed to it (purple for 1+, blue for 1, red for 2, white for 3, green for 4).Outside judges will be selected by the chairman and all judges’ decisions are final.

1. Solo Performance OnlyStudents will perform one jazz work of their choice from memory.All participants must provide an original copy of the music with the measures numbered in PDF one-scan file electronically by February 10, 2023, to email address TBD. (Ensemble will submit one PDF copy.)Register the student by the student’s current school grade level, with the exception of the late beginner.The late beginner: Students in grades 2, 3, and 4 only who are beginning piano students may register in a level which will be called “grade 2.5”.  To qualify as a “beginning piano student”, students may have only had a total of 8 months of lessons are less.   If the student is a transfer student, the registering teacher must count the months of lessons with the former teacher.  If the lessons add up to more than 8 months, enter the student in the student’s grade level.Competitors are grouped according to grades 1-12 grade. Kindergarten students are registered as grade one.  Chairman may group grades together or split grades into groups according to the number of students entered in each grade.Trophies will be awarded for first, second, third, and fourth place.  Honorable Mention may be a medal or a rosette ribbon.Outside judges will be selected by the chairman and all judges’ decisions are final. Ties will be strictly discouraged.