• Non-Student Affiliate event; also open to non-LMTA teachers ($35 extra fee)

• Encourages students to praise God with their skill at any level

• Helps prepare students to play for church services, weddings, or Sunday School classes or accompany soloists, choirs, and congregations (when the music must flow!)

• It is NOT a competition; ratings on the critique sheet are Superior, Excellent, Good, or Fair

• Students may use music or may give a copy (opt.) to judge: they’re considered more on what is heard; music choices must be new each year

• Teachers monitor or provide a monitor for their students; fill out certificates before the festival which may be presented to their students at the festival or later; no other personal awards may be presented at the festival

 

​​

LEVELS: Choose music that fits within the allotted time for that level.

 

BEGINNER-ELEMENTARY (5 MINUTES MAX)

level I (pre-note reading): 2 hymns (from any simplified hymn book)

level II (note reading; melody only): 2 hymns (from any simplified hymn book)

level III (melody with harmony): 2 hymns (from any simplified hymn book)

 

 

LATE ELEMENTARY-EARLY INTERMEDIATE (5 MINUTES MAX)

level IV: 2 hymns (from hymnal with introductions),

level V: 1 hymn (from hymnal with introduction) & choose one option:

• opt. 1- repeat verse of the hymn with embellishment or improvisation

• opt. 2- A non-secular piece suitable for a prelude, postlude, or offertory (maybe a duet played with the teacher)

• opt. 3 -hymn arrangement

 

 

INTERMEDIATE (10 MINUTES MAX)

level VI: 3 hymns (from hymnal with introductions)

level VII: 1 hymn (from hymnal with introduction) & 2 pieces using any combination of the following options:

• opt. 1- repeat verse of the hymn with embellishment or improvisation

• opt. 2 - non-secular piece suitable for a prelude, postlude, or offertory (maybe a duet played with the teacher)

• opt. 3- hymn or praise and worship arrangement from a lead sheet (melody must be heard over chords/accompaniment on the other hand)

• opt. 4- hymn arrangement

 

 

INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED (15 MINUTES MAX)

level VIII*: 4 pieces; choose one option (only opt. 4 & 5 may be combined)*:

• opt. 1- themed worship service: Patriotic, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, traditional chorales, etc.

• opt. 2- non-secular duets played with a teacher or other suitable piano partner (maybe another festival student)

• opt. 3- wedding: 2 prelude pieces, 1 processional, 1 recessional

• opt. 4- worship mix: 1 choral/solo accompaniment (may sing with it), 1 traditional hymn, 1 worship arrangement, 1 lead sheet

• opt. 5- hymns and/or praise and worship arrangements from lead sheets or other arrangers (melody must be heard over chords/accompaniment in the other hand)

 

*The committee is open to other options, but they must be approved before the festival

​

 

Some ideas for hymn collections (arrangements):

 

PreTime Hymns, Primer, PlayTime Hymns Level 1,

ShowTime Hymns, Level 2A, ChordTime Hymns, Level 2A,  FunTime Hymns, Level 3A-3B,

BigTime Hymns, Level 4, AdvanceTime Hymns, Level 5 - Faber

 

Piano Hymn Book, Level 1A, 1B etc. - Alfred

My Favorite Baptist Hymns, Level 1A, 2, 3 - FJH

Popular Hymns, Primer, Level 1, 2, 3 etc. - Bastien

Play Praise Book 1, 2, 3 – Alfred

Awesome God – Keveran, Hal Leonard

Keys for God’s Kids – Word Music

Classic Praise and Worship – Hal Leonard

Contemporary Worship Favorites, Timeless Praise, Worship with a Touch of Jazz (many more),

Worship Songs for Two, Hymn Duets, Sacred Christmas Duets – Keveran, Hal Leonard