Exam and Competition Program
Piano Guild & MTNA Studio Festival Examinations & Auditions
Roberson School of Music is the Columbia Center of the National Guild of Piano Teachers and the Music Teachers National Association Studio Festival Program. Each year the piano students and instrumental and voice students (in Ensemble with piano) of Roberson School of Music and other teachers in the area are examined by a guild judge. The levels in Piano Guild range from Elementary A-F, Intermediate A-F, Prep (high school) A-D, High School Diploma, four Collegiate Diplomas, and finally the Artist Diploma. The standards for these levels correlate to those in an academic institution. Students receive a comprehensive report card (with 44 items to be judged), a professional certificate of achievement, and a bronze, silver or gold pin depending on the number of works played. Students may apply for the piano guild plaque by entering advanced levels.
The purpose of the MTNA Studio Festival Program is to provide the teacher and the teacher’s students with an opportunity to participate in a nationally sponsored program that is open to students of all ages and levels of advancement. The MTNA Studio Festival Program provides an incentive for practice as well as an incentive for selection of appropriately challenging repertoire. Students receive supportive critique from a credible adjudicator. The Studio Festival Program provides national recognition to individual students for participation in a nationally sponsored program. Levels range from Elementary, Intermediate and Prep (high school). The levels and repertoire standards correlate to those in an academic institution. Students receive a comprehensive report card (with 50 items to be judged), a professional certificate of achievement, and a bronze, silver or gold pin depending on the number of works played.
MSTNA Theory and Musicianship Exam
RSM provides an opportunity for students to participate in the Maryland State Music Teachers Association Theory Exam. This exam helps to prepare students for the AP Theory exam, which can be used to receive college credit. Levels begin at the prep level and progress through level 11.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in the MSTNA musicianship exam in order to develop important musical skills such as sight reading, harmonization, improvisation, transposition, scales, chords and arpeggios.
Competition Program
Students have the option to participate in various competitions throughout Howard County and surrounding areas. Some of the competitions include the National Guild of Piano Teachers (NGPT) competitions competition, MSMTA competitions, Acto-So competition and the NGPT scholarship.
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