Maryland Music Educators Association Young Composers Project The MMEA Young Composers Project has been created to provide Maryland s developing student composers with professional level review and evaluation. Recognizing outstanding student compositions will support the efforts of Maryland music educators in incorporating the National Standards for Music Education and the Maryland Essential Learner Outcomes for Music in their classrooms. This professional recognition will provide a showcase for the composition talents of young Maryland musicians. Eligibility: Open to students in grades 1-12. NO ENTRY FEE REQUIRED. Submission Requirements: Applicants must attend a Maryland school. Compositions may not exceed six (6) minutes. Compositions may be for a solo instrument or voice, or for an ensemble of instruments and/or voices. Entries must be playable by student ensembles. or All entries must include a full score, a recorded performance (CD audiocassette tape) and program notes including a reflection. Submissions without recordings will not be considered. Winning compositions will be posted on the MMEA website. Therefore, all submissions must in one of the following files and smaller than 10MB:.WMA,.WMV,.MP3,.MP4,.MOV,.FLV or.swf. All compositions must have a title, opus number, and all names must be omitted from the score and CD so all submissions may be judged anonymously. Scores may be submitted in printed copies using a standard notation program, such as Sibelius or Finale, a screen shot of the tracks, or hand-written notation. MIDI audio recordings are permitted, but please do not submit data files.
All measures must be numbered in the score. GUIDELINES 2 Although all rights, including copyrighting, remain with the composer, all submissions become the property of MMEA. No materials will be returned to students. Therefore, make a copy of the materials prior to submitting them. All entries must be postmarked by May 1, 2014. Elementary/Middle School submissions may be composed by individuals OR a class of students. Evaluation Criteria: 1. Originality: Demonstrates a personal/unique style showing creativity (30 pts.). 2. Compositional Technique: Must have identifiable form, structure, and development. Correct usage of musical notation and score markings (30 pts.) 3. Compositional maturity: Knowledge of medium, effective use of instruments/voices, and look of professionalism in score and recording (30 pts.). 4. Overall Appeal: Must be innovative, imaginative, and enjoyable (10 pts.). 5. All composers will receive a written evaluation of their work. For detailed evaluation criteria, visit our website at http://composition.mmea-maryland.org. Judges: Two panels of judges, one for submissions by elementary and middle school students and one for high school students will evaluate entries. The panels may include qualified university composition faculty, members of the music industry, composers, and music educators. Their decisions will be final. MMEA reserves the right to withhold awards in the event that no entry is judged worthy.
GUIDELINES 3 Winning Entries: 1. First, second, third place and honorable mention awards may be given for each administrative level. 2. Winning compositions will be presented at the annual MMEA Fall Inservice meeting in October 2014. 3. Software prizes will be awarded. Awards for elementary and middle winners will be awarded to the winners' schools. Prizes for high school winners will be given to the students. 4. Winners will be notified by May 15, 2014. Suggestions for Students and Teachers: 1. Remember that the submission must be playable by student ensembles. 2. Remember, neatness counts! An excellent piece will lose credibility if the score is sloppy or shows careless errors. 3. Consider all aspects of a good piece when writing: dynamics, articulation, variety of melodic and harmonic ideas, orchestration and timbre, etc. 4. Above all, this piece should be personal and meaningful to the composers. You must consider creative ideas above anything else combined with musical knowledge.
2013-14 MMEA Young Composer s Application Forms Please send completed form, score, and recording by May 1, 2014 to: 2013-14 MMEA Young Composers Project c/o Richard Disharoon MMEA Office 791 Aquahar t Rd., #117 Glen Burnie, MD 21061 INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSION NAME BIRTH DATE / / Grade ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE TELEPHONE ( ) PARENT/ GUARDIAN EMAIL SCHOOL SCHOOL ADDRESS TITLE OF COMPOSITION MUSIC TEACHER PHONE EMAIL APPLICATION 2 I certify that this musical composition is the original work of the student
and has not been published or been a winning entry in another competition. We understand that all rights, including copyrights, are retained by the composer and that MMEA will retain all materials. SIGNATURE OF COMPOSER The Maryland Music Educators Association or its designee has my permission to photography, film, or videotape my child at the MMEA In-service Meeting. Please check: Yes No The Maryland Music Educators Association or its designee has my permission to post my composition on the MMEA website. Please check: Yes No Media releases will be provided for all performers of my composition. Please check: Yes No SIGNATURE OF PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE OF MUSIC TEACHER CLASS SUBMISSION CLASS NAME (ex. Mrs. Smith s 4th grade) SCHOOL SCHOOL ADDRESS TITLE OF COMPOSITION MUSIC TEACHER PHONE EMAIL
APPLICATION 3 CLASSROOM TEACHER PHONE EMAIL I/we certify that this musical composition is the original work of students and has not been published or been a winning entry in another competition. We understand that all rights, including copyrights, are retained by the music teacher or classroom teacher and that MMEA will retain all materials. For class submissions, the teacher is requested to secure permission from the parent/ guardian of every child for MMEA to photograph, film or videotape their child at the MMEA Conference. Submissions checklist: Completed and signed application form. Description of work and program notes on separate paper. An audio file, either live recording or midi, on CD format. Write ONLY the title of the work on the CD, no name or any personal information. Computer generated score of piece, preferably Finale or Sibelius. My submission is smaller than 10 MB and is one of the following files: WMA,.WMV,.MP3,.MP4,.MOV,.FLV or.swf.