NMMEA District VII Choral Music Performance Assessment and Festival Standards, Policies, and Procedures

Revised Spring 2016

Philosophy of Festivals District VII Festivals are held for educational purposes only and all NMMEA District VII schools are encouraged to participate in the Music Performance Assessment & Festivals and Solo and Ensemble Festivals. Since the District is composed of many types of schools representing varying demographics and educational philosophies, the following general points will be followed:

1. Individuals and groups of all ability levels should feel that participation in a district festival is worthwhile.

2. Festivals are not to be competitive; each group is adjudicated on its own merit.

3. Pursuit of musical excellence should be of paramount importance.

NAfME PolicyAll directors must be current members of NAfME: National Association for Music Education (formerly known as MENC). Please visit www.nafme.org for more information.

MPAF ParticipationNMPED expects that all NMMEA District VII middle and high school choral programs will prepare for and participate in their respective Music Performance Assessment & Festivals.

MPAF Eligibility1) New Mexico Activity Association eligibility guidelines do not apply to NMMEA

District VII’s MPAF. Co-curricular activities are activities that are an extension of classroom instruction which are required by law (fine arts graduation requirement in local board policy). Classroom instruction should require no more than 20 hours per month for a student outside of the regularly scheduled instructional day for practice, meeting, events, or performances. Co-curricular activities are required as part of the course work if a student is to receive credit for the course. Co-curricular activities require that students are not absent from class other than the sponsoring class for practice, meetings, events or performances. GPA and attendance requirements do not apply to co-curricular activities. (i.e. Music Performance Assessment & Festival, Solo & Ensemble Festival, District Honor Choir, etc.)

2) The number of groups from individual schools that may participate in the Music Performance Assessment & Festivals will be set by the vice president at the fall section meeting. A section may choose to have an additional festival to accommodate additional middle and high school groups if there is a large number of groups who wish to perform at a festival.

MPAF ComponentsBoth an on-stage performance featuring a clinic (clinic is optional) with an adjudicator and sight-singing are mandatory components of the Music Performance Assessment and Festival (MPAF).

MPAF Format A) 10 minute check-in and escort to warm-up room

(singers already in performance attire) B) 20 minute warm-up and travel timeC) 20 minute performance time and on-stage clinic allotment (clinic is optional)D) 15 minute travel and sight-singing adjudication E) 15 minute photo opportunity

80 minutes total

MPAF Adjudicator’s FormsIt is the director’s responsibility to download and complete these forms and present them at check in. You may download them from the following website

http://www.nmmea.com/districts/albuquerque/adjudication-forms/

A) Three (3) performance adjudication forms are required for the performance adjudicators. This form was revised the summer of 2012.

B) One (1) sight-singing adjudication form is required for the sight-singing adjudicator. This form was revised the summer of 2012.

C) Four (4) ensemble information forms are required, one for each adjudicator. This form was revised the summer of 2012.

MPAF Registration Fees/SchedulingA) Registration Amount: $125 per ensemble. Payments are to be delivered by mail or

in person to the NMMEA District VII Treasurer by 8 p.m. of the published deadline. Acceptable payment forms include check or purchase order. Cash is not an acceptable form of payment. Fees to participate in the District Music Performance Assessment and Festival are set by the individual sections (Band, Choir, and Orchestra). All participating schools, regardless of district affiliation, are responsible for paying registration fees.

B) All fees should be paid with one check or purchase order made out to NMMEA District VII. No cash will be accepted. Receipts will be issued by the secretary/treasurer via e-mail. If your school requires an invoice, please email a request to the treasurer.

C) Fees will be established at the annual District VII spring meeting and published in the fees page of this handbook.

D) It is the responsibility of each director to complete the appropriate online forms before the established deadline. The online forms mentioned above can be found at: http://www.nmmea.com/albdistrict/albforms.htmRegistration

E) Deadline: Ensembles that do not register and pay by the deadline listed on the NMMEA District VII calendar that is published each fall will not be included in activities. The registration for MPAF is an online form.

F) Repertoire/Ensemble Information, an online form, will be due to the Choral Vice President by the date published in the NMMEA District VII calendar. This is not due at fall’s registration. The only information needed at this time is the following:

1. Ensemble’s Name2. Ensemble’s STARS Code (ask your site registrar)3. Director’s Name4. Director’s Teacher License Number5. Ensemble’s Classification:

a. Advanced/Varsityb. Intermediate/Non-Varsityc. Small Independent High School/Beginning High Schoold. Middle School: Semester/Year-Long

6. Repertoire titles 7. Composers/Arrangers 8. Publishers9. Preferred days and times for each ensemble participating in the MPAF.

An ensemble’s information that is received after the published deadline jeopardizes its scheduling requests and/or being included in the festival program.

G) All ensemble and scheduling requests or concerns (i.e. accompanists, spacing, etc.) must be addressed with the Choral Vice Presidents no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled event. No schedule changes will be permitted after that time.

H) Middle school ensembles are encouraged to request morning times.

I) High School ensembles are encouraged to request afternoon, after school, or the ensemble’s class time.

J) LATE FEE’s will be assessed to all ensembles that fail to register by the registration date set by the Choral Vice Presidents. Directors that wish to avoid the late fees must ensure that they communicate with the NMMEA District VII treasurer and the Choral Vice Presidents and explain their delay.

MPAF Rules

A) All groups that attend will receive a score. Comments only are not permitted.

B) Publishing status is by director’s choice: published or non-published.

C) Memorization for the ensemble’s performance is mandatory.

D) The division rating will be lowered by one level if a choir’s music is not memorized.

E) Except for student accompanists, there should not be any student on stage with music.

F) Music selections must not be repeated within a three (3) year interval.

G) It shall be the duty of the Choral Secretary (appointed by the Choral Vice President) to keep a list of the performed music selections. The Choral Vice President should send that list to the Secretary at the completion of the festival.

H) It shall be the responsibility of each director to comply with this rule.

I) Photocopies of music are not to be given to the judges. Written permission from the publisher or documentation of music on order must be supplied to the vice president upon checking in at the festival. If the vice president is absent, please give documentation to the site chair.

J) Unpublished music can be used with the written permission of the composer.

K) Ensembles that bring only photocopied music without the documentation found in letters “I” and “J” will not be allowed to perform.

L) All scores must have numbered measures. Music that is not numbered will result in the ensemble having their division rating lowered by ten points.

M) Choirs will not be permitted to perform without the choral director under the employ of their respective school. Student teachers are allowed to conduct. Should there be a last minute change, please contact the Choral Vice President.

N) School ensembles must be seated together. Chaperone guidelines of 1 chaperone for every 10 middle school students must be followed. Chaperone guidelines of 1 chaperone for every 15 high school students must be followed. The chaperones must sit amongst the students in their ensemble(s).

O) Unruly ensembles will be removed immediately. The Choral Vice President and/or an adjudicator can make this determination. If this happens, the ensemble will have their division rating lowered by one rating level.

P) Directors are expected to adhere to scheduled performance times as established by the section vice presidents. Schedule permitting, your ensemble may still be able to perform.

Q) Rating sheets will be released to the director of a participating group only after the adjudication sheets have been checked for completeness and the ratings have been recorded on the festival master list.

R) Ratings are not to be shared with students at the festival site.

S) Directors are responsible for arranging transportation for students, adult chaperones, and all necessary equipment to and from the festival.

T) Recorded accompaniment is permissible only when specified in the score.

U) The quality of accompaniment may be considered by the adjudicators and can affect the overall rating of the performance.

V) Directors are allowed to accompany their ensembles.

W) If an error or omission that affects an ensemble’s score, such as not numbering measures in a score, is made by the choral director that is not noticed by the judges or the Choral VP before the scores are returned to the director, then the published score stands. 

MPAF RatingsEnsembles will be rated in five divisions as follows:

Division I Division II Division III Division IV Division VSuperior Excellent Good Fair Poor 95-100 85 – 94 75 – 84 65 – 74 64 & Below

MPAF composite performance ratings will be determined by the average of the three (3) POINT scores, not the Roman numerals.  

Note: No ensembles may perform for comments only.

Adjudicator Information4 Adjudicators: 3 performance adjudicators and 1 sight-singing adjudicator. In extreme cases, only three judges may be used if NMMEA District VII’s budget is limited.

Ensemble Classifications1) An advanced/varsity ensemble is an ensemble where 60% of the students have

been in choir for at least two prior years in grades 9-12.

2) An intermediate/non-varsity ensemble is an ensemble where 51% of the students have been in choir at least one prior year in grades 9-12.

3) A beginning ensemble is an ensemble where 50% or more of the students have been in choir less than one year in grades 9-12.

4) For MPAF purposes, middle school choirs are considered beginning ensembles.

5) Middle school directors should indicate whether their ensemble is a semester or year-long course.

6) Small independent high school ensembles come from independent schools with a high school enrollment of 500 students or less. Small independent high school ensembles will follow their Repertoire Classification listed below and choose the appropriate sight-singing level (beginning high school, intermediate treble, or intermediate mixed).

7) Only students who are officially registered for the performing choral ensemble are allowed to participate. The only exception is student accompanists

Repertoire Standards and Rules 1) Time Limit and Number of Pieces

All performing ensembles: a. Three selections of contrasting style. b. Advanced/varsity and intermediate/non varsity high school ensembles

may choose to perform up to 20 minutes worth of movements found in a larger, complete work (such as a mass).

c. If an ensemble does not use all 20 minutes, the remainder of their allotted time will be used with the optional adjudicator(s) in clinic.

d. Ensembles will be stopped at the 20-minute mark.2) A cappella piece is recommended but not required.

An a cappella selection is required for the NMAA State Choir competition.

3) All vocal parts must be performed in the edition the ensemble is performing. Re-voicing of vocal parts is allowed as long as all parts are sung.

4) The accompanist is not to double vocal lines unless the vocal parts are written in the actual accompaniment. Note: parts written for rehearsal purposes only are not to be played during the performance.

5) If instruments other than piano are scored, it is recommended that they are included in the performance. However, this is not a requirement.

6) A choir may not perform two selections by the same composer in any given festival whether or not the music is chosen from the Prescribed Music List. The exception would be performing movements from a larger, complete work.

7) The text must be sung in the language of the title as listed in the PML catalogue unless otherwise noted in the catalogue.

8) Foreign Language Requirement: Recommended but not required. A foreign language selection may be required for the NMAA State Choir competition.

9) Substitution of Other Editions Rule: Any unabridged edition by a current copyright holder of a selection appearing in the Prescribed Music List may be substituted. The director of the performing organization shall be responsible for providing verification that the substitute edition is unabridged.

10) Recorded accompaniment is permissible only when specified in the score.

11) The quality of accompaniment may be considered by the adjudicators and can affect the overall rating of the performance.

Repertoire Classifications:Directors may choose any appropriate literature for MPAF. Please note that popular music, pieces from musicals, and spoken word pieces are not appropriate literature for MPAF. If you would like to ensure your literature is appropriate please submit it to the Choral Section Vice President for examination no later than 30 days prior to the registration deadline.

Sight-Singing Standards and Procedures

Sight-Singing ExamplesSample exercises of the sight‐singing material will be e‐mailed to District VII choral directors so that the format can become familiar. These, of course, will not be the same exercises as would be found at the festival. These exercises will be e-mailed to the directors by October 15th. It is each director’s responsibility to confirm they are on the current e-mail list.

Sight-Singing Format

15 minutes is scheduled for sight-singing:

A) 5 minutes travel time from performance stage to sight-singing roomB) 8 minutes in sight-singing roomC) 2 minutes to exit

Sight-Singing Procedures

A) Sight-singing music will be on the chairs when the students enter.

B) There will be a piano, music stand, and sight-singing music prepared for the director.

C) The adjudicator will choose one exercise to be used for all components of the sight-singing adjudication. It is the director’s responsibility to make sure the adjudicator chooses an exercise from the appropriate level. Make sure your Ensemble Information Sheet clearly states at what level (beginning, intermediate, advanced) the performing ensemble chooses to read.

D) The director has up to 1 minute to introduce the exercise. *

E) The ensemble will then clap and count the chosen exercise for the adjudicator. (33% of evaluation)

F) Next, the ensemble and director have up to 2 minutes to discuss the exercise.*

G) The ensemble will chant in rhythm using Solfege, Numbers, or Neutral Syllable the chosen exercise. (not adjudicated)

H) The ensemble will sing the exercise using Solfege, Numbers, or Neutral Syllable. (67% of evaluation)

I) The adjudicator can provide verbal comments, if he/she wishes.

* Discussion Procedures for Sight-Singing:

1) The teacher is allowed to establish the key of the music by playing the scale, arpeggio, and starting pitch(es) both before the chanting section and the singing section.

2) During the chanting and singing rehearsals, the director may give instruction, i.e. bring attention to certain rhythmic patterns, call out intervals by name, number, syllable, etc., but may not sing the intervals. Directors may not sing or clap the exercise.

3) Curwen/Kodaly hand signs may be used with ensembles during the practice session. Singing or clapping by the director is not allowed.

4) During the chanting and singing performances, the teacher may only establish the key (as previously described) and conduct.

Scoring of Sight-SingingA) 33% of the ensemble’s score will be based on rhythmic accuracy during the

clapping portion of the adjudication

B) 67% of the ensemble’s score will be based on both rhythmic accuracy (33.5%) and pitch accuracy (33.5%) during the singing portion of the adjudication.

Sight-Singing Expectation According to Level

1) Middle School Semester Long:Length: 1 melody 8 bars long Acceptable Keys: C, F, and G majorsClefs: Treble Clef OnlyNumber of Exercises of Sight-Singing: 1Time Signatures: Common TimeStarting and Ending Pitches: TonicAcceptable Intervals: Step-wise motion, no skipsAcceptable Note Values: Whole, Half, and QuarterAcceptable Rest Values: Quarter rest

2) Middle School Year Long:Length: 1 melody 8 bars longAcceptable Keys: C, F, and G majorsClefs: Treble and Bass Clef in UnisonNumber of Exercises of Sight-Singing: 1Time Signatures: Common TimeStarting and Ending Pitches: TonicAcceptable Intervals: Step-wise motion, skips of a third within the tonic triadAcceptable Note Values: Whole, Half, Quarter, Double (beamed) eighth notesAcceptable Rest Values: Whole, Half, and Quarter

3) Beginning High School Choral Ensemble: Length: 1 melody 8 bars longAcceptable Keys: C, F, and G majors Clefs: Unison Treble and Bass Clefs in UnisonNumber of Exercises of Sight-Singing: 1Time Signatures: Common Time and 3/4

Starting and Ending Pitches: TonicAcceptable Intervals: Step-wise motion, skips within the tonic triadAcceptable Note Values: Whole, Half, Dotted Quarter, Quarter and Eighth NotesAcceptable Rest Values: Whole, Half, and Dotted Quarter, Quarter, and Eighth Rests

4) Intermediate Treble High School Choral Ensemble: will sing an exercise that is two parts (SA).

Length: 1 melody 8 bars longAcceptable Keys: C, F, and G majors Clefs: TrebleNumber of Exercises of Sight-Singing: 1Time Signatures: Common Time and 3/4Starting and Ending Pitches: TonicAcceptable Intervals: Step-wise motion, skips within the tonic triadAcceptable Note Values: Whole, Half, Dotted Quarter, Quarter and Eighth NotesAcceptable Rest Values: Whole, Half, and Dotted Quarter, Quarter, and Eighth Rests

5) Intermediate/Non-Varsity High School Mixed Voice Ensemble: Three lines (SAB) will be performed. SAB sight-singing will be required of ensembles that are performing 2/3 of their repertoire pieces written as SAB.

Acceptable Keys: C, F, G, D, and B-Flat majors without modulationClefs: Treble and Bass (Treble, Treble, Bass for SAB)Length: 8 barsNumber of Exercises of Sight-Singing: 1Time Signatures: Common, ¾Starting Pitch: Tonic Ending Pitch: TonicAcceptable Intervals: Step-wise motion, skips within the tonic triadAcceptable Note Values: Whole, Half, Dotted Quarter, Quarter and Eighth NotesAcceptable Rest Values: Whole, Half, and Dotted Quarter, Quarter, and Eighth Rests

6) Advanced High School Treble Choir: will sing an exercise that is two parts (SA) that exhibit interesting interval jumps along with more challenging rhythmic passages.

Acceptable Keys: C, F, G, D, B-Flat, A, and E-Flat Majors without modulationClefs: Treble Clef Only (though in multi-parts)Length: 8 barsNumber of Exercises of Sight-Singing: 1Time Signatures: Common, ¾, and 6/8Starting Pitch: Tonic or DominantEnding Pitch: TonicAcceptable Intervals: Step-wise motion, skips within the tonic triad, major and minor thirds, Perfect Fourths, and Perfect Fifths within the tonic arpeggio.Acceptable Note Values: Whole, Dotted Half, Half, Dotted Quarter, Quarter, and Eighth NotesAcceptable Rest Values: Whole, Dotted Half, Half, Dotted Quarter, Quarter, and Eighth Rests

7) Advanced/Varsity High School Mixed Voice Ensemble: Minimum of three lines (SAB) or a maximum of four lines (SATB) will be performed. SAB sight-singing will be required of ensembles that are performing 2/3 of their repertoire pieces written for SAB. SATB sight-singing will be required by ensembles that are performing at least 2/3 of their repertoire pieces written for SATB.

Acceptable Keys: C, F, G, D, B-Flat, A, and E-Flat Majors without modulationClefs: Treble and Bass (Treble, Treble, Treble, Bass for SATB)Length: 8 barsNumber of Exercises of Sight-Singing: 1Time Signatures: Common, ¾, and 6/8Starting Pitch: Tonic or DominantEnding Pitch: TonicAcceptable Intervals: Step-wise motion, skips within the tonic triad, major and minor thirds, Perfect Fourths, and Perfect Fifths within the tonic arpeggio.Acceptable Note Values: Whole, Dotted Half, Half, Dotted Quarter, Quarter, and Eighth NotesAcceptable Rest Values: Whole, Dotted Half, Half, Dotted Quarter, Quarter, and Eighth Rests

The Advanced Ensembles’ (Treble and Mixed Voices) exercises will be composed in such a manner that each line could be performed independently and in any combination. Each line could be its own melody. When performed for the adjudicator, the multiple parts will create harmony. The texture for these multi-part exercises will be homophonic.

Further Questions/Concerns

Additional information and policies of a more general nature as listed in the District VII Handbook and Constitution should be viewed online at:

http://www.nmmea.com/districts/albuquerque/official-documents/

MPAF choir-specific content may be different than that of band, orchestra, or guitar. Please refer to the choral policies.

If these documents do not answer your questions or address your concerns, please contact the Choral Vice President.

Preparation and Site Duties for Vice-President

1. Early in the school year, confirm arrangements for the festival site and adjudicators. Be sure to send an adjudicator agreement form to each adjudicator for his/her signature. Forward all adjudicator agreement forms to the NMMEA District VII Treasurer as soon as possible for payment processing. If adjudicators are from out of town, arrange to pick them up from the airport, etc.

2. Check with the host school or site to determine what equipment they will have available for use during the festival.

3. Send out registration reminders to directors in time to allow for return by the deadline published on the District VII Calendar of Events. Remember to include private and parochial schools - contact the district president for a list of schools. If a fee is due, remind teachers to send all fees to the secretary/treasurer.

4. Upon receipt of registration forms, develop a schedule for the festival. Do not schedule schools for events until payment or payment arrangements have been received by the secretary/treasurer.

5. Distribute schedules and cover letters explaining procedures to participating directors. Be sure to include a list of what equipment will be available at the host site, directions to the host school, and a map of the school or building where the festival will be held. Include instruction regarding the number of cassette tapes needed, and the number of music scores needed for the adjudicators.

6. One month before the festival, contact the APS Fine Arts Office to make arrangements for recording services.

7. After all registration forms have been received, confirm with the secretary/treasurer that all fees, if any, have been received, then reconfirm facilities and equipment needs with the site host. Be sure to check on:

a. number of chairs and music stands needed for the warm-up room, sight reading/clinic room

b. performance area risersc. pianosd. percussion equipment tables and lamps for adjudicators, cassettes and

recorders (with hand held microphones), if needed, for adjudicatorse. parking arrangementsf. pencils, extra paper and envelopes for the adjudicators (secretary/treasurer

can provide these items)g. extra adjudication forms availableh. day and time for site set up (registration table, performance areas, festival

headquarters, etc.) and number of signs neededi. extra light bulbs, extension cords, masking tape, back-up recorders,

batteriesj. envelopes for music scores and ratingsk. adequate parent/student help

8. Programs should be copied. The Choral Vice President will be reimbursed for this expense. Please make arrangements with the Treasurer prior to copying.

9. Oversee the management of the festival in conjunction with the site host; this includes a meeting with all of the adjudicators prior to the start of the festival to explain all rules, policies, and procedures. Work out a schedule with the other

section vice-presidents so that a vice-president is on site at all times in case an emergency arises or an executive decision is needed.

10. Make arrangements to return any music borrowed for sight-singing purposes.

11. Keep the festival on schedule.

Preparation Duties for Site Host

1. Secure permission from your administration to host the festival. Be sure to talk with those teachers who will be displaced during the festival (drama, choir, band, PE, other classes).

2. Consult with the section vice president regarding the facility and equipment needs for the festival. Be sure to provide a complete list of the equipment that will be available for use during the festival. Label any necessary equipment.

3. Provide section vice president with accurate directions to the school site and a building/room map of the festival site at least three weeks before the festival.

4. Arrange for 2-4 parents and 12-15 students to help at the festival each day. Use students to act as escorts for each participating group, aides for the adjudicators, and runners for the festival headquarters and stage set-up crew. Try to have at least one adult at the registration table at all times and one adult who is in charge of receiving completed adjudication forms, recording them on a festival master list, and preparing the packets for the school director to pick up.

5. Adjudicators receive a $30 per diem which covers breakfast and dinner. Adjudicators from out of town are allotted up to three nights’ hotel expenses at a hotel with reasonable rates.

6. Budget:Adjudicator Honorariums: $250 x 4 judges x 2 days = $2,000Travel (Mileage/Airfare):  $750Out of Town Adjudicator Per Diem: $130, maximum of 3 days, covers breakfast and dinner. Sight-Singing Material Composition and Reproduction Services: $300 (includes sight-singing examples for the fall)Refreshments: $35 x 2 days = $70Lunches (Adjudicators and Site Staff) $320Custodial Tunings: $470 (APS pianos can be tuned for free by APS)Bus for Hosting School's Student Workers - 1 Day ONLY:  $250 (only if located off of host school’s campus)

NOTE: The festival must pay for itself. Money earned from the photography for MPAF can be used to help support the festival. The District cannot go into debt to cover a festival. Sections (band, choir, orchestra, guitar) must cover their expenses with their section’s revenue.

Adjudicator Duties and Responsibilities

1. Adjudicators are not to accept unauthorized photocopied scores. If a director fails to provide an acceptable score or permission to photocopy, his/her ensemble will not be allowed to perform.

2. Comments, both oral and written, should be positive and constructive, and should help the students understand the rating given. Comments written in the music must be written in pencil.

3. Adjudicators will not confer with each other about ratings to be given.

4. Groups should be adjudicated on the music performed. Since this district is composed of many types of schools representing varying demographics and educational philosophies, the following general points should be considered:

◦ Individuals and groups of all ability levels should feel that participation in a district festival is worthwhile.

◦ The festival is not competitive; each group is to be adjudicated on its own merit.

◦ Pursuit of excellence in musical performance should be of paramount importance.

5. Ratings used at adjudicated festivals shall be as follows: Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor (I, II, III, IV, V). Plus and minus signs may be used. Note: Middle school ensembles may perform for comments only.

6. Directors will help the adjudicator know the level of their ensemble(s) by writing comments on the Ensemble Information Sheet for Adjudicators.

7. Adjudicators should help keep the festival on schedule.

8. Clinic/comments will be given by one or more of the adjudicators after a performance. All comments should address the music performed, no single student(s) should be singled out for negative comment or criticism.

9. Performance and sight-singing adjudicators are to follow the established procedures as described by the section vice presidents at the adjudicators meeting prior to the start of the festival.