Music Composition

The science or art of arranging music by ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination or in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity.

Requirements:

  1. Mail six (6) original notarized compositions.
  2. The top of each page must include the contestant’s name, page number and unit name and number.
  3. The composition must be neatly and precisely written on music manuscript paper, in such a manner that any trained musician could perform the composition. Before submission, all electronically generated manuscripts (Finale, Sibelius, etc.) must be proofread to ensure proper quantization in the final print generated composition.
  4. The contestant must include a CD of the composition with the National Registration materials and bring a copy of the CD for the judges onsite at the Local and National competition. Competitors will not perform their composition at the competition.
  5. The composition must not exceed five (5) minutes.
  6. Students are not allowed to perform their piece.

The Contestants will be judged by the following criteria:

  • Creative sense (10)
  • Form (20)
  • Harmonic and rhythmic interest (20)
  • Strength of melodic line (20)
  • Use of theory (20)
  • Quality of transcript (10)