Annual NFMC FestivalThe National Federation of Music Clubs sponsors an annual festival where students can play for a judge in a non-competitive environment.
Students receive comments and a rating. |
FESTIVAL FAQ
What is "festival" (also called "federation" by some teachers)?
The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) sponsors local events where students perform prepared music for a judge and receive a rating. Here in Ithaca one local NFMC organization is the Tompkins County Junior Music Clubs and we hold our event annually in the late winter. We colloquially refer to it as "festival".
What are the dates?
We always use an adjacent Saturday and Sunday in the early part of the year. In 2025: March 1 and 2
Is there an age requirement?
For our festival you must be 18 or younger. There are adult categories.
Does it have to be piano?
In our festival, we primarily have pianists. However, with notice we can accommodate other instruments (often there is an additional charge). Other instruments often choose the school-sponsored NYSSMA festival instead for reasons detailed below.
How many students participate in festival in the TCJMC?
In the neighborhood of 100.
What pieces do you need to learn?
Each student needs to learn and perform two pieces from memory:
Does the performer have to to play from memory (no music)?
Yes. Memorization is a requirement. Students playing from music may participate but do not receive a rating, only comments.
Is it stressful? Worth the hard work? What is the payoff?
In my experience, festival is positive for almost all students. The judges are kind, the music is fun, the festival provides motivation to work a little harder, and we take our time learning things so there is pressure, but hopefully not too much stress around being prepared. There are often other opportunities to perform the pieces in public. With each rating, a student earns points toward a trophy so there are awards. Plus, you have a piece that is fun and cool and difficult under your fingers to play whenever the occasion calls for it!
What is the actual audition experience like?
You show up at a performing venue (usually a local church) a bit before your appointed time. When the judge is ready, the performer goes in, plays their pieces, and leaves. It's usually less than 30 minutes total. The judge sits at a table 10 or 20 feet away from the piano and writes comments during and after the performance. This all takes place in a room which we can often peek into and hear, but as parents and teachers are not in the actual room, there is no audience, it's one-on-one.
How does that all get scheduled? Can I pick my time and location?
Usually each teacher in the local group gets a few blocks of time spread out over the weekend and locations and can assign freely within those. Things are flexible enough that most everyone can get near to their first choice time. Locations are a little less flexible. Please spend zero time worrying about this. I've *never* had a student who couldn't do festival because of scheduling issues with the audition.
Can I send in a video instead of going in person?
Not usually, but the group does consider exceptions for students who are unable to make the scheduled audition times.
Where does festival take place?
We usually use the sanctuaries and community rooms of local churches such as the Ithaca First Baptist Church and the Unitarian Society.
Who are the judges?
Regional pianists of high caliber with advanced degrees in music who have a reputation of being excellent judges.
Is there a fee?
Yes, this covers the money we pay to the venue, the judge, and the national organization. As of 2025 it's around $25 per performer.
Where does this all come from?
The NFMC's origins lie in the late 19th century Women's Amateur Music Clubs and the first large event took place at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It seems designed to promote American composers and reward musical study.
When do we need to decide if we're going to participate?
Usually about 5 weeks before the actual festival. Preparation usually starts *much* earlier, about 12 weeks out. It is typical for some students to choose festival pieces, work on them for a while, and then decide to not do the actual festival.
What are the levels? How does that work? Who chooses the pieces?
There are 19 levels: Pre-Primary, Primary I, II, III, IV, Elementary I, II, III, IV, Medium, Moderately Difficult I, II, III, Difficult I, II, Very Difficult I, II, and Musically Advanced I, II. Generally if you receive the highest rating you have to progress up at least one level per year. There are a few exceptions and often students will move up multiple levels from year to year, especially at the middle and high school ages. You can search "NFMC" and the level you're interested in on YouTube to hear the pieces. The pieces are chosen by a board of NFMC-appointed pianists and the list refreshes every 4 years or so with the publication of a new Bulletin. The current Bulletin is valid until 2028.
What are the ratings? How do most students fare?
The ratings are:
What do I actually hold in my hand after all this is done?
The judge will write comments and you will get that sheet of comments from your private teacher. Some teachers give participating students a certificate. Trophies and medals are awarded as well for various achievements.
What do I actually need to do to make this happen and have my child be successful?
Wow this is a lot.
On one level, yes, there are many details. But the general gist is: pick two pieces and learn them as well as you can. I do have students who choose not to participate and I know teachers who don't do this sort of thing with their students. I think it's worth it though and do encourage all my school-age students to try it out. The sense of accomplishment lasts a lifetime.
Tell me about the rewards.
Locally we offer medals for students earning three superior ratings in three consecutive years. There are trophies available each 15-points. So a small trophy is earned at 15 points, a slightly larger one at 30, then 45, and 60. A typical student earns ratings of excellent and superior for 4 years, earning ~18 points, when they get their first trophy. Of course there is the rare bird that gets consecutive superiors and a trophy each 3 years.
This seems really similar to NYSSMA.
Yes it is. In NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) festivals, students similarly learn music and perform it for a judge, receiving a rating. In my opinion, NYSSMA is less optimal for piano (mostly see #6 below). Here are some salient differences:
Can you do NYSSMA and NFMC festival? Is one better than the other?
Some students do both. You can even use some of the same music if you plan carefully. They are both excellent institutions. The rewards for pianists in NYSSMA are less appealing in my opinion, with the converse being true for voice/orchestra/band instruments.
What is "festival" (also called "federation" by some teachers)?
The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) sponsors local events where students perform prepared music for a judge and receive a rating. Here in Ithaca one local NFMC organization is the Tompkins County Junior Music Clubs and we hold our event annually in the late winter. We colloquially refer to it as "festival".
What are the dates?
We always use an adjacent Saturday and Sunday in the early part of the year. In 2025: March 1 and 2
Is there an age requirement?
For our festival you must be 18 or younger. There are adult categories.
Does it have to be piano?
In our festival, we primarily have pianists. However, with notice we can accommodate other instruments (often there is an additional charge). Other instruments often choose the school-sponsored NYSSMA festival instead for reasons detailed below.
How many students participate in festival in the TCJMC?
In the neighborhood of 100.
What pieces do you need to learn?
Each student needs to learn and perform two pieces from memory:
- The first piece is a "required" piece from the current Federation Festivals Bulletin. The Bulletin contains a curated list of pieces, grouped by difficulty into levels, all written by American composers.
- The second piece is a "choice" piece. It can generally be any piece of music by a composer who has a nationality other than American. Note: The piece also has to be commercially published, not be an arrangement, be 16 measures long, and *not* in the Bulletin. Some composers (like Rachmaninoff) have dual nationality and can be eligible for both categories.
Does the performer have to to play from memory (no music)?
Yes. Memorization is a requirement. Students playing from music may participate but do not receive a rating, only comments.
Is it stressful? Worth the hard work? What is the payoff?
In my experience, festival is positive for almost all students. The judges are kind, the music is fun, the festival provides motivation to work a little harder, and we take our time learning things so there is pressure, but hopefully not too much stress around being prepared. There are often other opportunities to perform the pieces in public. With each rating, a student earns points toward a trophy so there are awards. Plus, you have a piece that is fun and cool and difficult under your fingers to play whenever the occasion calls for it!
What is the actual audition experience like?
You show up at a performing venue (usually a local church) a bit before your appointed time. When the judge is ready, the performer goes in, plays their pieces, and leaves. It's usually less than 30 minutes total. The judge sits at a table 10 or 20 feet away from the piano and writes comments during and after the performance. This all takes place in a room which we can often peek into and hear, but as parents and teachers are not in the actual room, there is no audience, it's one-on-one.
How does that all get scheduled? Can I pick my time and location?
Usually each teacher in the local group gets a few blocks of time spread out over the weekend and locations and can assign freely within those. Things are flexible enough that most everyone can get near to their first choice time. Locations are a little less flexible. Please spend zero time worrying about this. I've *never* had a student who couldn't do festival because of scheduling issues with the audition.
Can I send in a video instead of going in person?
Not usually, but the group does consider exceptions for students who are unable to make the scheduled audition times.
Where does festival take place?
We usually use the sanctuaries and community rooms of local churches such as the Ithaca First Baptist Church and the Unitarian Society.
Who are the judges?
Regional pianists of high caliber with advanced degrees in music who have a reputation of being excellent judges.
Is there a fee?
Yes, this covers the money we pay to the venue, the judge, and the national organization. As of 2025 it's around $25 per performer.
Where does this all come from?
The NFMC's origins lie in the late 19th century Women's Amateur Music Clubs and the first large event took place at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It seems designed to promote American composers and reward musical study.
When do we need to decide if we're going to participate?
Usually about 5 weeks before the actual festival. Preparation usually starts *much* earlier, about 12 weeks out. It is typical for some students to choose festival pieces, work on them for a while, and then decide to not do the actual festival.
What are the levels? How does that work? Who chooses the pieces?
There are 19 levels: Pre-Primary, Primary I, II, III, IV, Elementary I, II, III, IV, Medium, Moderately Difficult I, II, III, Difficult I, II, Very Difficult I, II, and Musically Advanced I, II. Generally if you receive the highest rating you have to progress up at least one level per year. There are a few exceptions and often students will move up multiple levels from year to year, especially at the middle and high school ages. You can search "NFMC" and the level you're interested in on YouTube to hear the pieces. The pieces are chosen by a board of NFMC-appointed pianists and the list refreshes every 4 years or so with the publication of a new Bulletin. The current Bulletin is valid until 2028.
What are the ratings? How do most students fare?
The ratings are:
- Superior (5 points)
- Excellent (4 points)
- Satisfactory (3 points)
- Fair (2 points)
- Needs Improvement (1 point)
What do I actually hold in my hand after all this is done?
The judge will write comments and you will get that sheet of comments from your private teacher. Some teachers give participating students a certificate. Trophies and medals are awarded as well for various achievements.
What do I actually need to do to make this happen and have my child be successful?
- Keep your finger on the pulse. Know what your child is playing. Students usually begin selecting music in October/November and finalize everything in December/January.
- Sign-up: Let your teaching know that you're interested at each stage, first when music is being selected (for us: October) and then when the request to finalize goes out (for us: usually in mid January).
- Encourage daily practice and performing!
Wow this is a lot.
On one level, yes, there are many details. But the general gist is: pick two pieces and learn them as well as you can. I do have students who choose not to participate and I know teachers who don't do this sort of thing with their students. I think it's worth it though and do encourage all my school-age students to try it out. The sense of accomplishment lasts a lifetime.
Tell me about the rewards.
Locally we offer medals for students earning three superior ratings in three consecutive years. There are trophies available each 15-points. So a small trophy is earned at 15 points, a slightly larger one at 30, then 45, and 60. A typical student earns ratings of excellent and superior for 4 years, earning ~18 points, when they get their first trophy. Of course there is the rare bird that gets consecutive superiors and a trophy each 3 years.
This seems really similar to NYSSMA.
Yes it is. In NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) festivals, students similarly learn music and perform it for a judge, receiving a rating. In my opinion, NYSSMA is less optimal for piano (mostly see #6 below). Here are some salient differences:
- NYSSMA is through the schools, so you need to arrange the audition sign-up through a public school teacher.
- NYSSMA in Tompkins county is usually in early May, so much later in the season.
- NYSSMA allows you to read off of a musical score, but also requires scales and sight-reading.
- NYSSMA also uses a list of pieces grouped by difficulty, but there are only 6 levels and the nationality of the composers is not a consideration.
- NYSSMA scores are based on a much finer numerical scale. either 0-100 or 0-28 depending on level.
- NYSSMA participants on most instruments are then eligible to apply for all-state and all-county honor ensembles, but there is no such honor for pianists.
Can you do NYSSMA and NFMC festival? Is one better than the other?
Some students do both. You can even use some of the same music if you plan carefully. They are both excellent institutions. The rewards for pianists in NYSSMA are less appealing in my opinion, with the converse being true for voice/orchestra/band instruments.