About Achievement Day

Purpose

The primary purpose of Achievement Day is to encourage and support the systematic musical growth of all students. Other purposes include: enhancement of student motivation; providing goals for students and teachers; having a good preparation tool for the District Auditions; and allowing students to see that they are part of a large musical "family."

Instruments

Piano. Events may be added for other instruments or voice if there is a sufficient number of students and teachers who are members in good standing to support the event.

Categories

Students will be judged on the following four categories:

• Performance: Students will perform two contrasting pieces from memory. Simplification of or cuts in standard classical repertory is not permitted and will result in the student receiving no score in the performance category. The student must perform the repertoire listed on the application in order to receive a score in the performance category.
• Sight Reading: The adjudicator chooses appropriate material. Music is chosen that is one or more levels below the student's playing/singing level.
• Applied Technique: Requirements are based on the SCMTA District Audition requirements. The grid illustrates how they have been modified to suit the chapter's requirements.
• Written Theory Test: Each level will include key signatures, scales, chords and intervals that coincide with the student's Applied Technique level. Appropriate time signatures, rhythms, notation and terms will also be included. Basic forms, composers and musical periods begin at Level E.

Scoring

The adjudicator will critique and score each category. The ratings are:

• Outstanding
• Excellent
• Very Good
• Good

A rating of OUTSTANDING earns 3 points; EXCELLENT earns 2 points; VERY GOOD earns 1 point. A "GOOD" rating indicates the student was not adequately prepared. Students scoring 10-12 points will receive a blue ribbon; students scoring 8-9 points, a red ribbon; students scoring under 8 points, a white ribbon. Honors Recitalists receive three bonus points; Honors Recital Alternates receive two bonus points. These bonus points do not change the color of the ribbon received from Achievement Day.

Crescendo Awards

To encourage systematic growth, Achievement Day awards Crescendo Trophies to students who have consistently accumulated points over several years. Trophies are awarded as follows:

• Crescendo I: 32 points
• Crescendo II: 63 points
• Crescendo III: 95 points
• Crescendo IV: 126 points
• Crescendo V: 158 points

Beginning students who earn Outstanding in all four categories (12 points) and are chosen as Honors Recitalists (3 points) for two consecutive years are awarded two bonus points to bring the total to 32 points, allowing them to receive the Crescendo I Award after the second year of participation. These bonus points do not apply to subsequent Crescendo Award levels.

Honors Recital

A designated number of students are selected by each judge as honors recital recipients. These students are chosen on the merit of their overall outstanding performances. Students in levels C - J receiving this distinction are invited to perform in an honors recital which takes place one week after Achievement Day. Students in levels A - B who receive this distinction are recognized at the honors recital and receive their honors recital medal. However they do not perform at this recital.

Level Classification

The grid is a modification of the District requirements, taking into consideration the school grade of the student and the current year of study. It will assist you in the proper placement of the levels A through J. Students may be placed at a higher level than the grid indicates at the teacher's discretion. Students may NOT be marked down to lower levels, and must enter at the same level for all categories.

Notes:

• Year of study refers to the current year, not the number of years of previous study. Just as a student is in year 1 of school when he is in the first grade, a student is in year 1 of study during the first year.

Follow the grade in school across to the current year of study.

Grade	1 yr	2 yr	3 yr	4 yr	5 yr	6 yr	7 yr	8 yr	9 yr	10 yr	11 yr	12 yr	13 yr
1	A	A
2	A	A	A
3	A	A	B	B
4	A	A	B	B	C
5	A	B	B	C	C	D
6	A	B	B	C	C	D	D
7	B	B	C	C	D	D	E	E
8	B	C	C	D	D	E	E	F	F
9	B	C	D	D	E	E	F	F	G	G
10	B	C	D	E	E	F	F	G	G	H	H
11	B	C	D	E	F	F	G	G	H	H	I	I
12	B	C	D	E	F	G	G	H	H	I	I	J	J