The Ribbon Festival will be held on Saturday, January 26th, 2008 at Cedar Park Assembly of God in Bothell. Cost is $20 for students of Eastside members. The fee for students who are not studying with an Eastside chapter member is $140. An adult must accompany each student at the festival.

The Ribbon Festival is a musical event sponsored by the Eastside Music Teachers Association. Its purpose is to provide an enjoyable way to motivate students and aid them in developing essential musicianship skills.

Participants may enter a variety of events and workshops including solos, duets, original compositions, scales, chords, arpeggios, 60-second scale challenge, ear training, and music theory, as well as a variety of workshops led by local artists and teachers. This is an opportunity for solo/duet performance and classroom instruction beyond the private studio setting, where a variety of musical topics will be offered in a hands-on learning environment. See the registration packet for more details.

This Festival is a non-competitive, non-adjudicated event. Participants receive a ribbon for every event they complete. Non-performance events are divided into levels so that beginners, as well as more advanced performers, may participate.

Classes this year will include: Introduction to Improvisation with Forrest Kinney, “Music to Your Ears, a look at the science of sound”, with Michelle Martin, Ph.D. (Neuroscience), Introduction to Guitar with Doug Rice, Introduction to Handbells (this will be Virginia’s last year, and we will miss her workshop!), Baroque Dance with Anna Mansbridge, Introduction to Cello with Valerie Doerrfeld, and more! See the registration packet for more details.

Registration is due by the November meeting. Schedules will be mailed to participating teachers by the end of December.

Teachers will be required to provide four (4) hours of staff time at the event per every five students entered. Teachers entering fewer than five students will still be expected to do a four-hour shift. The first four-hours must be covered by the teacher; subsequent hours may be staffed by the teacher or adults (over age 16) provided from that teacher’s studio. (Parents of students, former students, spouses, etc.) Names and contact information for all festival staff must be included with registration forms. IF online registration is available in time for this year’s registration (unknown at the time this went to print), then volunteer information will have to be provided at the time of registration in order to complete the registration process.

If a teacher enters 10 students, they will be expected to provide staffing for two shifts. A teacher entering 11 or 12 would be expected to provide staff for three shifts. “Think of it like tax brackets: once you get above the magic number, you are in the next higher category – no prorating.”

Registration packets will be available at the September and October business meetings, or can be obtained directly from the Festival Chair, Carmen Still. Otherwise, call her at (425) 821-9816.

Ribbon Events & Class Information

Students will receive a ribbon for each event they enter. Students may enter any event. For scales, chords, and arpeggios, non-keyboard students should make adjustments for their specific instrument.

Scales: Major or minor, parallel or contrary motion. These do not need to be memorized.
Level A: 5-finger patterns, hands separately or together
Level B: 1 octave up and down, hands separately or together
Level C: 2 octaves up and down, hands separately or together
Level D: 3 octaves up and down, hands together

Chords: Major or minor These do not need to be memorized.
Level A: Triad in root position
Level B: I-V-I or I-V7-I, with the I chord in root position
Level C: I chord played in three positions up & down
Level D: I-IV-I-V-(orV7)-I, played in three positions (inversions)
Level E: I-IV-I-V-(orV7)-I, played in three positions, with chord root played in LH.

Arpeggios: Major, minor, or diminished 7th These do not need to be memorized.
Level A: 4 octaves, hand over hand
Level B: 1 octave up and down twice, staccato then legato, hands separately or together
Level C: 2 octaves up and down, hands separately or together
Level D: 3 octaves up and down, hands together
Level E: diminished 7th triad up and down 4 octaves, hands together

60-Second Scale Challenge: Major only. These do not need to be memorized, although if they aren’t, you’ll have to turn the pages awfully quick….
Level A: Complete 5-finger patterns, up and down, for positions A,B,C,D,E,F, & G
Level B1: One hand, play major keys A, B, C, D, E, F & G one octave up and down.
Level B2: One hand, play all 12 enharmonic major keys one octave up and down
Level C: Hands together, play all 12 enharmonic major keys one octave up and down
Level D: Hands together, play all 12 enharmonic major keys two octaves up and down

Scales, Chords, and Arpeggios combined have a maximum time limit of two minutes for level A, three minutes for Level B, four minutes for Level C, and five minutes for Levels D & E. A student must complete a minimum of ONE full scale to earn the Scale ribbon; ONE cadence to earn the cadence ribbon, etc.

The 60-second challenge must be fully completed in one minute or less for students to receive the 60-second ribbon. The 60-second challenge should be done after the student has finished playing for the other scales, chords, and arpeggios categories. Students must perform the 60-second challenge at the same level at which they performed their Scales. Students in Level B may choose Level B1 or B2.

Ear Training: Answer ear-training questions in a short quiz, given by a teacher. See sample sheet.

Theory: Students will be able to take these tests at any time. The room monitor will have answer keys, and will correct the tests as they are completed.

Solo: MUST BE MEMORIZED, with a time limit of 4 minutes.

Duet: This piece does not need to be memorized. Duets must be played with student peers, NOT with the teacher, in order to earn the ribbon. Piano duets must be for one piano. If a performer is not participating in the Ribbon Festival other than in a duet, and wishes to receive a ribbon, $1 will be collected at the time of registration, and the extra ribbon included in the ribbon count on the teacher’s registration form. Time limit is 4 minutes.

Original Composition: The student will bring his or her original manuscript and show it to the monitor, as well as perform it, to receive a ribbon. Time limit is 4 minutes.

Baroque: Performed on a harpsichord. The student will play a piece from the Baroque era. The piece can be played with the music. Time limit is 4 minutes.


Classes

Introduction to Guitar, with Doug Rice of University of Puget Sound
Treat yourself to basic sight reading in staff notation, chord reading with chord diagrams, and basic ensemble playing for guitar.

Music to Your Ears: a look at the science of sound, with Michelle Martin, Ph.D. (Neuroscience)
What is music and how do your ears hear it? We will do some scientific experiments to show what sound is and what your ears really hear. Dr. Martin is a researcher and educator in neuroscience.

Introduction to Baroque Dance, with Anna Mansbridge of Seattle Early Dance
Did you know that Minuets, Bourées and Gavottes were originally dances that people did for fun at grand balls hosted by Kings and Queens? Now is your chance to come and try on costumes, and to learn some of these elegant dances. You can learn more about Seattle Early Dance at www.seattleearlydance.org.

Improvisation with Forrest “Marty” Kinney
“Improvisation is making up your own music as you play.” Mr. Kinney will be coaching small groups in the fine art of improv. There will be four sessions, divided by age and level, with 25 students per session.

Handbells with Virginia Wyland
Come and be part of a handbell chorus! No experience necessary. Mrs. Wyland will teach several sessions throughout the day for students age ten and up. This is the last year Handbells will be offered.

Introduction to Woodwinds, with Walt Timpe of the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO)
Learn the basics of how to play a clarinet! You will learn how to produce a tone, and play a simple song. Mr. Timpe is an instructor with the BYSO; you can learn more about the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra at www.byso.org.

Introduction to Brass Instuments, with Walt Timpe of the BYSO
Learn the basics of how to play a brass instrument! You will learn how to produce a tone, and play a simple song. Mr. Timpe is an instructor with the BYSO.

Introduction to the Cello, with Valerie Doerrfeld of the BYSO
Did you ever wonder what it felt like to play the cello? Now you can try it and feel the low tones vibrate through your body! Mrs. Doerrfeld will teach you a few things about the cello and you will get to experience bowing and plucking for yourself. Mrs. Doerrfeld is an instructor with the BYSO.

The Festival's downlodable files -Year 2008

*Any questions, please email Carmen Still