First Piano Guild audition - She did it!

Not being musically inclined or having any musical training, the idea of "Piano Guild auditions" was completely new to me.  All I knew was that Grace has been memorizing a piece of music called "Candy Corner".  Today, she went into a classroom at Kent State University's music and performing school, gave her sheet music to a judge, sat at the piano and played from memory.  Once I posted all this on Facebook, I found out that many of my friends had done these auditions when they were younger.  So I Googled it.

Taken with an iPhone through the glass window of the classroom door.  

Piano Guild is open to students of all ages and levels.  The purpose of the auditions is to establish goals for the earliest beginner as well as the advanced student.  These goals attempt to give music study some definite direction and provide a measurement for progress.  A piano curriculum encompassing the best of piano literature and stressing American compositions has been standardized by the National Guild of Piano Teachers.  All piano students have a yearly opportunity to attain the goals set for them through a non competitive audition.  Auditions are private (student and judge only) with well-qualified musicians serving as judges.  Students are judged on individual merit in the areas of accuracy, continuity, phrasing, pedaling (Grace can't reach the pedals yet!), dynamics, rhythm, tempo, tone, interpretation, style, and technique.

We won't get Grace's results until her next lesson, but she is already a winner in our eyes.  Just going in there was a lot for a 6-year old.  We are very proud!

She loved her ribbon which just commemorates the first year she did this. Grace wore it to lunch, to the store, and then made sure I hung it on the kitchen bulletin board as soon as we got home.