PMTA Sonata Contest Reminders
The Contest will be at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at UWF.
Directions: Take Davis Highway to University Blvd. (By Olive Baptist Church and West Florida Hospital). Take University Pkwy until it dead-ends at UWF. Turn left at the traffic light onto Campus Drive. Stay on this curving road past the soccer field and tennis courts. After the tennis courts, you will see the music building on your right hand side. There will also be PMTA signs to guide you. Pass the building and you will see a parking lot on your right. There's a fountain in front of the CFPA.
1. Bring your original sheet music of your sonata song. Feel free to erase any pencil notes and neatly add measure numbers.
2. Dress up. You will feel better and make a better impression.
3. You do not need to check in at the lobby. Proceed straight to your room 10 minutes before their schedule time. Rooms in the 200's are upstairs. Rooms in the 100's are downstairs. Performance times are listed in an older post on this website.
4. After playing, proceed straight to the Mainstage Theatre for awards. I cannot guarantee when the awards for your student will be ready. Wait patiently until you hear your child's level called. Everyone will receive a certificate for participating. I will have the judge's comment sheet at his lesson next week. If your child wins 1st place, he is asked to perform in the winners recital the following Saturday, March 24 at Dollarhide's Music Center. A performance time will be assigned.
5. Encourage, encourage, and encourage your student. This is a BIG deal that he has memorized a song, worked to make it as perfect as he can, and is willing to go be judged by a complete stranger. I hear students every year drop out because they were crushed they didn't "win" at Sonata contest. Awards do not always reflect their ability. A student can have an off day. We all do. Also, it's very competitive when a majority all play the song perfectly. It's nearly impossible to choose a winner. Please help make this a good experience by not adding pressure on your student.
6. T-shirts with all participant's names on the back will be available for purchase in all sizes. We will have light snacks available for purchase, as well. If you are looking to eat lunch nearby, many restaurants are on Nine-Mile Road.
7. If you have any questions or anything goes wrong, please call my cell (973)-897-9169 or come find me in the Mainstage Theatre. I will be there announcing awards.