Creating Original Music Project K-12 Competition

Purpose | Eligibility | Types of Compositions | Levels of Competition | Application & Guidelines | Award | Performance | Judging

The postmark deadline for submission of compositions is January 2, 2012.

Purpose

To provide K-12 students in Missouri schools the opportunity to write original works in a wide array of musical styles and to present these pieces to their schools and at a music festival at the University of Missouri-Columbia on April 21, 2012.

Eligibility

Young Composers: Missouri Students from Grades K-12, including those home schooled, are eligible to submit an original piece to the Creating Original Music Project.

Public School Music Teachers: Each student who applies must have the signature and sponsorship of their school's music teacher.

Not-for-profit Community Organizations: Community agencies, churches, after-school programs, etc. may sponsor their young musicians in partnership with the student's school music teacher.

Private studio teachers and other musical mentors: Private teachers and other musical mentors may sponsor a young musician in partnership with the student's school music teacher.

Types of Compositions

All entries must be original music written by the student, and only one entry per student is allowed. Arrangements of previously composed pieces or improvisation of already composed pieces will not be accepted. Music teachers and/or musical mentors may only assist students in notating or recording the pieces. The organizing committee encourages mentors and teachers to support young musicians and critique their work, though it must be the students' own and original composition.

Levels of Competition

Elementary, Kindergarten through grade 5

1. Songs with words
   Students may submit notated or recorded entries.
2. Instrumental pieces
   Students may submit notated or recorded entries.

Middle, Grades 6 through 8

1. Fine art music
   Only notated entries accepted. Examples include string quartet, piano solo, art song for voice and piano, etc.
2. Popular music
   Recorded or notated entries accepted. Examples include rock, country, folk, hip-hop, alternative, etc.

High School, Grades 9 through 12

Important changes for 2012: Folk (bluegrass, folk songs, old-time music, etc.) submissions are now included in the popular music category. Sacred compositions (examples include church choir, gospel, hymns, etc.) are acceptable and should be submitted in the category (from those listed below) that most closely matches the musical style.


1. Fine art music
   Only notated entries accepted. Examples include string quartet, piano solo, art song for voice and piano, etc.
2. Popular music
   Recorded or notated entries accepted. Examples include rock, folk (bluegrass, folk songs, old-time music, etc), country, hip-hop, alternative, etc.
3. Jazz
   Recorded or notated entries accepted. Examples include big band, combo, etc.
4. Other: Composers are encouraged to choose one of the above categories. If unable to do so, they should choose "other." "Other" category pieces will be placed in a preexisting category at the discretion of the C.O.M.P. director.

Application and Guidelines

Important Changes Made to Guidelines for 2012

All entries must be original music written by the student. Arrangements of previously composed pieces or improvisation based on composed pieces will not be accepted. The composition may be written for NO MORE than eight performers, and may be between 1 - 5 minutes in length for the junior division (elementary and junior High) and 3 - 8 minutes in length for the senior (high school) division. No prize will be awarded to schools not listed on the application. Only one submission per applicant is allowed. Pieces composed during the MU Summer Composition Institute (Summer COMP) are ineligible.

Music teachers and/or musical mentors may assist students in notating or recording the pieces. Mentors and teachers are encouraged to support young musicians and may critique their work, though the submissions must be the students' own and original compositions. Each student who applies must have the signature and sponsorship of her/his school's music teacher.

Application forms

Awards

Winning composers and their schools will win cash prizes. More information on awards will be posted soon.

Performance

Winning compositions will be performed at the Creating Original Music Project's Festival on April 21, 2012 at the University of Missouri. All winning composers are expected to attend the festival for the performance of their original pieces. In addition, schools that win prizes from the program must provide the opportunity for their young musicians to perform their pieces in their schools.

Judging

Judges will rank the compositions from first to last in each category. If they believe that none of the compositions in a given category merit an award, they will be free to say so. The comments, ca. three to five sentences, will be shared with the applicant, but not the rankings.

The programs of the Mizzou New Music Initiative have been made possible
through the generous support of the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.

C.O.M.P. Creating Original Music Project | Mizzou New Music Initiative | School of Music
College of Arts and Science | University of Missouri

copyright © The Curators of the University of Missouri | an equal opportunity/ADA institution

Last modified: 15-Dec-2011