COMP Creating Original Music Project

Creating Original Music Project K-12 Competition

The postmark deadline for submission of compositions is January 4, 2010.

Click here to download a brochure about the 2009 K-12 C.O.M.P. Competition.

Purpose

To provide K-12 students in Missouri schools the opportunity to write original works in a diversity of musical styles and to present these pieces to their schools and at a music festival at the University of Missouri-Columbia on April 17, 2010.

Eligibility

Young Composers: Students from Missouri schools from Grades K-12 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 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 the students' own and original compositions.

Levels of Competition

 Elementary, Kindergarten through grade 5
  1. Songs with words
  2. Instrumental pieces

Students may submit notated or recorded entries.

 Middle, Grades 6-8
  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, hip-hop, alternative, etc.
 High School, Grades 9 through 12:
  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, hip-hop, alternative, etc.
  3. Jazz
    Recorded or notated entries accepted. Examples include Big band, combo, etc.
  4. Folk music
    Recorded or notated entries accepted. Examples include Bluegrass, folk songs, old-time music, etc.
  5. Sacred music
    Recorded or notated entries accepted. Examples include church choir, gospel, hymns, etc.
  6. Other: Composers are encouraged to choose one of the above categories. If unable to do so, they should choose "other."

Application and Guidelines

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 NO LONGER than ten minutes in length. Only one submission per applicant is allowed.

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.

Applications

Award

Winning composers and their schools will win cash prizes. If the school worked in partnership with a non-for profit organization, independent music teacher, or other musical mentor, the prize will be divided commensurate with the level of support and participation of the sponsors.

Performance

Winning compositions will be performed at the Creating Original Music Program's music festival on April 17, 2010 at the University of Missouri. It is the expectation of the organizing committee that all winning composers must attend the festival to perform 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

The organizing committee will choose qualified judges to consider and rate submissions to the Creating Original Music Project.

Selecting Judges: The COMP advisory committee will select qualified adjudicators for each category. Each category will have 2-3 judges, who will be trained for consistency, and will volunteer their time.

Judging Guidelines: Judging within all categories will be done independently. Judges will be provided with directions, guidelines, and “anchors”.

Ranking: 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 judging form will be “pure;" including a place in which to indicate the rank and a box in which to write comments. The comments, ca. three to five sentences, will be shared with the applicant, but not the rankings.

After (independent) adjudication is complete, rankings will be assigned weights (e.g., a first-place ranking = 25, second place ranking = 10, etc.). The exact weighting will be determined later. Based on the adjudication outcomes, a committee will determine the ultimate pattern for awards.

Creating Original Music Project
University of Missouri School of Music
140 Fine Arts Bldg.
Columbia, MO 65211-6120
phone: 573-882-2606
fax: 573-884-7444
email: freunds@missouri.edu