April 2023 Syllabus - Popular Piano

This category is designed to incorporate the following genres: pop, pop/ folk, R & B, soul, rock, alternative, indie, jazz or country. Selections should be covers from commercial artists in these genres.

Selections from Conservatory Canada (CC) Contemporary Idioms Piano lists and the Royal Conservatory of Music Popular Lists (RCM) are eligible.

Selections that are NOT permitted:
• Rap and Hip Hop
• Songs listed in the RCM or CC classical piano syllabi

Competitors are encouraged to perform all selections from memory.

Competitors will be judged on their choice of selections, interpretation, contrasting tempi, style, vocal quality and age appropriateness.

Popular Piano Ballad

Own choice. Repertoire must be selected from any ballad that would be considered to be in the popular music idiom, but is not part of the Popular Selections section of the current Conservatory syllabus. Competitors may enter this category multiple times with repertoire that has not been previously performed in the Festival, but a separate registration is required for each entry.

ADJUDICATION PLUS categories will include an opportunity for each competitor to return to the piano and work with the adjudicator 1:1 for 10-20 min (level dependent) to receive immediate feedback on incorporating some of the adjudicator's suggestions.

ClassPPB-B - Popular Piano Ballad - Beginner Level: ages 6-8Liveclosed
ClassPPB-B+ - Popular Piano Ballad - Beginner Level: ages 6-8 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPB-P - Popular Piano Ballad - Primary Level: ages 9-10Liveclosed
ClassPPB-P+ - Popular Piano Ballad - Primary Level: ages 9-10 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPB-E - Popular Piano Ballad - Elementary Level: ages 11-12Liveclosed
ClassPPB-E+ - Popular Piano Ballad - Elementary Level: ages 11-12 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPB-J - Popular Piano Ballad - Junior Level: ages 13-14Liveclosed
ClassPPB-J+ - Popular Piano Ballad - Junior Level: ages 13-14 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPB-I - Popular Piano Ballad - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16Liveclosed
ClassPPB-I+ - Popular Piano Ballad - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPB-S - Popular Piano Ballad - Senior Level: ages 17-18Liveclosed
ClassPPB-S+ - Popular Piano Ballad - Senior Level: ages 17-18 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPB-A - Popular Piano Ballad - Advanced Level: ages 19-28Liveclosed
ClassPPB-A+ - Popular Piano Ballad - Advanced Level: ages 19-28 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPB-O - Popular Piano Ballad - OpenLiveclosed
ClassPPB-O+ - Popular Piano Ballad - Open ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed

Popular Piano Up-Tempo

Own choice. Repertoire must be selected from any up-tempo piece that would be considered to be in the popular music idiom, but is not part of the Popular Selections section of the current Conservatory syllabus. Competitors may enter this category multiple times with repertoire that has not been previously performed in the Festival, but a separate registration is required for each entry.

ADJUDICATION PLUS categories will include an opportunity for each competitor to return to the piano and work with the adjudicator 1:1 for 10-20 min (level dependent) to receive immediate feedback on incorporating some of the adjudicator's suggestions.

ClassPPU-B - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Beginner Level: ages 6-8Liveclosed
ClassPPU-B+ - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Beginner Level: ages 6-8 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPU-P - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Primary Level: ages 9-10Liveclosed
ClassPPU-P+ - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Primary Level: ages 9-10 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPU-E - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Elementary Level: ages 11-12Liveclosed
ClassPPU-E+ - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Elementary Level: ages 11-12 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPU-J - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Junior Level: ages 13-14Liveclosed
ClassPPU-J+ - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Junior Level: ages 13-14 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPU-I - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16Liveclosed
ClassPPU-I+ - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPU-S - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Senior Level: ages 17-18Liveclosed
ClassPPU-S+ - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Senior Level: ages 17-18 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPU-A - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Advanced Level: ages 19-28Liveclosed
ClassPPU-A+ - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Advanced Level: ages 19-28 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPU-O - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - OpenLiveclosed
ClassPPU-O+ - Popular Piano Up-Tempo - Open ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed

Popular Piano Jazz or Blues

Own choice. Repertoire must be a piece that would be considered to be in the jazz or blues idiom, but is not part of the Popular Selections section of the current Conservatory syllabus. Competitors may enter this category multiple times with repertoire that has not been previously performed in the Festival, but a separate registration is required for each entry.

ADJUDICATION PLUS categories will include an opportunity for each competitor to return to the piano and work with the adjudicator 1:1 for 10-20 min (level dependent) to receive immediate feedback on incorporating some of the adjudicator's suggestions.

ClassPPJ-B - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Beginner Level: ages 6-8Liveclosed
ClassPPJ-B+ - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Beginner Level: ages 6-8 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPJ-P - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Primary Level: ages 9-10Liveclosed
ClassPPJ-P+ - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Primary Level: ages 9-10 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPJ-E - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Elementary Level: ages 11-12Liveclosed
ClassPPJ-E+ - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Elementary Level: ages 11-12 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPJ-J - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Junior Level: ages 13-14Liveclosed
ClassPPJ-J+ - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Junior Level: ages 13-14 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPJ-I - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16Liveclosed
ClassPPJ-I+ - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPJ-S - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Senior Level: ages 17-18Liveclosed
ClassPPJ-S+ - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Senior Level: ages 17-18 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPJ-A - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Advanced Level: ages 19-28Liveclosed
ClassPPJ-A+ - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Advanced Level: ages 19-28 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPJ-O - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - OpenLiveclosed
ClassPPJ-O+ - Popular Piano Jazz or Blues - Open ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed

Popular Piano Canadian Composer

Own choice. Repertoire must be selected from any piece that would be considered to be in the popular music idiom and written by a Canadian, but is not part of the Popular Selections section of the current Conservatory syllabus. Competitors may enter this category multiple times with repertoire that has not been previously performed in the Festival, but a separate registration is required for each entry.

ADJUDICATION PLUS categories will include an opportunity for each competitor to return to the piano and work with the adjudicator 1:1 for 10-20 min (level dependent) to receive immediate feedback on incorporating some of the adjudicator's suggestions.

ClassPPC-B - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Beginner Level: ages 6-8Liveclosed
ClassPPC-B+ - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Beginner Level: ages 6-8 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPC-P - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Primary Level: ages 9-10Liveclosed
ClassPPC-P+ - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Primary Level: ages 9-10 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPC-E - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Elementary Level: ages 11-12Liveclosed
ClassPPC-E+ - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Elementary Level: ages 11-12 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPC-J - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Junior Level: ages 13-14Liveclosed
ClassPPC-J+ - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Junior Level: ages 13-14 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPC-I - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16Liveclosed
ClassPPC-I+ - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPC-S - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Senior Level: ages 17-18Liveclosed
ClassPPC-S+ - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Senior Level: ages 17-18 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPC-A - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Advanced Level: ages 19-28Liveclosed
ClassPPC-A+ - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Advanced Level: ages 19-28 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPC-O - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - OpenLiveclosed
ClassPPC-O+ - Popular Piano Canadian Composer - Open ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed

Popular Piano Additional Repertoire

Own choice. This category is meant for a second piece that would belong in another class that has already been entered (ie. an additional ballad, up-tempo or jazz/blues piece). Piece can be, but is not required to be by a Canadian Composer. Repertoire must be considered to be in the popular music idiom, but is not part of the Popular Selections section of the current Conservatory syllabus. Competitors may enter this category multiple times with repertoire that has not been previously performed in the Festival, but a separate registration is required for each entry.

ADJUDICATION PLUS categories will include an opportunity for each competitor to return to the piano and work with the adjudicator 1:1 for 10-20 min (level dependent) to receive immediate feedback on incorporating some of the adjudicator's suggestions.

ClassPPA-B - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Beginner Level: ages 6-8Liveclosed
ClassPPA-B+ - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Beginner Level: ages 6-8 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPA-P - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Primary Level: ages 9-10Liveclosed
ClassPPA-P+ - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Primary Level: ages 9-10 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPA-E - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Elementary Level: ages 11-12Liveclosed
ClassPPA-E+ - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Elementary Level: ages 11-12 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPA-J - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Junior Level: ages 13-14Liveclosed
ClassPPA-J+ - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Junior Level: ages 13-14 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPA-I - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16Liveclosed
ClassPPA-I+ - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPA-S - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Senior Level: ages 17-18Liveclosed
ClassPPA-S+ - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Senior Level: ages 17-18 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPA-A - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Advanced Level: ages 19-28Liveclosed
ClassPPA-A+ - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Advanced Level: ages 19-28 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPA-O - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - OpenLiveclosed
ClassPPA-O+ - Popular Piano Additional Repertoire - Open ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed

Popular Piano Original Composition

Compose an original piece in what would be considered a 'popular' style for piano. Entrants are required to perform their own compositions. The composition may be handwritten or produced using any music scoring software. Entrants may use a lead sheet or chord chart or written score. If submissions are improvisatory, please provide a sketch or lead sheet for the Adjudicator.

Competitors may enter this category multiple times with repertoire that has not been previously performed in the Festival, but a separate registration is required for each entry.

Participants will be assessed on their creativity, originality, and overall musicality.

ADJUDICATION PLUS categories will include an opportunity for each competitor to return to the piano and work with the adjudicator 1:1 for 10-20 min (level dependent) to receive immediate feedback on incorporating some of the adjudicator's suggestions.

ClassPPOC-E - Popular Piano Original Composition - Elementary Level: ages 11-12Liveclosed
ClassPPOC-E+ - Popular Piano Original Composition - Elementary Level: ages 11-12 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPOC-J - Popular Piano Original Composition - Junior Level: ages 13-14Liveclosed
ClassPPOC-J+ - Popular Piano Original Composition - Junior Level: ages 13-14 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPOC-I - Popular Piano Original Composition - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16Liveclosed
ClassPPOC-I+ - Popular Piano Original Composition - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPOC-S - Popular Piano Original Composition - Senior Level: ages 17-18Liveclosed
ClassPPOC-S+ - Popular Piano Original Composition - Senior Level: ages 17-18 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPOC-A - Popular Piano Original Composition - Advanced Level: ages 19-28Liveclosed
ClassPPOC-A+ - Popular Piano Original Composition - Advanced Level: ages 19-28 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPOC-O - Popular Piano Original Composition - OpenLiveclosed
ClassPPOC-O+ - Popular Piano Original Composition - Open ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed

Popular Piano Duet

Competitors must enter the class according to the age of the oldest in the duet. Performance should be of a piece in the popular music idiom. Competitors may enter this category multiple times with different partners and different repertoire that has not been previously performed in the Festival, but a separate registration is required for each entry. Separate registration forms are required.

ADJUDICATION PLUS categories will include an opportunity for each competitor to return to the piano and work with the adjudicator 1:1 for 10-20 min (level dependent) to receive immediate feedback on incorporating some of the adjudicator's suggestions.

ClassPPDu-E - Popular Piano Duet - Elementary Level: ages 11-12Liveclosed
ClassPPDu-E+ - Popular Piano Duet - Elementary Level: ages 11-12 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPDu-J - Popular Piano Duet - Junior Level: ages 13-14Liveclosed
ClassPPDu-J+ - Popular Piano Duet - Junior Level: ages 13-14 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPDu-I - Popular Piano Duet - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16Liveclosed
ClassPPDu-I+ - Popular Piano Duet - Intermediate Level: ages 15-16 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPDu-S - Popular Piano Duet - Senior Level: ages 17-18Liveclosed
ClassPPDu-S+ - Popular Piano Duet - Senior Level: ages 17-18 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPDu-A - Popular Piano Duet - Advanced Level: ages 19-28Liveclosed
ClassPPDu-A+ - Popular Piano Duet - Advanced Level: ages 19-28 ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed
ClassPPDu-O - Popular Piano Duet - OpenLiveclosed
ClassPPDu-O+ - Popular Piano Duet - Open ADJUDICATION PLUSLiveclosed