Great Lakes Piano Track

ENSEMBLES:

GENERAL ENSEMBLE INFORMATION: 

• Ensemble rehearsals will be coached by Maranatha’s Piano Faculty and Music Prep Staff.
• Students will be given the password to the music after they register online. After viewing the music, students should send their TOP THREE part choices to janet.tschida@mbu.edu.
  • Example: Ms. Tschida, my top three choices, in order, are (1) All Hail – piano 1 primo, (2) All Hail – piano 2 secondo, (3) Perpetual Commotion – piano 1 secondo.
  • Note: Your top three choices can be from the same piece or multiple pieces.
  • Please be sure your teacher approves your choices.
• Students need to master their assigned part up to tempo before coming to Great Lakes Music Festival.
• Students may perform the piece along with university piano majors and minors (some parts will be doubled).
• Groups able to perfect their pieces will perform in the concert on Saturday.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING WHEN CHOOSING AN ENSEMBLE: 

• If you take private lessons, please ask your teacher for his/her advice.
• Learn all of the parts if at all possible (this will help you perform much better in the ensemble).
• Remember that performing a piece with several different parts is much more difficult than performing a solo (choose cautiously).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING ENSEMBLES:

• Will I be auditioning for the concert performance? No. Everyone will participate in concert piano ensembles. We have two (2) people per part (in some cases, a college student will be playing the part as well).
• How will we all be able to play in the concert? In the concert area (the gym), we have one grand and move in three uprights. We will do one performance of each piece (8-12 performers per piece).
• What if I cannot learn a certain section of my part? Please remember that there will be two (2) people per part. Chances are, the other person WILL be able to play the section you cannot. We would prefer that you either “rest” during measures that are too difficult for you, or just play one hand for the sections you are unable to master by the festival.

2027 PIANO WORKSHOPS

Clues on Collaboration: Beginnings, Breath, and Balance in Ensemble Playing

Presenter: Alison Boorujy

Level: Any

This session focuses on practical skills for duets, duos, and chamber music, including how to cue effectively, balance sound, and maintain a steady rhythm. Students will learn supportive strategies to keep the music moving and gain confidence performing alongside other musicians.

From Key to Key: Unlocking Piano Modulation

Presenter: Ruth Brown

Level: Participants must know the ii and V chords of each major key and be comfortable sight-reading hymns (limited to the first 8).

Have you ever wondered how hymn players move smoothly from one key to another?  In this hands-on workshop, discover efficient ways to modulate using the half-step and ii-V modulation. This workshop will be held in Maranatha’s Piano Lab so each participant will have the opportunity to experiment on a keyboard as we learn these principles. 

Preparing Your Music for Publication

Presenter: David Ledgerwood

Level: Any

During this session, we will explore the musical, textual, and layout details that need to be in place when submitting a piece for publication.

See ensemble tab above