Failure to follow the Rules & Regulations below will disqualify participants from receiving a mark or class placement.  Participants may still receive written and verbal evaluations from the adjudicator.

 

Age Limits          Competitive classes are open to participants up to the age of 28 as of December 31, 2023.  Adults aged 29+ are only eligible for Non-Competitive classes.

 

Accompaniment             Participants must perform with live piano accompaniment for all Classical Strings repertoire classes (except where the syllabus indicates that a piece is “Unaccompanied”) and performers must make their own arrangements for an accompanist.

 

Backing Tracks                For Popular classes only, participants must use either live accompaniment (piano or guitar/ukuklele) or an instrumental backing track that does not have back-up vocals.  Performers are encouraged to use tracks with limited instrumental breaks (edited tracks/ reductions are allowed). Backing tracks must be provided as an MP3 file prior to the festival class (registrants will be contacted with instructions for submission).  Backing tracks may be purchased from www.karaoke-version.com

 

Duet & Trio Accompaniment       Piano accompaniment is not required but should be included if indicated in the score. The piano part is considered “accompaniment” when the piano part does not have an equal role, and the pianist is not a participant being evaluated.  Ensembles where the piano part plays an equal role, and the pianist is a class participant should enter in the “Chamber Music” division.

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Class Registrations         Participants may only register once per Class Option for all competitive classes.  Classes listed as “Non-Competitive” are allowed multiple registrations.

 

Class Levels       Participants must perform repertoire that is listed under the corresponding grade level in the RCM or CC syllabus. There are no exceptions, even when a higher-level piece has been approved by RCM or CC for examination purposes. 

 

Repertoire Selections    Participants cannot perform the same selection in different classes (for example, if a participant enters both a Solo class and a Recital class then they must perform 3 different selections).

 

Multi-movement Selections       One (1) selection may consist of multiple movements, where specified in the RCM or CC Syllabus (ex. Sonatas & Concertos). Participants must perform the movement(s) specified in the syllabus where applicable. For example, the syllabus may require that only one movement of a piece be played, or that two or more specific movements be played.  For Recital Classes no more than two (2) contrasting movements are permitted to be played for a selection.

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Time Limit          Total performance time must not exceed twenty (20) minutes in total for any class.  In cases where multiple movements are to be performed, and the total performance time would exceed twenty (20) minutes participants may omit one (1) movement subject to the approval of the KWKMF Coordinator.  Selected movements should be contrasting and should reflect the difficulty level of the class.

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Syllabus Exceptions       Participants who wish to play a piece that is not on a syllabus list can do so if 1) they provide a letter of approval from the RCM or CC for examination purposes, and/or 2) they submit a request for approval to the KWKMF Coordinator no later than January 30, 2023. Requests will be forwarded to a designated Strings Committee to determine if the piece is appropriate for a particular grade level and class.

 

Syllabus Conflicts           1) Where there are conflicts between newer and older editions of a syllabus students must follow the most recent syllabus 2) Where there are conflicts between the RCM and CC syllabi, participants may choose which syllabus to use.  For example, if a piece is listed in the RCM syllabus as Level 6 but is listed as Level 7 in the CC syllabus the student may choose to enter the level that generally aligns with their other class entries.

 

Sheet Music      Participants must provide the adjudicator with a legally purchased copy of the music for all selections (a purchase receipt or IMSLP listing must be presented for digital copies), even when the piece is being performed by memory. Refer to section 7.14 of the Rules, Regulations & Guidelines for more information about Copyright. 

 

Memorization is required for all competitive Strings Repertoire classes except for Sonatas/Sonatinas (as indicated in each syllabus).  Exceptions include Cello Levels 6-7: List A (only repertoire marked with *asterisk from List A must be memorized), Cello Levels 8-ARCT: List B, Bass Levels 7-ARCT: List B, Violin/Viola Levels 5-ARCT: List B.

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OMFA Eligibility            Participants who enter any competitive class are eligible for OMFA Nominations.  Participants in Non-Competitive classes (including Suzuki classes) may be eligible for OMFA nominations IF they perform selections that are included in the RCM or CC Syllabi (see Classical Strings Class Descriptions above) and receive a mark of 85% or above (marks will be recorded privately and will not be shared with the class in Non-Competitive classes).

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Strings Resources

 

• CC Classical Violin Syllabus                                                                                   

• RCM Cello Syllabus, 2013 Edition  

• RCM Double Bass Syllabus, 2004 Edition

• RCM Violin Syllabus, 2021 Edition 

• RCM Viola Syllabus, 2013 Edition