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IMPORTANT OFFICIAL STUFF: THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TO FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 AT MIDNIGHT. FURTHERMORE, THE TRADITIONAL JUDGING PORTION OF THE COMPETITION HAS BEEN ELIMINATED, AND MEMBER VOTING WILL BE THE ONLY SCORING METHOD. DO NOT POST YOUR PIECE AS NORMAL IN THE FORUMS. SEND IT TO ME ( @Noah Brode ) IN A PRIVATE MESSAGE AND I WILL POST IT FOR YOU ANONYMOUSLY. THEN, MESSAGE ME WITH YOUR FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD-PLACE PICKS, AND I WILL CALCULATE THE RESULTS AND POST THEM. Special thanks to Paper Composer and Tonskald for whipping the rest of us into shape here. 😁 CC: Current Entrants: @Bradley Scarff @Left Unexplained @caters @PaperComposer @Joshua Ng @Hendrik Meniere @bkho @Aled Edwards @Ivan1791 @zhenkang @Leonardo C. Núñez @Thatguy v2.0 @luderart @Tónskáld

Hi Noah! Thank you for the questions! Grade level is determined by state band associations. Each state’s band association will basically adopt a model based on one of the major states like Texas or California. I would reach out to a local band director at a school and let them know you’re looking for information on music difficulty, and any documentation they can give you for your own use as a composer would be helpful. Joining a GOOD community band would be a great way to position yourself to get your music read, programmed, and maybe even performed. I recommend Note Performer for the best audio quality. That’s what we’re using for audio samples now at GPG, and it’s amazing! Works with Finale, Sibelius, and Dorico. Getting published isn’t the highest priority. Getting your music in front of players is. You’ll gain more from this than publishing. I’ll listen to your works and comment when I have more time. Thanks again for your questions!

Yea I'm fine with that, I think we can consider that suggestion in future competitions rather than this one then. Hmm, a rondo wouldn't vary the theme as much I would say? But yea thats true, there is still room for development of the theme in these forms as well.

Study scores of the music that interests you the most. Use theory to inform your score study. Even if your first pieces seem derivative, the lessons you’ll learn from doing this will make you more capable as you gravitate towards your own original ideas.

I am not totally sure if a popular vote will be a best way to determine which music is good, but if we have limited time then, well, I dont really mind. On my side actually, I am finishing up my piece, just needs a few tweaks to settle some minor issues. It isnt a theme and variation. I will tell more when I submit the piece.

I think that is fine. I'm sure a lot of people need some extra time and I am pretty busy lately so if at the end there is just popular vote I will be relieved.

Right now I am more worried about entrants forgetting about the deadline (which I wouldn't mind extending a week as per @Joshua Ng's request). I think the entrants need to receive a PM reminder before the deadline reminding them that it's coming up - I am willing to remind half the entrants if someone else volunteers to do the other half.

But a theme and variations isn't necessary I believe. You can compose a monothematic sonata form for example or some kind of fugue.