SJMTA Technique Competition and Theory Test

Sunday, January 24, 2027

As the ultimate goal of piano lessons is to enable students to express their musical understanding through secure technique, SJMTA holds an annual technique competition aimed at enhancing, developing and mastering piano technique.

Place: Cunningham Piano, Cherry Hill NJ

Time: 12pm – 5:30 pm. Exact performance times to be announced.

Competition Schedule: Students will be provided with their exact performance time in advance of the competition. All participants should be on the premises at least 15 minutes prior to start time. At the conclusion of performances in each category, winners will be announced for that category as soon as the scores are calculated. Certificates and trophies will be given to teachers at a later date.

Required Repertoire:

There will be 11 levels of competition, from Elementary through Collegiate. For each level, there will be one designated scale, one arpeggio, and one required étude, featuring the same technical challenge for all levels.

Theory test:

SJMTA is supplementing the Technique Competition with an optional theory test based on Keith Snell’s Fundamentals of Piano Theory. It can be taken while students are waiting to perform. This year SJMTA is offering preparatory level through level five. We recommend enrolling students one grade level below the theory level at which they are currently working.

Volunteers:

Six to eight teachers will be needed to monitor the competition; each will be assigned to a particular room. Monitors are asked to remain at their assigned doors during the competition. We will also need two volunteers for the registration desk and 2–3 for each level in the scoring room. If you cannot volunteer your time, we will require a “duty deposit” of $50 from you to hire extra monitors.

Deadline: January 8, 2027

Application:

Application fee: $25
No limit to the number of applicants from each studio
Each applicant is limited to ONE level
Dress Code: Please dress appropriately (no sports clothes, jeans, sandals or sneakers)

Please send the competition forms with fees (one teacher’s check paid to SJMTA for all students) to:

Elina Galletta
40 Autumn Park Drive
Medford, NJ 08055

For any inquiries or questions please email Elina Galletta — galletta@rowan.edu

Required Repertoire (2027)

Please note that we have included the IMSLP link for each study for your convenience. Download the 2027 competition information, repertoire, and application form.

Level 1: Age 5 to Age 7
Humbert: Etude in C major, Russian School of Piano Playing, Book I Part I
Find this etude on IMSLP

C major scale, hands alone, 2 octaves; tonic-triad arpeggio, hands crossing over.

Level 2: Age 6 to Age 8
Goedicke: Etude in C major, Russian School of Piano Playing, Book I Part II
Find this etude on IMSLP

C major scale, hands alone, 2 octaves; tonic-triad arpeggio, hands crossing over.

Level 3: Age 7 to Age 9
Loeschhorn: Etude in C major, Op. 65, Book I, No. 8
Find this etude on IMSLP

C major scale and tonic-triad arpeggio, 4 octaves, hands together.

Level 4: Age 8 to Age 10
Berens: Etude in A minor, Op. 88 No. 6
Find this etude on IMSLP

A minor harmonic and melodic scales and tonic-triad arpeggio, 4 octaves, hands together.

Level 5: Age 9 to Age 11
Heller: Etude in C major, Op. 46 No. 1
Find this etude on IMSLP

C major scale and tonic-triad arpeggio, 4 octaves, hands together.

Level 6: Age 10 to Age 12
Burgmuller: Velocity, Op. 109 No. 10
Find this etude on IMSLP

C major scale and tonic-triad arpeggio, 4 octaves, hands together.

Level 7: Age 11 to Age 13
Czerny: Etude in F major, Op. 299 No. 12
Find this etude on IMSLP

F major scale and tonic-triad arpeggio, 4 octaves, hands together.

Level 8: Age 12 to Age 15
Cramer: Fifty Studies, No. 8 in C major
Find this etude on IMSLP

C major scale and tonic-triad arpeggio, 4 octaves, hands together.

Level 9: Age 13 to Age 16
Mendelssohn: Three Etudes, Op. 104b No. 2 in F major
Find this etude on IMSLP

F major scale; tonic-triad, dominant-seventh, and diminished-seventh arpeggios, 4 octaves, hands together.

Level 10: Age 14 to Age 17
Moszkowski: Etude in A-flat major, Op. 72 No. 11
Find this etude on IMSLP

A-flat major scale in parallel motion, 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths; major, minor, dominant-seventh, diminished-seventh, and augmented arpeggios, 4 octaves, hands together.

Level 11: Age 15 to Age 18
Chopin: Etude in G-flat major, Op. 25 No. 9
Find this etude on IMSLP

G-flat major scale in parallel motion, 3rds, 6ths, and 10ths; major, minor, dominant-seventh, diminished-seventh, and augmented arpeggios, 4 octaves, hands together.