The Piano Skills Festival will be held February 27-28, 2026, with students performing the functional skills of sightreading, harmonization and technique along with one repertoire selection. Students immediately receive a critique sheet along with a ribbon for each skill area and compete for a chance to win an Outstanding Musician Award and perform in Braithwaite Recital Hall. Registration fee is $30 and the registration deadline is January 17th.
The Patriot Challenge will also continue to be an option that students can complete in regular lessons with teachers whether in-person or online. Use it to prepare for the in-person festival or just to keep your students motivated to learn important skills throughout the entire year. There is no registration fee-- just email the completed worksheet to vconway@uttyler.edu to receive a certificate of completion. Students may also be recognized in a Patriot Challenge Facebook album by sending a photo of the student along with a Photo Consent Form signed by a parent (link below).
All requirements and information are in the Piano Skills Festival Book. Simply print the pages needed for each student's division level requirements and use the division level worksheets to help you and the student track progress. Sightreading packets for each level are also provided for your convenience and as a reference for criteria and difficulty levels.
Jazz divisions have been designed by Dr. Sarah Roberts and include online lead sheets and audio backing tracks! Students may perform with the backing tracks during adjudication and if chosen for the Outstanding Musicians Recital. This can be a great motivator and teachers not familiar with jazz can learn right along with their students in this step-by-step curriculum. Students in jazz bands are encouraged to participate and do not have to be studying with a private teacher.
Please email any questions to vconway@uttyler.edu.