In this article, you will find information for Vance Music students about the 2025 Andover Piano Festival:
- Teacher Availability
- 2025 Andover Piano Festival Dates
- Location & Google Map Links
- Vance Music Festival Schedule PDF
- Original Andover Festival Letter
- Who Can Attend
- Festival Procedures
- Festival Etiquette
A Special Note Regarding Teacher Availability
On March 8th, Vance Music teachers will be attending multiple festivals, as well as listening to students in multiple rooms at the Andover festival. Your teacher may not be at the festival when you perform, or may not be available to help you check in and warm up. Please read festival procedures and etiquette carefully so that you can feel prepared!
2025 Andover Piano Festival Basics
Saturday, March 8th, 2025
Andover Central High School: 603 E Central Ave, Andover, KS 67002
Andover Central High School Google Map
Parents and students, please review the 2025 Andover Piano Festival procedures and etiquette further down in the article.
Students & parents: if you have questions about the 2025 Andover Piano Festival after accessing these PDF files & reading the rest of the article, please contact Marissa
Who Can Attend The 2025 Andover Piano Festival
Students should feel free to invite family and friends to the 2025 Andover Piano Festival. The auditorium has plentiful seating, and the choir room is a large classroom. Vance Music students are encouraged to show their support for one another by listening and applauding each other, as at Vance Music recitals. Vance Music staff members will also be at the festival to support students.
2025 Andover Festival Procedure
The Andover Piano Festival is a very relaxed setting for pianists to begin experiencing festival and competition environments! Judges are very encouraging. No ratings or prizes are awarded; students who perform receive a certificate and comments from their judge.
- Before the festival, prepare your music by doing three things: write your name and contact information inside the front cover of your book, write measure numbers in red ink above each bar line, and erase all practice markings you do not wish the judge to see. No photocopies are allowed at festivals, so make sure to bring your music book with you.
- Plan to arrive thirty minutes before your performance time.
- Check in at the main desk, located in the lobby just inside the main entrance.
- Find a warm-up room. You may need to wait until a room/piano becomes available. Limit your warm-up to 5 minutes so that the piano can be used by other students. Use your time to prepare physically and mentally for your performance.
- Go to your performance room. Check in with the door monitor.
- Have your music opened to the correct page for the judge.
- When it is your turn, go to the piano and adjust your bench.
- Warm up by playing a scale and/or cadence. This time should be used to familiarize yourself with the sound and touch of the instrument you will perform on. Do not warm up by playing your song, or part of your song.
- When the judge is ready for you to perform, stand to announce your piece to the judge. Announce your name, grade, song, and composer. Make sure to smile.
- Be seated, re-check your position, breathe, and perform your song.
- Smile and bow (first to the judge, then to the audience if they are not seated in the same area).
- If there is time, the judge may give you verbal comments or even a mini lesson. Listen attentively and politely.
- Thank the judge for listening to you perform.
- Collect your music.
- After you are outside the performance room, take a picture of yourself with your certificate.
- Go celebrate!
2025 Andover Festival Etiquette
- Bring your music. Make sure your name and email or phone number is written inside the front cover. Make sure measure numbers are written in red ink above each bar line. No photocopies are allowed at festival.
- Talk softly in the halls, especially close to performance rooms. If you need to have a louder conversation, please move to the lobby or step outside.
- No running in the building.
- Children should be accompanied by an adult in the building.
- Turn off cell phones and electronic devices before entering performance rooms.
- Refrain from flash photography in the performance rooms. Turn off any sound effects on your camera prior to entering the performance rooms.
- Audience members should not talk while students are warming up, performing, or while judges are talking.
- Parents are welcome to video record their student’s performance. Make sure the recording device is silent and will not distract performers, judges, or audience members.
- Be courteous to festival staff and judges. Thank them for their help and time.
Best of luck & have fun performing!
