KeysFest 2026: Celebrating Excellence in
Piano Technique and Performance
KeysFest 2026 offers students exciting opportunities to develop, showcase, and celebrate
their musical growth through two engaging events. The Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences
Event encourages students to strengthen technical fluency, accuracy, and confidence through
the performance of essential keyboard skills.
New this year, the KeysFest Etude Festival invites students to explore the artistry and
musical depth of etude performance. Participants will demonstrate both technical skill and
musical expression while receiving valuable adjudicator feedback. The festival features
Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, with the Advanced level offering a
Competitive Division where outstanding performances will be recognized and winners will
be selected, as well as a Comments-Only Division for students seeking performance experience
and feedback.
Open to pianists from elementary through high school, KeysFest provides a supportive
and educational environment where students can set goals, celebrate achievements, gain
confidence through performance, and deepen their understanding of music. Whether building a
strong technical foundation or exploring the expressive possibilities of etude repertoire,
participants will be inspired to continue growing as musicians.
________________________________________________________________________________________
KEYSFEST INVITATION & INFORMATION
Dear Fox Valley Piano Teachers,
The KeysFest Team is excited to invite you and your students to participate in KeysFest 2026, to be held on November 7, 2026 (Saturday) at Heid Music. You'll find the requirements for the scales, arpeggios, chords & cadences event, the etude list, and everything you need to register and prepare.
Building on the success and enthusiasm of last year's inaugural event, KeysFest continues to provide students with meaningful opportunities to develop and demonstrate their technical and musical skills in a supportive and educational environment. This year, students may participate in one or both of the following events:
KeysFest Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event
This event encourages students to present technical fluency, accuracy, and confidence in fundamental keyboard skills they have gained. Students may enter any combination of the four categories and select levels according to their individual abilities and goals.
Requirements for this event are listed HERE.
NEW! KeysFest Etude Festival
We are excited to introduce a new event focused on the study and performance of etudes. Etudes are an important part of piano study, helping students develop technique, coordination, finger dexterity, musical expression, and stylistic awareness. They also provide excellent preparation for WMTA and WSMA auditions.
The Etude Festival features three levels of participation:
1. Elementary and Intermediate Participants will perform in an open audition format and receive comments and ratings from the adjudicator. Memorization is not required.
Advanced Participants may choose between:
Performances will be evaluated on note accuracy, rhythm, dynamics, articulation, musical expression, and overall performance quality.
Students are expected to:
WHO MAY PARTICIPATE?
KeysFest is open to all piano teachers and students in the Fox Valley area. Teachers do not need to be members of FVMTA to participate.
REGISTRATION
Teachers planning to enter students in either KeysFest event should notify the KeysFest Committee by emailing [email protected].
Please include:
After notification is received, an individual registration page will be added for you in the KeysFest registration document. Detailed registration instructions will be provided at that time.
Registration will open on September 25 (Friday), and close at midnight on October 23 (Friday).
FEES
Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event
Teacher Volunteer Requirements
Teachers entering students in either the KeysFest Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event or the KeysFest Etude Festival are required to volunteer on November 7, 2026 (Saturday).
Volunteer opportunities include:
Volunteer schedules will be arranged with flexibility in mind and kept as brief as possible.
If you are hesitant to serve as an assessor, please know that if you are qualified to prepare students for KeysFest, you are qualified to assess students at an appropriate level. Assessing provides a valuable opportunity to observe students from other studios, gain insight into different teaching approaches, and encourage young musicians as they perform.
Many hands make light work, and your assistance helps create a positive experience for all participants.
IMPORTANT
Teachers participating in the Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event should print and complete a Judge's Form for each student and bring the forms to KeysFest on November 7.
Scores for either KeysFest event are not retained from year to year. Teachers are encouraged to keep records of student levels and scores for future participation.
AUDITION DAY
On November 7, students and their families will arrive at Heid Music and check in at the Welcome Table. Volunteers will direct students to their assigned audition rooms.
Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event
Each student must bring a completed Judge's Form with the selected levels and key choices indicated. After the performance, the judge will evaluate each category, record the student's score, and determine the ribbon designation earned for each event entered.
Etude Festival
Students will perform their selected etude and briefly introduce their piece as outlined in the audition expectations. Adjudicators will provide ratings and written comments for Elementary and Intermediate participants, while Advanced participants will receive comments or competition results according to their chosen division. All participants will receive a certificate of participation, and winners of the Advanced Competitive Division will receive cash awards.
We look forward to another exciting year of KeysFest and to the addition of the new Etude Festival. Thank you for helping us provide meaningful musical experiences for students throughout the Fox Valley.
Musically yours,
The KeysFest Committee
their musical growth through two engaging events. The Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences
Event encourages students to strengthen technical fluency, accuracy, and confidence through
the performance of essential keyboard skills.
New this year, the KeysFest Etude Festival invites students to explore the artistry and
musical depth of etude performance. Participants will demonstrate both technical skill and
musical expression while receiving valuable adjudicator feedback. The festival features
Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, with the Advanced level offering a
Competitive Division where outstanding performances will be recognized and winners will
be selected, as well as a Comments-Only Division for students seeking performance experience
and feedback.
Open to pianists from elementary through high school, KeysFest provides a supportive
and educational environment where students can set goals, celebrate achievements, gain
confidence through performance, and deepen their understanding of music. Whether building a
strong technical foundation or exploring the expressive possibilities of etude repertoire,
participants will be inspired to continue growing as musicians.
________________________________________________________________________________________
KEYSFEST INVITATION & INFORMATION
Dear Fox Valley Piano Teachers,
The KeysFest Team is excited to invite you and your students to participate in KeysFest 2026, to be held on November 7, 2026 (Saturday) at Heid Music. You'll find the requirements for the scales, arpeggios, chords & cadences event, the etude list, and everything you need to register and prepare.
Building on the success and enthusiasm of last year's inaugural event, KeysFest continues to provide students with meaningful opportunities to develop and demonstrate their technical and musical skills in a supportive and educational environment. This year, students may participate in one or both of the following events:
KeysFest Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event
This event encourages students to present technical fluency, accuracy, and confidence in fundamental keyboard skills they have gained. Students may enter any combination of the four categories and select levels according to their individual abilities and goals.
Requirements for this event are listed HERE.
NEW! KeysFest Etude Festival
We are excited to introduce a new event focused on the study and performance of etudes. Etudes are an important part of piano study, helping students develop technique, coordination, finger dexterity, musical expression, and stylistic awareness. They also provide excellent preparation for WMTA and WSMA auditions.
The Etude Festival features three levels of participation:
1. Elementary and Intermediate Participants will perform in an open audition format and receive comments and ratings from the adjudicator. Memorization is not required.
Advanced Participants may choose between:
- 2. Competitive Division (memorization required)
- 3. Comments-Only Division (memorization not required)
Performances will be evaluated on note accuracy, rhythm, dynamics, articulation, musical expression, and overall performance quality.
Students are expected to:
- Briefly share a technical or musical skill they have been developing through the study of the piece.
- Participants must provide one original score of their music for the judge. Those not performing from memory must provide two original scores of their music.
WHO MAY PARTICIPATE?
KeysFest is open to all piano teachers and students in the Fox Valley area. Teachers do not need to be members of FVMTA to participate.
REGISTRATION
Teachers planning to enter students in either KeysFest event should notify the KeysFest Committee by emailing [email protected].
Please include:
- Your intent to participate in KeysFest.
After notification is received, an individual registration page will be added for you in the KeysFest registration document. Detailed registration instructions will be provided at that time.
Registration will open on September 25 (Friday), and close at midnight on October 23 (Friday).
FEES
Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event
- $5 per category entered: Scales, Arpeggios, Chords, and Cadences are each considered separate events.
- Maximum fee per student: $15
- $10 per student entry
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Teachers are asked to submit one combined check for all participating students. Fees for both the Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event and the Etude Festival may be combined into a single payment.
Checks should be made payable to Fox Valley Music Teachers Association and postmarked by October 23, 2026 (Friday).
Mail payment to:
Lynn Orlando
417 S. Western Ave.
Neenah, WI 54956
Teacher Volunteer Requirements
Teachers entering students in either the KeysFest Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event or the KeysFest Etude Festival are required to volunteer on November 7, 2026 (Saturday).
Volunteer opportunities include:
- Assessing (judging) students
- Welcome Table assistance
- Room monitoring
- Directing students and families to audition rooms
Volunteer schedules will be arranged with flexibility in mind and kept as brief as possible.
If you are hesitant to serve as an assessor, please know that if you are qualified to prepare students for KeysFest, you are qualified to assess students at an appropriate level. Assessing provides a valuable opportunity to observe students from other studios, gain insight into different teaching approaches, and encourage young musicians as they perform.
Many hands make light work, and your assistance helps create a positive experience for all participants.
IMPORTANT
Teachers participating in the Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event should print and complete a Judge's Form for each student and bring the forms to KeysFest on November 7.
Scores for either KeysFest event are not retained from year to year. Teachers are encouraged to keep records of student levels and scores for future participation.
AUDITION DAY
On November 7, students and their families will arrive at Heid Music and check in at the Welcome Table. Volunteers will direct students to their assigned audition rooms.
Scales, Arpeggios, Chords & Cadences Event
Each student must bring a completed Judge's Form with the selected levels and key choices indicated. After the performance, the judge will evaluate each category, record the student's score, and determine the ribbon designation earned for each event entered.
Etude Festival
Students will perform their selected etude and briefly introduce their piece as outlined in the audition expectations. Adjudicators will provide ratings and written comments for Elementary and Intermediate participants, while Advanced participants will receive comments or competition results according to their chosen division. All participants will receive a certificate of participation, and winners of the Advanced Competitive Division will receive cash awards.
We look forward to another exciting year of KeysFest and to the addition of the new Etude Festival. Thank you for helping us provide meaningful musical experiences for students throughout the Fox Valley.
Musically yours,
The KeysFest Committee