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Piano is a performing art. My students play in formal 4 recitals (optional)  throughout the school year. Recitals provide a tangible goal to work towards. In having a set date and a pre-planned performance selection, your child learns how to manage their practice time and what it feels like to polish and perfect a piece.  They provide a chance for your children (and you!) to reflect upon where they’ve “come from”  when watching beginning students and to see  "where they’ll go” when watching more advanced students.  There are few things more motivating to a piano student than watching their peers perform.  Recitals provide a chance for your child to experience nervousness… and to realize that those feelings are okay. Early experiences with successfully conquering nerves gives children confidence. They provide a chance for your child to practice public speaking and to gain confidence in front of a group; two skills that will serve your child well in many other areas of his or her life. They provide an opportunity for your child to get to know his or her peers who are also taking lessons building community within a studio. Speaking and performing in a safe environment means that your child gains important experience in front of a crowd.  Best of all they give you the opportunity to provide genuine and heart-felt praise and the opportunity for to sit back and marvel at the pride-inducing sight of your own child making beautiful music! 

 All of the piano students have an opportunity to participate in the NFMC Festival, which is designed to give junior (age 18 and younger) and adult member musicians of all abilities the opportunity to perform and receive a yearly evaluation in a non-competitive environment. Participation in NFMC Festivals promotes music study, stimulates interest in the musical literature of both the USA and the world, and encourages each participant to reach a high standard of musical achievement. The NFMC Festivals Cup Award Plan and Honor Certificates offer additional incentives to encourage continued participation in NFMC Festivals. Dedicated to finding and fostering young musical talent, the NFMC conducts annual Junior Festivals with more than 117,000 participants.

Approximately 3,600 students participate in Festival in Oregon each year. Our mission statement with festivals is to encourage student interest and involvement in music study, to educate through evaluation by qualified adjudicators, and to provide motivation for students to continue music study at a high level of musical achievement. 

OMTA Syllabus Exams take place twice a year

Syllabus is a music curriculum that covers technique, music theory, sight reading, rhythm reading, and repertoire. The ten levels of Syllabus are graduated in difficulty and challenge students to achieve musical goals. After completion of a level, students can opt to be assessed by a master teacher who provides a helpful critique.