Community Arts Access Project

125 central Minnesota student pianists will attend and participate in the 2017 Keyboard Festival on April 7 and 8. The Keyboard Festival will provide a venue for area piano teachers to be evaluated on their teaching strategies and to receive fresh insights and methods in teaching based on the performance of their students at the Festival. The Keyboard Festival will provide an opportunity for area piano students to meet other pianists and listen to others play by listening to the second round auditions and by listening to the Honors Concert. Each clinician and participating teacher is asked to fill out a written evaluation after the completion of the Festival. Participating students are also encouraged to fill out an evaluation. The Music Center will track teacher participation and student participation and expect a 70% return for the next year's Festival. Approximately 30 participating students will perform at a high level of proficiency (as demonstrated in the first two rounds) in the Honors Concert following the Festival.