Performing Arts Passport
New in 2022! Piano Teachers' Forum Performing Arts Passport
The Piano Teachers' Forum of Grand Rapids is excited to announce a brand new concert initiative in partnership with St Cecilia Music Center. Through this program we hope to inspire students to experience live, professional performing arts events in a wide variety of genres (dance, voice, theater, instrumental, etc.) We believe that these kinds of performances will bring joy and inspiration, and will motivate listeners to a deeper level of passion and commitment to their own musical growth. We also hope to develop life-long music supporters along the way.
With these goals in mind, we have developed the Performing Arts Passport specifically for the members of the Piano Teachers' Forum of Grand Rapids and their students. (Not a member? Join here!) Thanks to a one-year grant from Michigan Music Teachers Association, as well as a generous donation from Affordable Limousine, we are able to offer this program free for our members this year!
Program Overview
How it works:
Each time a student attends a qualifying concert* they fill out one raffle ticket and enter it into a two-stage prize drawing. In Stage 1, one winning ticket is drawn from within each teacher's studio. Prizes vary, as each teacher is responsible for this prize. Winners from Stage 1 are entered into a Grand Prize drawing of all participating teachers in our Forum. The winner of this Stage 2 drawing gets a limo ride and tickets for 4 to a St Cecilia Music Center concert of their choice. Special thanks to St Cecilia and Affordable Limousine for their generous donations.
Each student who is registered for the program will be given a special Performing Arts Passport. This booklet is meant to be used as an autograph book. Students are encouraged to meet the performers and get their autograph after the concert whenever possible. Students are also encouraged to take selfies and ask their parents to share their photo on our PTFGR Facebook page!
*see FAQs below for criteria for qualifying concerts
FAQs
Who can participate?
Any student whose teacher is a member of the Piano Teachers' Forum of Grand Rapids. Teachers must fill out a registration form for each student who participates.
How can I find local performances?
Through our partnership with St Cecilia Music Center, we are delighted to offer discounted tickets to their 2022-2023 Chamber and Jazz Series concerts. These are exclusive to the Performing Arts Passport program. Students will be given a special discount code by their teacher upon enrollment in the program. These tickets will be $13 each and are on a first come, first served basis. Students will get double raffle entries for these concerts!
In addition to these outstanding concerts, we also have a comprehensive listing of local concerts that you can access here! This list is updated regularly and includes a variety of genres.
What performances qualify?
In order to encourage a high level of quality, performances must meet the following criteria in order to count toward this initiative:
- The performer should be a professional or semi-professional (eg. either they get paid to perform, or attendees pay to attend). The performance quality should be at a collegiate level or higher. Some exceptions to this would be audition-only high school groups like GR Youth Symphony, St Cecilia Junior Symphony, All-State Choral performances, etc.
- Because this initiative seeks to expose students to performances outside of their normal exposure, school performing arts should not count unless they are bringing in a professional guest artist who is performing on multiple songs
- Collegiate level performing arts are encouraged
- Performances can be ballet, opera, symphony, jazz, theater, band, popular music artists, etc.
- The performance must last at least 30 minutes
- Live music/arts performance must be the focal point of the event you attend (not simply background sound)
When can I get started?
The dates of the program will run from September 1st, 2022 through June 1st, 2023 with studio drawings taking place between June 1 and June 7, and the grand prize drawing taking place the week of June 11th, 2023. However, feel free to join even after the start date! It's never too late to start attending live performances.
I'm a Piano Forum Member. How do I register for this program?
Members can click here to access our registration form. (Parents, please ask your teacher to register your kids.) Please note that this is a pilot program and teachers will be asked to fill out an extensive survey at the end of the year. Thanks for your patience and participation as we seek to improve this program and potentially seek out grants for future years.
After completing the registration, teachers will have access to passport booklets (these can be picked up at West Michigan Piano) and printable raffle tickets (each teacher prints their own tickets). A detailed explanation of the program and instructions for teachers will be emailed and can also be accessed here.