Competition changes. (Dear Reader).(Editorial)

This issue of American Music Teacher magazine contains information on the MTNA National Student Competitions for 2003-2004. As an association of music teachers, the welfare of students is ingrained in our character. These competitions have provided thousands of students with unbelievable opportunities for performance and success. Since their inception in 1964, the MTNA competitions have become the most successful and the most prestigious of any student competitions in the country.

Much of the success is due to the fact that our competitions have changed constantly over the years. Each successive group of leaders has made changes to improve the competitions, sometimes by adding ideas, sometimes by removing items and at other times, by doing both. All the changes were implemented with a deep commitment to make the competitions better than before.

Recently, the Board of Directors approved a new round of changes to the MTNA competitions, which are effective with the 2003-2004 competitions. In July 2002, MTNA President Wayne Gibson, NCTM, appointed a Task Force consisting of Paul Stewart, NCTM, Chair, Ann Fernandez, NCTM, and Scott McBride Smith, NCTM, to make proposals to the Board for simplifying repertoire requirements, rules and procedures.

The Task Force submitted its recommendations at the December 2002 meeting of the Board of Directors. After much discussion, debate and amending, the Board approved the new approach.

The Task Force was motivated by the desire to make the competitions fairer to all competitors and less complex in operations. To quote the Task Force: "The competition rules, procedures and repertoire requirements have evolved over many years with contributions from many sources. Rules have been added in hopes of eliminating all real and/or imagined advantages one student might have over another. This well-intentioned effort to cover every ...