Music Competitions

  *MUSIC APPROVAL—Music can be emailed for approval from January 1st - January 31st.

*January 31st (Friday): Deadline for any music approval that is not on the pre-approved list. Please remember that for all musical performances, instrumental music needs to be approved, as well as the vocal music.   

*NOTICE - All Music leaders/School sponsors must watch the Music video below before submitting any songs for approval. We hope this video provides a better understanding of the quality of music expected at competition.

  1. Each entry must bring three copies of the appropriate judges’ forms for their entry. The top portion of each judges’ form must be completely filled out. Choirs should only submit one judges form, not one  for each song. Please do not use sheet protectors for judge forms and music.

2. Three copies of each piece of music should be presented with the forms. Photocopies should be submitted for the judges to mark for comment.

ALL ENTRIES MUST HAVE at least one original copy of the music to be shown to the judges. If the music is out of print, proof of a legally obtained permission must be submitted. If proof has not been legally obtained, participants will be disqualified.

3. All participants are required to provide linkage to the Bible and to Christ (Form A). All Scripture references must come from the King James Version of the Bible. Please email the FCAA office (bedell@desoto.net) if you have trouble finding the required linkages. A copy of this form (Form A) must be included with the judge forms.

4. Measures of each music selection must be numbered. If music is on the pre-approved list, the publisher must be highlighted or noted on the judge form or music.

5. No student or group will perform the same selection in two consecutive years. In addition, the same selection is not to be used by multiple groups from the same school in the same year.

6. Deviations from the music should be noted on the music. This is very important so that the judges can correctly follow along with the music.

7. Either the leader or one of the participants should introduce themselves and announce the selection they will be performing.

8. Generally, any reproduction of a copyrighted work is an infringement of the copyright owner and subjects the person reproducing to civil liabilities. However, among the exceptions to this general rule is the “fair use” doctrine set forth in Section 107, Title 17 of the United States code.

The fair use of a copyrighted work, including reproduction, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, including multiple copies for classroom use, for scholarship or research is not an infringement of copyright.

9. No choreography, planned or unnecessary bodily movement, including hand clapping, foot stomping, deaf signing, finger snapping, etc., will be permitted.

10. No pre-recorded soundtracks are permitted.

11. Music that is heavily rhythmic, heavily syncopated and has worldly sounding vocal styles should be avoided. A crooning, night club or country sound is not permitted.

12. Music that is of the following styles will not be permitted:

● CCM (Contemporary Christian Music)

● Pop

● Rock

● Jazz

● Modern Southern Gospel

● Christian Rock

13. No accompanists are provided by FCAA. Students must bring their own.

14. An emailed copy of the music being performed should be submitted to fcaafinearts@yahoo.com for approval between January 1 and January 31. Any music not submitted during this time can only come from the pre-approved list of music publishers. Please remember that even piano and instrumental music needs to be approved.

A music approval letter must be included with judge forms if music is not on the pre-approved list. An FCAA Coordinator will send a list of each school’s approved songs after all songs have been submitted.

MUSIC MUST BE CHECKED EVERY YEAR EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN APPROVED IN PASTYEARS.

15. All entries should be memorized. Group instrumental pieces do NOT need to be memorized.

Minimum time for all music entries is 1 minute for the Jr. High division and 1½ minutes for the Sr. High division.

16. A group that is composed of a mixture of middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) students will be judged with the high school competition.

17. *Any classical music after 1910 will need to go through the approval process. 

18. *Movie Film scores are not permitted.*