In this article, you will find information for Vance Music students about the 2026 Andover Piano Festival:
- Teacher Availability
- 2026 Andover Piano Festival Dates
- Location & Google Map Links
- Vance Music Festival Schedule PDF
- Original Andover Festival Letter
- Who Can Attend
- Festival Procedures
- Festival Etiquette
2026 Andover Piano Festival Basics
Saturday, March 7th, 2026
Andover High School: 1744 N. Andover Road, Andover, Kansas 67002
Andover High School Google Map
Please note that the location is at a different high school than last year’s festival. Please make sure you go to the correct school.
Parents and students, please review the 2026 Andover Piano Festival procedures and etiquette further down in the article.
Students & parents: if you have questions about the 2026 Andover Piano Festival after accessing these PDF files & reading the rest of the article, please contact Marissa
Who Can Attend The 2026 Andover Piano Festival
Both performance rooms at the 2026 Andover Piano Festival are large enough for students to invite family and friends. The auditorium has plentiful seating, and the choir room is a large classroom.
Vance Music students are encouraged to show their support for one another by listening and applauding each other as they do at Vance Music recitals. Vance Music staff members will also be present at the festival to support students.
2026 Andover Festival Etiquette
- Bring your music to the festival. Make sure your name and contact information (phone number or email) are written inside the front cover. Make sure measure numbers are written in red ink above each bar line. No photocopies are allowed at festival.
- Talk softly in the halls, especially close to performance rooms. If you need to have a louder conversation, please move to the lobby or step outside.
- No running in the building.
- Children should be accompanied by an adult in the building.
- Turn off cell phones and electronic devices before entering performance rooms.
- If you plan to use a camera inside the performance room, make sure to turn off any sound effects prior to entering. Refrain from flash photography in the performance rooms.
- Audience members should not talk while students are warming up, performing, or while judges are talking.
- Parents are welcome to video record their student’s performance. Make sure the recording device is silent and will not distract performers, judges, or audience members.
- Be courteous to festival staff and judges. They are usually volunteering their time or working for a fraction of their usual pay. Thank them for their help and time!
2026 Andover Festival Procedure
The Andover Piano Festival is a great introductory festival. No ratings or prizes are awarded; students who perform receive a page of written comments from their judge. Judges are cheerful, encouraging, and eager to help students feel good about their performance.
- Prior to the festival, prepare your music: write your name and contact information inside the front cover of your book, write measure numbers in red ink above each bar line, and erase all practice markings you do not wish the judge to see. No photocopies are allowed at festivals, so make sure to bring your music book with you.
- Arrive thirty minutes before your performance time.
- Check in at the main desk, usually located in the lobby just inside the main entrance.
- Find a warm-up room. You may need to wait until a room or piano is available. Limit your warm-up to 5 minutes to ensure that all students have ample preparation time. Use your own time to prepare physically and mentally for your performance.
- Go to your performance room. Check in with the door monitor.
- Open your music to the correct page for the judge.
- When it is your turn to perform, go to the piano and adjust your bench.
- If the judge invites you to warm up, play a scale and/or cadence. Use this warm-up to familiarize yourself with the sound and touch of the instrument you will perform on. Do not warm up by playing your song, or part of your song.
- When the judge is ready for you to perform, stand up to announce. Try to face the judge, and if possible, also the audience. Announce confidently and slowly. Say your name, grade, song, and composer. Make sure to smile!
- Be seated, re-check your position, and breathe. Perform your song.
- Smile and bow. (If you have to face different directions to bow the the judge and audience, bow to the judge first, audience second.)
- The judge may give you verbal comments or even a mini lesson if they have time. Listen politely and attentively.
- Thank the judge for listening to you.
- Collect your music.
- After you leave the performance area, take a picture of yourself with your certificate.
- Bring your comments sheet to your next lesson, so your teacher can make a copy for your studio file.
Celebrate Your Achievement After The 2026 Andover Piano Festival
- Make a scrapbook (physical or digital) of your performances. For every event, consider including pictures, certificates, comment sheets, descriptions, and a short journal entry detailing what you thought about the festival. Scrapbooks are a fun way to see your progress.
- Make a phone call or write a letter to somebody you know. This may be a friend, a teacher, a grandparent, etc. Tell them all about your big day.
- At some music events, like the 2026 Andover piano festival, students may receive small tokens, such as pencils. Create a shadow box or trophy case to display these tokens. Label each one with the event name and year. These physical displays remind you that your hard work will pay off!
