2026-2027 Digital Music Showcase

LINK to hear submitted 2026 Technology-based Compositions

PROJECT CATEGORIES:

Elementary Division (Grades K-5)

• Discovery Level (Grades K-2): Short, 15 t0 30 second projects celebrating foundational skills like pattern-making and sound storytelling. Perfect for tools like Chrome Music Lab or Incredibox

• Application Level (Grades 3-5): Projects (45-90 seconds) that demonstrate musical form (Beginning, Middle, End) and texture using platforms like Soundtrap, Beepbox, or other online tools.

Middle School Division (Grades 6-8)

• The Remix Challenge: Reinterpreting a familiar melody or genre using digital tools

• Original Soundscapes & Beats: Building unique atmospheric pieces or rhythmic tracks from scratch.

• Songwriting: An original song written by the student that focuses on telling a story through sung or rapped lyrics and is recorded in a DAW or similar tool.

High School Division (Grades 9-12)

• Covers & Remixes: High-level reimagining or sonic reinterpretation of pre-existing compositions.

• Mix Compositions: A technical “level playing field” where students engineer identical raw multi-tracks.

• Original Compositions: Advanced works highlighting electronic music, film scoring, or modern songwriting that focus on production.

• Songwriting: An original song written by the student that focuses on telling a story through sung or rapped lyrics and is recorded in a DAW or similar tool.

RULES & ELIGIBILITY

Open to all New Jersey students enrolled in an NJMEA member school’s music program. This is a juried showcase, not a ranked competition - entries are evaluated against a published rubric, not against one another.

ELIGIBILITY

• K-12 students enrolled in a New Jersey school music program

• Music teachers must hold current NAfME/NJMEA membership

• Projects may represent individuals or groups of up to four students. Elementary Division (K-2) projects can be whole-class submissions.

ORIGINALITY

All submissions must be original student work, including remixes which must be original in the scope of the treatment of the source music.

FILE REQUIREMENTS

Audio: high-bitrate MP3; Video: MP4

ADJUDICATION

Entries are reviewed by a panel of NJMEA-affiliated adjudicators and educators using a published rubric.

TIMELINE

• Submission Portal Opens/Stems Released: November 1

• Submission Deadline: D December 15

• Adjudication Period: January 1-15

• Distribution of Project Scores & Certificates: February 1

• Online Showcase Published: February 18

SUBMISSION PORTAL

The Submission Portal will be open from November 1 through December 15. Please check back for information in November.

FAQs

Do I need a Google account to submit?

Yes - Google Forms file-uploaded questions require the submitter to sign in with a Google account to upload files.

Can I submit to more than one category?

Yes - the cost is $20 per project, but each submission requires a category selection and one project upload. Submitting in more than one category requires additional projects with $20 per project.

What happens after I submit?

You will receive a confirmation email. Adjudication results will be available on or around February 1.

Who do I contact with questions?

For questions about registration and the submittal portal, contact Vinnie DuBeau.