1. Get familiar with the test format. Knowing the name of a piece is just the first step. Composer dates, Music and composer spelling, and historical context are all needed to succeed.
2.Use the study guide! While we encourage you to explore external information about the works, everything you need to succeed at the contest can be found in the study guide.
3.Use The Naxos Music Library. Once your team is registered, you can login here. You can also download Naxos' iPhone app or Android app. Using Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, or other sources to find the selections can lead you to sub-par performances, poor recordings, or sometimes the wrong piece altogether.
4. Don't Procrastinate. Between Homework, extra-curriculars, and college prep, we know how busy everyday life gets. That's why we give about six months of prep to master this material. Try taking 5 minutes a day to listen to a selection or two, and read a page from the Study Guide. Have the MLC playlist on during your daily commute.
5. Work as a Team! You and your team get to converse about every question, so not every team member needs to know everything. For example, some teams have each member focus on a couple genres/periods, allowing for one person to be an "expert" in a certain section. Others groups divide by the type of information: One member memorizes all the dates, another focuses on spellings, and the third for music recognition. Whatever you choose, remember to work together!