Scale Olympics is a fun educational and motivational event, held in even-numbered years, which gives piano students the opportunity to set and accomplish goals in the areas of technique, theory, and musicality.

Students may enter any number of the nine events offered: Scales, Cadences, Arpeggios, Triads, Harmonization, Transposition, Sight Reading, Theory, and Ear Training. Each event is offered at 9 levels of difficulty, including Preparatory, so that even beginners can participate.

Students are awarded ribbons, based on points, for every event entered. A Blue ribbon means excellent (13-16 on a 16-point scale), Red means good (9-12 points), and White means fair (8 or fewer points). Students entering all nine events may receive one of the two top ribbon awards. A student earning Blue Ribbons in all nine events will receive the top prize of a Blue Rosette. Students earning at least 5 Blue Ribbons and no white ribbons will receive the runner-up Yellow Rosette.

In 2024, a total of 237 students from 28 area teachers, 24 judges and 14 volunteers participated in the competition.

2026

The Scale Olympics 2026 Handbook is now available! Significant revisions were made and can be found on P. 3 of the updated Handbook. Students will be scored based on the most recent handbook requirements, so please make sure you are preparing your student using the updated Handbook.  Level 2 and 3 SCAT events were changed so that keys match across the different events. Arpeggios Level 3 are now thumb turns (instead of cross hands), and Levels 7 and 8 arpeggios are now triplet rhythms.

Scale Olympics will be held on October 10, 2026 at Otterbein University.

Registration is open July 1st, 2026 through September 20th

Teacher Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ieph93GyRsw6LQi8iDMPk1o4gCcRUxYFaKx8DT9N-u4/edit?usp=drivesdk

Student Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HC6bhnxXuN0G9mLZ8TIg08GMKw41YO-TTfRzk_APLPQ/edit?usp=drivesdk

There are TWO registration forms: a teacher registration and a student registration.  The teacher only registers once, regardless of the number of students. The teacher must register each student separately.

Registration Fees:
1-4 events:  $32 / student  ($64 non-CEOMTA members)
5-9 events:   $37 / student  ($74 non-CEOMTA members)
Fees are non-refundable – no partial refunds will be issued

Registration fees will be invoiced for online payment (online bank transfer, debit card, or credit card). Online invoices will be generated after your teacher registration is received and will be emailed from the CEOMTA Treasurer.

Scholarships:

As an incentive for new teachers to try Scale Olympics, CEOMTA has received a private donation for Scale Olympics 2026! CEOMTA teachers participating in Scale Olympics for the first time can receive 1/2 off registration for up to 5 students (up to 25 scholarships are available in total). Please contact the Scale Olympics Chairmen to see if funds are still available and to apply. 

Score Sheets:

New for 2026 – Judges will now fill out score sheets online! You can practice with the new Judge’s Form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_lC8AoTrMgo6AeotpNhD_-Ti3cbHfR8rYPPHBiO6o3w/edit?usp=drivesdk

Teachers will fill out a single Student Event Sheet (rather than individual paper score sheets): https://drive.google.com/file/d/189AidSwVna5QAFhg-Dg4sGrOlzBjuTAI/view?usp=sharing

Each student MUST bring their completed Student Event Sheet with them to Scale Olympics – students that do not bring their sheet will not be able to participate!

Each teacher will be assigned a teacher number after registration closes. This number will be used on the Student Event Sheets so the student’s teacher can still remain anonymous to the judges. After Scale Olympics, teachers will be emailed a spreadsheet with their student’s results. Spreadsheet Guide for Teacher Feedback:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZilODHLQyn3Y7s0LiGNh-Cb3aukmIrNumrtzmQyIbWI/edit?usp=drive_link

Online Theory and Ear Training Tests:

All Theory and Ear Training pages in the Handbook were updated to reflect the material and questions types included in the online tests. Theory and Ear Training tests are taken online prior to students’ arrival at Scale Olympics. Test links will be emailed to teachers for distribution to their students on or by Thursday, October 8th. Students will have access to the test on Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10.  The exam MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE STUDENT ARRIVES AT SCALE OLYMPICS.  It is recommended that students at the Prep Level – Level 2 have adult assistance during the exam from either the teacher or a parent.

Theory Practice Tests:

Prep – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=6eb69f6210fe0131

Level 1 – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=6hx69f62173e3726

Level 2 – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=j4m69f621a6d4c26

Level 3 – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=9x369f621d8d0080

Level 4 – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=ft669f621fe973e4

Level 5 – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=p4469f62220db194

Level 6 – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=nk469f62251b8465

Level 7 – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=qcr69f622759c2b3

Level 8 – https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=nqh69f622a6498bf

Andrea Keil

(614) 406-7058