Dust off your favorite costumes, tune up your instruments, and get your video cameras ready!
The Illinois Music Association is thrilled to announce our brand-new, family-friendly video submission event: the Spooktacular Music Video Festival! 
This exciting, music video festival is the perfect way for students to showcase their musical talents, celebrate the Halloween season, and win awesome awards from home.
Everything You Need to Know
- Who Can Enter: Open to musicians of all ages and skill levels!
- Instruments Welcomed: Piano, Vocals, Accordion, Guitar, Strings, Drums, and Ukulele.
- The Mission: Record a video of yourself performing your favorite song. Costumes and spooky creativity are highly encouraged!
- Prizes: Every participant has the chance to earn festive Ribbons & Special Awards.
- Entry Fee: Just $15 per video submission.
Mark Your Calendars!
Submissions Open: Monday, September 21, 2026
Submissions Close: Saturday, October 12, 2026 (Midnight)
How to Enter
- Practice your piece (and pick out your best Halloween costume!).
- Record a video of your performance.
- Submit your video online between Sept. 21 and Oct. 12.
Spooktacular Rules
All video submissions must be received between Sep. 21 – Oct. 12, 2026
Results will be given to your instructors by October 31, 2026
Entry Fee: $15
- Eligibility: Open to students of all ages
- Submission Format: This is a video submission “solo” festival (you are only being critiqued on your performance). Performances must be recorded and submitted as video files or as a YouTube link.
- To participate in the costume award, you must upload a photo. Photo will be used on our website.
Instrument Categories: (solos only, no duets or ensembles)
- Piano/ Keyboard
- Guitar (Acoustic or electric)
- Ukulele
- Vocals (Pre-recorded accompaniments or live accompanists are acceptable)
- Drums (Acoustic or electric)
- Accordion
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Self-accompaniment
- Vocals with any instrument
- No prerecorded accompaniment
- Music Choice: Participants may choose any piece of music they like—classical, pop, jazz, rock, folk, etc. (Music does not need to come from the IMA required/suggested lists). We recommend Halloween themed music, but there is no set rule on your musical choice.
- Memorization is not required
- Accompaniment: Accompaniment (live or backing track) is optional for all entries except self-accompaniment.
- Editing: No video or audio editing is allowed within the performance. The video must be one continuous take.
- Special awards are also given for the most creative costume! Have fun dressing up for your performance!!
- Quality: Videos should be clear and stable, with good audio quality. You don’t need professional equipment—a phone camera is fine!
- Angle: Ensure the performer and their instrument are fully visible (refer to video examples at the bottom)
- Introduction: Start your video by stating your first name, age, instrument, and name of your piece.
- Video Submission Method: Submit your video using our online registration form (The video can be uploaded, or you can send a link to your YouTube video.)
- Sheet Music Submission Method: Submit your sheet music using our online registration form (The sheet music must be in .pdf format and must be from the original music – not a copy.) Measures should be numbered. Pre-numbered measures by the publisher is acceptable, as is numbering the first measure of each line.
- Each student may enter in as many categories as they like, however each song/piece must be registered on a separate registration form. (Each registration can only be used for one entry.)
- By submitting a video, participants (or their parents/guardians) give permission for the video to be used in FunFest promotions.