Solo and Ensemble Documents
2022 District 12 S&E: February 5, 2022 @ Franklin High School
Registrations due: October 29, 2021
Registrations due: October 29, 2021
2022 State S&E: March 19, 2022 @ TBD
South Lyon High School Address: 1000 N. Lafayette St, South Lyon, MI 48178
Map of South Lyon High School (outside, entrances etc.)
Map of South Lyon High School (outside, entrances etc.)
Things to consider when planning your performance
1. If you are playing a solo, contact an accompanist early. Don't wait, because they fill up. You can use a piano player of your choosing, or pick one from the recommended list above. Richard Lenz is highly recommended, especially for those that might be working on advanced solos with difficult accompaniment parts.
2. Music should be chosen very soon if it has not been already. Remember the high school minimum time requirement is 2:00. If your solo or ensemble is shorter than this, you must choose a 2nd one to perform with it. You are not allowed to add repeats to extend music. You are allowed to make cuts to shorten music.
3. Make sure your music is legal! You must have one original copy of the score. If it's something you purchased or legally downloaded from the internet, bring the receipt or other information that indicates that it is legally obtained. Remember you can't just take copyrighted music from the internet (there's a lot out there, but it's illegal!).
4. If you are playing in an ensemble, you must have a score. You can not hand the judge separate parts.
5. You must cover all parts of the music. If it's a trio, it must be played by three people - you can't leave a part out. You may substitute instruments (i.e. a trumpet and clarinet could play a trumpet duet), but all parts must be covered.
6. Know your transpositions!!!! If you are playing an ensemble with mixed instrumentation, you may have to transpose parts. Check this transposition list and make sure you are playing in the right key. If your instrument is a different key than the music you are playing, you must transpose in order for it to work:
C instruments:
Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, String Bass, Mallet Percussion
Bb Instruments:
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, Cornet
Eb Instruments:
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
F Instrument:
French Horn
5. Start practicing! The practice rooms are open daily after school.
Special notes for State Solo & Ensemble Festival
If you receive a 1 at District Solo & Ensemble you qualify for performance at the State Solo & Ensemble Festival, which will be held on a Saturday in March. Some things you need to know about state.
1. Registration is due by the Tuesday after districts. You can print the form from the button at the top of this page and return to me in class with the registration fee. Checks can be made to Churchill Music Boosters.
2. Percussion Ensemble events are automatically signed up, you do not need to register or pay the fee as this is covered in your Percussion Ensemble registration fee.
3. Students in an ensemble should plan on performing their ensemble music again. There are no new rules at State, but there is a higher level of musical expectation.
4. 9th grade soloists should plan on performing their solo music again. There are no new rules at State, but there is a higher level of musical expectation.
5. 10th- 12th grade soloists will have three parts to their state performance:
Solo (50 points)
Scales (25 points)
Sightreading (25 points)
If you receive a very high rating you can quality to perform with the Honor Band or Orchestra at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival which is held in Kalamazoo in May.
6. What "Proficiency Level Am I?"
10th graders can go Pro 1
11th graders can go Pro 1 or 2
12th graders can go Pro 1, 2, or 3
The higher the Proficiency level you go, the lower your score can be to qualify for MYAF. For instance a Pro 1 soloist might qualify with a 99 while a Pro 3 soloist might qualify with a 94. The cut-off scores change yearly, the selection committee simply takes the highest scores from each proficiency level from around the state.
7. Prepare your scales!!!! This should be an easy 25 points for you. You can print the scale sheet from the solo and ensemble link above, and the scales are written out for you in your warm up books. When practicing your scales, do not transpose! If it says "C Major" then you play your C Major, not concert C Major. Memorize everything. Play in the rhythm indicated. Practice both tongued and slurred. Practice at a moderate and even tempo, you don't get extra points for playing really fast.
8. Battery Percussion and Piano proficiencies have some extra requirements. I'll try to upload those to my website next week, but if you don't see them, you can get a copy from me.
9. Use sightreadingfactory.com to practice your sightreading. Start at a low level and work your way higher. This will be very similar to what you will receive at State. Make sure you play all of the articulations and dynamics indicated!
10. If your ensemble is the best the judge hears all day, you may be nominated to continue into the audition round for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. If you choose to continue, you will submit an audio recording of your ensemble. One ensemble from each of these categories is selected to perform at MYAF: woodwind, brass, percussion, strings, and mixed. If you qualify advance to the audition round, Mr. Van Ham can help you create and submit the audio recording.
1. Registration is due by the Tuesday after districts. You can print the form from the button at the top of this page and return to me in class with the registration fee. Checks can be made to Churchill Music Boosters.
2. Percussion Ensemble events are automatically signed up, you do not need to register or pay the fee as this is covered in your Percussion Ensemble registration fee.
3. Students in an ensemble should plan on performing their ensemble music again. There are no new rules at State, but there is a higher level of musical expectation.
4. 9th grade soloists should plan on performing their solo music again. There are no new rules at State, but there is a higher level of musical expectation.
5. 10th- 12th grade soloists will have three parts to their state performance:
Solo (50 points)
Scales (25 points)
Sightreading (25 points)
If you receive a very high rating you can quality to perform with the Honor Band or Orchestra at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival which is held in Kalamazoo in May.
6. What "Proficiency Level Am I?"
10th graders can go Pro 1
11th graders can go Pro 1 or 2
12th graders can go Pro 1, 2, or 3
The higher the Proficiency level you go, the lower your score can be to qualify for MYAF. For instance a Pro 1 soloist might qualify with a 99 while a Pro 3 soloist might qualify with a 94. The cut-off scores change yearly, the selection committee simply takes the highest scores from each proficiency level from around the state.
7. Prepare your scales!!!! This should be an easy 25 points for you. You can print the scale sheet from the solo and ensemble link above, and the scales are written out for you in your warm up books. When practicing your scales, do not transpose! If it says "C Major" then you play your C Major, not concert C Major. Memorize everything. Play in the rhythm indicated. Practice both tongued and slurred. Practice at a moderate and even tempo, you don't get extra points for playing really fast.
8. Battery Percussion and Piano proficiencies have some extra requirements. I'll try to upload those to my website next week, but if you don't see them, you can get a copy from me.
9. Use sightreadingfactory.com to practice your sightreading. Start at a low level and work your way higher. This will be very similar to what you will receive at State. Make sure you play all of the articulations and dynamics indicated!
10. If your ensemble is the best the judge hears all day, you may be nominated to continue into the audition round for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. If you choose to continue, you will submit an audio recording of your ensemble. One ensemble from each of these categories is selected to perform at MYAF: woodwind, brass, percussion, strings, and mixed. If you qualify advance to the audition round, Mr. Van Ham can help you create and submit the audio recording.