HOWARD COUNTY
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL
FESTIVAL GUIDELINES
ELIGIBILITY
Participants must be members of the music program in their school. Students who receive a superior “I” rating on Grade II music or higher are eligible to participate at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Music must be on the state approved music list, and students must perform music at the same level or higher than the music performed at the county festival.
MUSIC CLASSIFICATION
Participants may enter the festival on six grade levels designated according to music difficulty:
I-Easy, II-Moderately Easy, III-Average, IV-Moderately Difficult, V-Difficult, VI-Very Difficult
ENTRANCE LIMITATIONS
Schools may enter unlimited solo and ensemble events. However, each student is limited to a maximum of three (3) events.
MUSIC REQUIREMENTS
Participants should perform music from the MBDA/MODA/MCDA/NYSSMA State Music Lists. Students may perform appropriate music that is not on the list, but they will not be eligible to perform at the state level and will be adjudicated for the rating “comments only”. Participants must provide an original copy of music for the adjudicator. Failure to provide an original copy of music for the adjudicator will result in a penalty of one rating lower.
ACCOMPANISTS
All solos must be accompanied by piano unless the music is specifically written to be performed unaccompanied. Failure to provide an accompanist will result in a penalty of one rating lower.
ENSEMBLES
In all ensemble events, all music must be performed by students. Parts that are missing, or not performed, or performed by an adult will result in a penalty of one rating lower.
TIME LIMIT
A maximum of ten (10) minutes for instrumental events will be allowed. This includes entering and leaving the room, warm-up, performance (including scales for soloists), and comments by the adjudicator.
SCALE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Students performing instrumental solos (except snare drum and timpani) must perform one chromatic scale and one major scale appropriate for their instrument and grade level. The adjudicator may select one of the following major scales: C, G, D, A, E, F, B flat, E flat, or A flat. Scales are to be performed one octave ascending and descending, (flutes and soprano clarinets, two octaves), evenly and smoothly in a 16th note pattern at a metronome speed of a quarter note = 72. The scales may be performed before or after the solo, and will be included in the adjudicator’s final rating.
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL
FESTIVAL GUIDELINES
ELIGIBILITY
Participants must be members of the music program in their school. Students who receive a superior “I” rating on Grade II music or higher are eligible to participate at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Music must be on the state approved music list, and students must perform music at the same level or higher than the music performed at the county festival.
MUSIC CLASSIFICATION
Participants may enter the festival on six grade levels designated according to music difficulty:
I-Easy, II-Moderately Easy, III-Average, IV-Moderately Difficult, V-Difficult, VI-Very Difficult
ENTRANCE LIMITATIONS
Schools may enter unlimited solo and ensemble events. However, each student is limited to a maximum of three (3) events.
MUSIC REQUIREMENTS
Participants should perform music from the MBDA/MODA/MCDA/NYSSMA State Music Lists. Students may perform appropriate music that is not on the list, but they will not be eligible to perform at the state level and will be adjudicated for the rating “comments only”. Participants must provide an original copy of music for the adjudicator. Failure to provide an original copy of music for the adjudicator will result in a penalty of one rating lower.
ACCOMPANISTS
All solos must be accompanied by piano unless the music is specifically written to be performed unaccompanied. Failure to provide an accompanist will result in a penalty of one rating lower.
ENSEMBLES
In all ensemble events, all music must be performed by students. Parts that are missing, or not performed, or performed by an adult will result in a penalty of one rating lower.
TIME LIMIT
A maximum of ten (10) minutes for instrumental events will be allowed. This includes entering and leaving the room, warm-up, performance (including scales for soloists), and comments by the adjudicator.
SCALE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Students performing instrumental solos (except snare drum and timpani) must perform one chromatic scale and one major scale appropriate for their instrument and grade level. The adjudicator may select one of the following major scales: C, G, D, A, E, F, B flat, E flat, or A flat. Scales are to be performed one octave ascending and descending, (flutes and soprano clarinets, two octaves), evenly and smoothly in a 16th note pattern at a metronome speed of a quarter note = 72. The scales may be performed before or after the solo, and will be included in the adjudicator’s final rating.
