Are You Ready for Solo & Ensemble?

What is Solo & Ensemble?

 Let’s talk about one of the amazing student opportunities for musical development here in Wisconsin. The annual Solo & Ensemble festival program is organized by the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA), and draws in more than 100,000 students each year, from every county in the state! At these festivals, students will perform a selection from a list of approved musical works in front of an audience and adjudicator, receiving valuable feedback on their performance. If they receive a top rating on a Class A selection at a District Festival, that student advances on to a State Solo & Ensemble Festival.

Every year over 32,000 students in thousands of events perform at State Solo & Ensemble festivals, making this one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. Wisconsin is proud of its long tradition of fostering and encouraging musical excellence and growth.

Selecting Music

If you haven’t already selected your music, don’t worry. There’s still time to talk with your band/choir director or your private instructor for advice. You can browse music on hand at your local Heid Music location, where you will find a section of the print music department devoted to the WSMA Festival list. If you prefer the convenience of online shopping, you can also browse the WSMA inventory online at www.heidmusic.com/print-music/wsma-contest-music/ where you can easily sort by event and class level.

If you are selecting a piece in January, it would be smart to consider the amount of time you have to fully prepare something. Remember that the goal of these events is to provide useful feedback to help you grow as a musician – so don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. For high school juniors and seniors considering a career in music performance or education, this is a great way to prepare for the college audition process. For younger students, it can be a wonderful way to develop better individual practice habits and solo performance skills.

What Will I Need?

A well-prepared performer will need the following things to help have a fulfilling Solo & Ensemble experience.

• Two original copies of music- Photocopies cannot be used, except in very specific circumstances involving unavailable or out-of-print works. In the interest of respecting and valuing the work of composers, valid copies of the performed music should be purchased. Your choir or band director may be able to provide a “judge’s copy”, so be sure to discuss this well in advance so that you are not scrambling to order music the week of your festival. Don’t forget to write in measure numbers for your judge’s copy!
• Well-maintained Instrument– Make sure any issues of your horn, drum, or voice are properly cared for or serviced. Now is the time to check with our repair team if you’ve put off any service issues from fall. Percussionists – make sure all the equipment you’ll need is either with you, or provided by the host site. Vocalists – stay healthy and wear warm clothing, drink plenty of water, and avoid yelling at sporting events.
• Accompanist (if necessary) - Respect your accompanist's time by contacting them now, when you’ve selected your piece. Give them adequate time to prepare, and work with them to schedule rehearsals. They will also need to have an original copy of the music.
• Plan For The Day – Make sure you have travel arrangements made, and that you budget yourself time to arrive and warm up sufficiently before your scheduled events. Get plenty of sleep, eat well, and drink plenty of water. Most of all – have fun and enjoy your performance!

Solo & Ensemble is a rewarding and enriching experience for young musicians, and with proper preparation you can maximize your own rewards. Practice hard, and keep making music!