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Solo and Ensemble 

SOLO & ENSEMBLE IS AN ADJUDICATED PERFORMANCE OF CHAMBER MUSIC OR SOLO REPERTOIRE BY ONE OR MORE STUDENTS.

Chamber music is any piece of music with more

than one person on an instrument (duos, trios, quartets).

Solo repertoire is piece of music either with or without

piano accompaniment.

All 7th and 8th grade students have the opportunity

to participate in the Solo & Ensemble program.  

Solo & Ensemble is a great way for students to challenge

themselves and learn to perform in a small group.

Mrs. Homes and Mrs. McInnis can assist in choosing

music, or can arrange music so a variety of instruments

can perform together!  We are also fortunate to have a

wonderful piano accompanist who loves to work with

students preparing solos! 

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What Does Participating in Solo & Ensemble Require?

  • In the Fall, applications for interest will be available for students to fill out via Google Forms.  These will be turned in to Mrs. Homes and Mrs. McInnis. 

  • A Permission slip will go home for parents to sign in November. 

  • A nominal fee ($5 per student per ensemble) to host the festival will be collected from students who are participating. 

  • Students will be responsible for coordinating practice time with their ensemble outside of class.  There will be limited time in class for students to receive coaching and assistance from the directors or music coaches.

  • The Solo & Ensemble Festival will be in February where students will perform for esteemed judges who are highly regarded music educators. 

  • Students who receive a Superior or Excellent + rating at the festival will have the opportunity to perform again in April at the Solo & Ensemble Recital. 

  • Mrs. Homes and Mrs. McInnis will then choose select solos & ensembles to perform at the End of the Year Concerts in May. 

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Kick off will be the Week of 9/9/24

Festival  is scheduled for 2/8/25

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Why Participate in Solo & Ensemble?

  • Participation requires students to spend more time practicing and working on mastering their instrument or voice.  It provides them with motivation to practice outside the classroom and go beyond their ensemble music's challenges and focus.

  • The most striking improvement shown by solo and ensemble festival participants in their large ensemble experiences is their confidence.  Now more aware of their capabilities, more comfortable with their musical skills and better able to read and interpret music.  These students now not only contribute greatly to the overall musical effect of their ensemble, but provide motivation and leadership for the other participants.  

  • Ensembles teach "teamwork" in that each member has a responsibility to the other ensemble members.  Solos and ensembles teach personal responsibility.  

  • In Ensembles and solos, students perform without the conductor's guidance , enhancing their ability to be more sensitive "listeners" within an ensemble, and more aware as performers, connecting directly to the composer and the music.  

  • Festivals encourage a student to establish and reach higher goals of accuracy, technique and musicality than informal performances, and they provide invaluable feedback for students in pursuit of those goals.  This is due in large part to the adjudication process, which is part of the National Music Standards.

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