American High School Solo/Ensemble Festival

Purpose: In order to grow as musicians, we must perform solo or in small ensembles.
Objective: Perform a solo or in a small/chamber ensemble.

Guidelines:
  1. You must perform on your main (band) instrument, with only one exemption for a secondary instrument.
  2. You must perform solo at least once.
  3. You must perform in a duet at least once.
  4. You must perform with others in an ensemble at least once. Ensembles, including duets are defined as two or more parts, with no doubling (one player per part)
    1. Each instrumental ensemble member must have their own part. No parts can be doubled. Ex: four students cannot play a duet. They could be entered twice as two separate duets and each play the same duet, but they cannot double.
  5. You must perform in a different group each time, depending on your section.
  6. You may ask me to perform in your ensemble, if there is no one else available.
  7. You must use art music as opposed to pop music (video game themes, etc.), with only one exemption for one jazz style performance.
  8. No ensemble will be conducted, except large percussion ensembles.
  9. Accompanists are preferred but not required. Your performance will be more musical if the accompaniment  is played.
  10. Solos are not required to be memorized, but are more impressive if they are performed from memory.
  11. Vocal ensembles may have up to three singers on a part, but no more than three.
  12. You must receive pre-approval at least one month in advance of your performance date.
    1. Your music must be challenging, but at an appropriate level.
    2. Electronic devices must receive pre-approval before use.
  13. 10 minutes is allowed for each entry, including set-up and exit
    1. Actual performance time should not exceed 5 minutes
    2. Practice standing and performing in front of an audience, introducing yourselves and your musical selection. Learn to pronounce the titles and names of performers and composers correctly.
  14. Student compositions must meet the above guidelines.
  15. Adjudicator will give written comments and will speak to or work with students after each performance as time permits.    
    1. You will be adjudicated, using the CMEA Solo/Ensemble criteria.
    2. Have an original score to hand to the adjudicator before you play.
  16. If you sign up for (and perform at) the CMEA Solo/Ensemble Festival, you are exempt from one solo/ensemble performance at American. (No electronic devices at CMEA, know the rules.)
    1. If you sign up for (and perform at) the CMEA Solo/Ensemble Festival, you must check in with me at least once every two weeks, leading up to the CMEA Solo/Ensemble Festival.

National Standards for Arts Education: Music
1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. (See Extension)
5. Reading and notating music.

CA Visual and Performing Arts: Music Content Standards. Grades 9-12

2.0 CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Creating, Performing, and Participating in Music
Students apply vocal and instrumental musical skills in performing a varied repertoire of music. They compose and arrange music and improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments, using digital/electronic technology when appropriate.

Apply Vocal and Instrumental Skills
Proficient
2.1 Sing a repertoire of vocal literature representing various genres, styles, and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, vowel shape, and articulation written and memorized, by oneself and in ensembles (level of difficulty: 4 on a scale of 1-6).
2.2 Sing music written in three or four parts with and without accompaniment.
2.3 Sing in small ensembles, with one performer for each part.
2.4 Perform on an instrument a repertoire of instrumental literature representing various genres, styles, and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, and articulation, by oneself and in ensembles (level of difficulty: 4 on a scale of 1-6).
2.5 Perform on an instrument in small ensembles, with one performer for each part.

Advanced
2.1 Sing a repertoire of vocal literature representing various genres, styles, and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, vowel shape, and articulation written and memorized, by oneself and in ensembles (level of difficulty: 5 on a scale of 1-6).
2.2 Sing music written in four parts with and without accompaniment.
2.3 Sing in small ensembles, with one performer for each part (level of difficulty: 5 on a scale of 1-6).
2.4 Perform on an instrument a repertoire of instrumental literature representing various genres, styles, and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, and articulation, by oneself and in ensembles (level of difficulty: 5 on a scale of 1-6).
2.5 Perform in small instrumental ensembles with one performer for each part (level of difficulty: 5 on a scale of 1-6).

3.0 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT
Understanding the Historical Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of Music
Students analyze the role of music in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting cultural diversity as it relates to music, musicians, and composers.

Diversity of Music
Proficient & Advanced
3.4 Perform music from various cultures and time periods.

EXTENSION (optional):

Compose, Arrange, and Improvise
Proficient
2.6 Compose music, using musical elements for expressive effect.
2.7 Compose and arrange music for voices or various acoustic or digital/electronic instruments, using appropriate ranges for traditional sources of sound.
2.8 Arrange pieces for voices and instruments other than those for which the pieces were originally written.

Advanced
2.6 Compose music in distinct styles.
2.7 Compose and arrange music for various combinations of voice and acoustic and digital/electronic instruments, using appropriate ranges and traditional and nontraditional sound sources.

Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLRs) & Music
3. Participate in programs of personal enrichment through exposure to the arts and physical education.

Due Dates
W-Th. Sept. 30 - October 1, 2009
W-Th. January 20-21, 2010
W-Th. March 3-4, 2010
W-Th. June 9-10, 2010