Solo and Esemble

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This is for all the musicians out there.

Every year, in Michigan, my school goes to a "competition" called Solo and Esemble. All you do is you prepare a solo on your instrument and play it before a judge. The judge then gives you a rating based on your performance.

The rating system is as follows: 1, being the best, through 5, being the worst. There is also a time limit. I believe you have to play at least two minutes.

This year I am doing a solo called Rondo Capriccio, a trumpet solo. It is written by Keith Snell. I am also doing a trio with three other trumpets in my band.

I was wondering if any other musicians in Southeast Michigan have gone to Solo and Esemble, or some other "competition" of the sort?

[vashthestampede0987]

RE: Solo and Esemble

Heh I've never taken band because it blows. Tried it for a day and I thought I was just gonna shove a drum stick up my teachers cornhole because he was so gay. What ever, btw default what school do you go to?

[Cenright]

RE: Solo and Esemble

Sorry, I'm in CA. But good luck. (I was always to afraid to do a solo.) I was never good enough at any one instrument. I made myself useful by being versitile, so I can play about 6 instruments, but none of them really good.

[-Default-]

Re: RE: Solo and Esemble

Heh I've never taken band because it blows. Tried it for a day and I thought I was just gonna shove a drum stick up my teachers cornhole because he was so #$*. What ever, btw default what school do you go to?

My band teacher is really good. He's funny and he knows a lot about music.

Sorry, I'm in CA. But good luck. (I was always to afraid to do a solo.) I was never good enough at any one instrument. I made myself useful by being versitile, so I can play about 6 instruments, but none of them really good.

Six different instruments O.o? I'm worried about performing a solo also. I keep thinking I won't get an important note out or something. Either that or my music will fall of my stand.

[eyespewgreekfire]

RE: Solo and Esemble

Im not from michigan, but I've been to some music competitions before (I do piano and composition.) Rondo Capriccio by Snell I am not familiar with. When I first read the title, I was thinking you were playing the Saint-Saens one for violin and I almost crapped myself. I would say the most important thing in a competition is not to take it too ambitiously. Slow tempo is good. I blew an almost perfect rendition of Beethoven's Pathetique sonata once by playing a technical section too fast. :P

[Cenright]

RE: Re: RE: Solo and Esemble

6 instruments, but none of them good enough to do a solo.
Trumpet
F/Bb Horn
Clarinet
Ocarina
Baritone (Both marching and concert types)
Tuba

[tnyhwk900]

RE: Re: RE: Solo and Esemble

Trumpet and Clairnet make excellent solos, Cen.

I will be entering one myself this year on the tenor saxophone. Last year I got a 1, and I plan on doing the same this year. One thing though: You say you get ratings 1-5? That's strange, as it is done 1-3 here.

[-Default-]

RE: Re: RE: Solo and Esemble

I found a MIDI of Rondo Capriccio, in case you want to listen to it. It's not extremely hard, but it's not extremely easy.

http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=mn0040673&bookmark=0&who=basic&Only=H

It's my second pick. The first one I choose(Ancient Story) was out of print.

EDIT: Tny, it might be 1-3. I think I heard my band director saying 1-5, but I was probably half asleep because it was my first period.

EDIT2: The MIDI isn't all of it. You have to pay to get all of it.

[Freak83]

RE: Re: RE: Solo and Esemble

I've started playing the drums recently, I play none stop but am definatly not good enough to do a solo yet. I've only been doing the snare so far in fact.

[ImEric12]

RE: Re: RE: Solo and Esemble

I went to S&E in 7th grade, and got a 1, but I don't remember what I played.

Also: you live in SE Michigan? What school? I go to Warren Woods Tower (ehhhhh...)

[Kefit]

I went to Solo Ensemble three out of the four years I was in high school. I played trumpet too, by the way. And taking a look at the piece you have linked to, I think I have actually played around with that a bit.

Anyway, two of those three years I played incredibly difficult pieces. They were the kind of pieces that I could only play well on my very best days. I forgot what song I preformed the first year I did this, but I did horribly at the competition. Embarressing, even.

The next year (which was my senior year) I, having not learned from my mistake the year before, prepared The Debutante, by Herbet L. Clarke. This piece was even harder than the one I played the year before, although it was much better suited to my strengths on the trumpet. I did moderately well, but still not as well as I hoped. I have a recording of Wynton Marsaslis playing this song - if anyone wants to hear it just contact me on aim.

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I went to Solo Ensemble three out of the four years I was in high school. I played trumpet too, by the way. And taking a look at the piece you have linked to, I think I have actually played around with that a bit.

Heh, that's cool. This is my first time going(as a freshman), so I don't want to do anything incredibly(sp?) difficult.

@Eric+Vash: I go to a school in Redford.

[Kefit]

Heh, that's cool. This is my first time going(as a freshman), so I don't want to do anything incredibly(sp?) difficult.

@Eric+Vash: I go to a school in Redford.

That's the idea. Actually, that's something you should always do. Never try to prepare a piece that strains you to your absolute max, as there is far too great a chance that come performance day you just won't be up to pulling it off for whatever reason.

If I could go back and do it over again, instead of preparing the two incredibly challenging pieces my junior and senior years I would have prepared the Hayden and Hummel trumpt concertos, respectively.

[HansSky]

RE: Re: RE: Solo and Esemble

I wish we had competitions like that...we just compete to get into Honors Bands seperately. I will be auditioning for State next Saturday.

But yeah, we don't have those around here.
Have fun.

[vashthestampede0987]

RE: Re: RE: Solo and Esemble

Redford...I GOT TO NOVI!! lol just thought you like to know.