Helpful Hints for the Instrumental Solo Performer
"Confessions of Two MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Adjudicators"
Written by Professors Kristy Meretta and Whitney Prince
Imagine for a moment that YOU are the judge at Solo and Ensemble. All day long, you watch asyoung musicians enter with sweaty palms and racing heartbeats to test their skills under the pressure of live performance. By mid-morning it is clear that something besides musical talent is influencing the scores you are giving.
What is it that often "makes or breaks" a solo performance? Listen to the confessions of two judges who have been there, and have a few secrets to share.
1. Selecting music that is right for you: You've heard of "dress for success". We call it "select for success". Choosing the right solo -- one that you enjoy working on and challenges you, yet shows your skills off to good advantage in performance -- makes all the difference in the world.
2. Hiring a competent accompanist: A good accompanist is essential to a successful performance, so line an experienced player up early, and expect to pay for this service! It will be money well spent (usually from $10-15 for each of the two or three rehearsals you will need). Set the rehearsal schedule up as far in advance as possible.
3. Taking private lessons: This is probably the best thing you can do to help yourself prepare for a Festival performance. Ask your band or orchestra director or contact the EMU Department of Music of the closest local college or university who might work best with you on your instrument.
4. Preparing your piece at home: As judges we have the following general grading scale in mind as we listen to you play. A performance that is technically and musically proficient receives a "1". A performance that is technically proficient, but not as strong musically (or vice versa), receives a "2". A performance that lacks preparation in both categories receives a "3". (A "4" is reserved for only the most dire circumstances!) In other words, there is no shortcut to success at Solo and Ensemble. Expect to pay your dues! But here are some secrets (that all good musicians know):
Technical proficiency is a matter of regular and smart practice. Schedule your practice Times, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif in on your calendar week by week, and then keep your appointments! Identify the "hard spots" in your music and work on them methodically, slowly, patiently, until they feel "easy". Only when that happens can you forget the notes and concentrate on the music. Your teacher can help you with the skills that pertain to your particular instrument. And, remember, practicing slowly with a metronome will pay dividends in good technique! A steady, musically appropriate tempo establishes the framework for your successful performance.
Musical proficiency is more difficult to define, but usually starts with beautiful tone and good intonation, regardless of the instrument you play. Talk with your teacher about these fundamental skills. Judges are especially impressed with such stylistic features as dynamic contrast (get beyond the " mp-mf" range!) , crisp articulation and sensitive phrasing (repeat after us, MUSICAL LINE, MUSICAL LINE, MUSICAL LINE.) Then let the music flow horizontally as you play, as if you are weaving a musical tapestry.
5. Warming up and playing the actual performance: Get to the warm-up room early. To be on time is to be late! When you are rushing around, it is impossible to think about what you want to do as you play. You should go over the hard spots slowly, and then allow time to mentally go through the entire piece. Be sure you have your music numbered, head for the performance room, tune carefully and go for it!
You can deal with your emotions by keeping things in perspective. Don't let the little mistakes throw you. Live performance is hardly ever perfect. Focus instead on the music, and block out "negative" personal thoughts. It's no tragedy to get a "2" unless you let it get you down. There's so much to LEARN about music. Hopefully, the comment sheet will help you. That's what Solo and Ensemble is all about! And, we confess, that's the part we like best. Here's to a great performance your next time out!
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