Dr. Matt Pivek working with a Flute Soloist at Our “Test Drive Your Solo” Event

It’s that time of year. Solo & Ensemble state contest is quickly approaching! You might be dealing with some nerves and feeling overwhelmed in your practice right now, and I want to help make it a little easier on you by giving you some tips that have helped me. I’ve been in this same situation, and I’ve learned a few things that have helped me immensely throughout the years.

Schedule in your practice sessions and stick to them

One huge part in your practice is to make a plan. What parts of the music do you want to work on? Don’t spend your practice time just running through your solo or ensemble music. Break it down into chunks. Something that I’ve always liked to do is to keep track of my progress in a practice journal. Write down what you worked on, what went well, what metronome markings you used, what you want to work on for next time. This will help you to see your progress on paper.

Get help from your band director or private teacher

If you don’t already take private lessons, you can check out our website page with a list of private teachers in the area. Sometimes during this time of year, band directors will open after school lesson slots for their students to get some extra help. Either way, a professional can help you with things in the music that you might not notice. Getting this extra instruction will help you to excel in your musical education and solo and ensemble journey.

Practice performing in front of others

One way to prepare for a performance is to practice performing in front of other people. Get your friends, family, and teachers to listen to you. Even if you don’t want to take that step yet, play your solo in front of your dog or cat. Do this multiple times, and it will get easier each time. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the Test Drive Your Solo event that we are hosting here at Paige’s Music. We will simulate what you will experience at the actual Solo & Ensemble festival. You will get to play your solo in front of an adjudicator that will give you feedback. This feedback will be GREAT to have so you know what you can work on and what is going well. You will then be able to take that feedback with enough time to apply it to your practice before you perform for Solo & Ensemble.

What to do the day of the performance

There are some things that other musicians and myself have found very helpful on the day of a performance. This can go for any type of performance: Solo & Ensemble, auditions, concerts, recitals, etc.

• Eat a good breakfast (stay away from spicy foods)
• Stay hydrated
• Give yourself extra time so that you’re not rushed at the performance site
• Give yourself time to warmup and chill out
• Do some breathing exercises to help you focus and to calm nerves
• Don’t overplay throughout the day. You know the music. You’ve done the hard work to prepare for this performance. Now is the time to warmup and perform!

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of these topics further, please feel free to contact me! I’d be happy to help you in this process. My direct line at Paige’s Music is 317-813-2467 or you can email me at kmcdonald@paigesmusic.com. Happy practicing!