Solo / Ensemble

Solo & Ensemble Contest is an exciting time of year.  Students who choose to participate show the most musical growth.

Urbandale Solo & Ensemble Contest (Tuesday Feb 11) schedule: updated Band Solo and Ensemble 2025

Register here.  You will need information off of the sheet music; title, composer, arranger, publisher, book title, page number, etc.

Solo: time-line and process:
End of October, select a solo.  When selecting a solo, remember that you want to be challenged but not beaten down.  The Music Library in the Band Room has many selections to choose from:  ask your lesson teacher and directors for advice on what solo would be best for your musical development.
Purchase a copy for yourself…a composer only makes money from the sale of the music.
Register for Solo & Ensemble contest by November 22.
Pay the registration fee.
Practice.
November or early December: contact a pianist.  Commonly known as an accompanist, the pianist will be playing for you at both UHS and Perry Band Olympics. Questions to ask them:
What is their fee?  What does that fee include?
Are they able to play the piano part of your solo?  If it is too difficult, you may need to ask around.
When are they available to rehearse?
January: schedule rehearsals with your pianist
Clear your schedule for Tuesday evening, February 11 at Urbandale High School.  The schedule is released about two weeks before.
Clear your schedule for Saturday, February 22 at Perry High School.  The schedule is released about two weeks before.
Play your best.

Ensemble: time-line and process:
End of October, create an ensemble.  Maybe it’s your friends?  Maybe it’s members of your section?  Ask around.
Select a piece of music.  When selecting music for your ensemble, remember that you want to be challenged but not beaten down.  The Music Library in the Band Room has many selections to choose from:  ask your lesson teacher and directors for advice on what piece would be best for your musical development.
If our Music Library doesn’t have a piece of music, the Band department will purchase a copy for your ensemble to play
Register for Solo & Ensemble contest by November 22.
Pay the registration fee.
Practice individually.
December and January: practice together every week.
Clear your schedule for Tuesday evening, February 11 at Urbandale High School.  The schedule is released about two weeks before.
Clear your schedule for Saturday, February 22 at Perry High School.  The schedule is released about two weeks before.
Play your best.

Things to remember to be successful at UHS:

  • Our event is opportunity to perform; take the stress off of yourself and play your best.
  • The judge is going to give you verbal and written comments on how you can be better; apply what they say to your practicing.
  • Arrive early
  • Look good; concert attire.

What you need to do when you arrive:

  • Check-in with the center manager; the nice person who volunteered is going to need your name.  They will tell you if the center is running on-time.  They will also give you permission to enter the room; if a student is playing, no one can enter.
  • At a table by the dressing rooms, you will need to pick up your judge’s copy.  The nice people who volunteered will need to know your name, instrument, and grade to find your music.
  • Your judge’s copy will need to have the measures numbered.
  • When you are done performing and the judge has given you comments, wait to get the judge’s copy back.  You’ll need to return it to the table in the hallway.  Some judges hold on to your music to finish their comments, be patient.
  • You’ll do all of the above at Perry Band Olympics

And a few more things:

  • You can’t enter a room if a student is performing.  If you need to get your instrument or put it away, you’ll need to wait.
  • The practice rooms adjacent to the Ensemble Room/515/Teacher Conner’s room can not be used to practice; sound travels.  With only four practice rooms available, be considerate of others and don’t camp out in the practice rooms.
  • Performing can cause some students stress; be respectful and supportive.
  • Listen to other students perform and be a great audience member.

2024 Perry Band Olympics Results
2023 Perry Band Olympics Results
2022 Perry Band Olympics Results
2021 Perry Band Olympic Results
2020 Perry Band Olympic Results
2019 Perry Band Olympic Results
2018 Perry Band Olympic Results
2017 Perry Band Olympic Results
2016 Perry Band Olympic Results

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