It’s Solo & Ensemble week. Included in this email is almost everything you need to know about Solo & Ensemble. Some of you are veterans of this, some are newbies. Either way, this is good stuff to know.
- The Solo & Ensemble Recital is tomorrow EVENING at Lakota West Main Campus. The first event is at 6:30 pm, the last is scheduled to start at 8:45. The students should arrive about 15 mins before their scheduled performance time. ALL OF THE ENSEMBLES ARE EXPECTED TO PERFORM TOMORROW NIGHT. Each group will perform before a “judge” who is really a coach. The students have a 15 minute time block. After the students perform, the “judge” will work with the students for the rest of the 15 minute block. Hopefully this extra coaching will help them perform at their best. No solos are being played tomorrow Monday night.
- Students should dress nicely tomorrow night, but it is not necessary to dress up. This is a “dress rehearsal” of sorts and slightly less formal.
- Parents are allowed, yes you are allowed to hear your children play. In fact, we WANT you to hear your students perform. Please come tomorrow night and hear them at their allotted time. You can record and take all the pictures you want at our Recital. This is the ONLY TIME you can do that.
- Saturday, Feb 2, 2013 is Solo & Ensemble Adjudicated Event. This is probably the second most important performance the students do during the school year. All of the students should know the performance times for their solo, ensemble, or choir (woodwind or brass, and percussion ensemble). The schedule has been posted in the band rooms at both schools since early last week. Students should arrive about 30 mins before their performance time. They must enter from the front of the school, the side entrance by the gym, or the back hallway entrance down by the dumpsters. YOU CANNOT ENTER THROUGH THE BAND ROOM ON SATURDAY. The band room is a performance room for the percussion and NO ONE will be admitted that way. Signs will be posted. There is a map of the school showing where all the warm-up areas are as well as the performance rooms. This is also posted in the band room at both campuses. The students should check the map to see what room number corresponds with their stage number. Students should report to their performance room (stage) about 5 minutes before their scheduled time. The time schedule is not etched in stone. There are many conflicts, so , go to the room, see where things are and adjust accordingly. If it’s your time, but your accompanist isn’t there, but the next scheduled person is ready to go, let them go and you can go when your accompanist arrives. We all have to be a bit flexible on Saturday. There are over 800 performances scheduled.
- Parents are also allowed to hear your children perform on Saturday. Please discuss this with your child before you arrive on Saturday. Some students get incredibly nervous performing before their parents. This is a stressful event for many of the students, having the added stress of an argument in the hall outside their performance room just minutes before they plan can make for a very difficult performance. Again, please discuss this with your children before Saturday and decide who can listen and who can’t.
- Parents, we encourage you to listen to your children perform (with the provisions above taken into consideration). This is an OMEA Adjudicated Event. At OMEA Adjudicated Events, you cannot take pictures or record the performance. If you do, the judge will not give either comments or a rating to the student. Again, this is an OMEA rule. It is not subject to discussion or negotiation. SO, if you go in to hear your student perform, please leave the camera and recording device at home, or off.
- Solo & Ensemble is a formal performance. Students should dress appropriately. Concert dress is recommended.
- Ratings will be posted about 30 minutes after their performance. Ratings will be posted in the cafeteria. The judges comment sheets will not be available until Monday during school. There will be concessions in the cafeteria as well as Spirit Wear. If you want some Macy’s wear, it will be available on Saturday.
That’s it for this incredibly busy week. Good luck to all on Saturday.