Students should select a piece of music from the NYSSMA manual (with an original copy purchased as photocopies are strictly prohibited) and begin preparing several months in advance of the performance date. Performing a NYSSMA solo/ensemble is optional. Additional information concerning NYSSMA is obtainable at. Students can perform on Piano, Voice, Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, Harp, Guitar, and Jazz instruments. Students that perform in an ensemble (duets, trios, etc.) will only perform the selected piece. Each student will receive his or her own adjudication sheet with comments from a music educator. Students also have the option to attend for Comments Only, in which a grade will not be included in the evaluation process. The resultant ratings for levels I-IV of O (outstanding), E (excellent), G (good), F (fair) and levels V-VI of a letter grade are determined by an overall performance score. Students will perform this before an official NYSSMA adjudicator. If a student performs as a soloist, he/she must perform specific tasks, such as: preparation of scales or jazz improvisation/drum set grooves (from memory), a solo from the official NYSSMA manual (photocopies are strictly prohibited and students will not be allowed to perform), and must sight-read eight measures of music. Students may participate in multiple performances within each festival, and at multiple festivals. Many of our student musicians perform in one of the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) solos and ensemble festivals.

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