Thoughts on solos and small ensembles

Yesterday, I took 13 students to district solo and small ensemble festival.  We had learning experiences of all kinds occur.  A freshman has the opportunity to go to state, a junior and two seniors gave their best and were happy that they went and proud of themselves for taking on the challenge. Some seniors realized that they did not prepare as much as they could have.  Other younger members realized that there is a little more to it and now have plans to do better next time.  So, I sat here trying to think of what kind of advice I could give these kids so that they can get the most out of this experience.  I started typing and by the time I was finished, I had another blog post that I wanted to share.  I plan on sharing this with my kids this year, and then using it next year as we begin the sign-up process for solos and small ensembles.

Thoughts on solo and small ensembles that can really apply to anything that you want to be successful at...

1.  It is not easy!

It is not easy to get up in front of the judge and perform, it is not easy to woodshed and practice difficult music, and it is not easy to make the commitment and sacrifice the amount of time it takes to prepare for such an event. It is not easy!

2.  It is worth it!

If you truly want to become a better musician, are interested in majoring in music, want to really challenge yourself/put yourself out there, get over performance nerves, and help build self-confidence, then do this. It is worth it!

3.  You must dedicate time to this.

You cannot be successful at this if you don't set time aside. You must plan to practice and plan rehearsals (they are two different things).

4.  Mrs. Boyd is here to help you, but she will not chase you down the hallway and ask you to practice and if you are going to come in for a lesson/rehearsal.

She will stay after school and come in early whenever possible, but you must do one thing...ASK HER! Again, she will do whatever she can to help you as long as you are willing to help yourself!!!

5.  Procrastination leads to disappointment

Waiting until the last minute to "cram" will result in a disappointing experience for you, no matter what rating you receive.

6.  The saying "It's not about the number," goes both ways.

Some people will work really hard, give it their all, and still get a 2, or maybe a 3, but that's okay! Again, it's all about improving, not proving. Some people won't have to work very hard, do just above the bare minimum, and still get a 2, and in rare cases, maybe even a 1, but they will still know they could have done better. This is why it is not about the number, it's about you and becoming a better musician through the process, and ultimately, it's about becoming a better person overall.

7.  You cannot compare yourself to others.

You can only compare yourself to the person/musician you were yesterday. If you constantly look at others and feel bad because you didn't achieve what they did, you will never be satisfied. This also applies to the fact that if you always compare yourself to those who achieve less than you, then you will have a false sense of accomplishment. It is not bad to seek out others for inspiration, but you must always remember that you are you, you cannot be anyone else.

8.  Be honest!

With yourself and with others. Do not tell people about how you have been too busy to practice, do not tell yourself that you just "can't do this..." Like number 1 says, "It's not easy." Be honest about it, if you have a hard time with something, ask for help. If you did not prepare properly for your lesson, own up to it and don't waste other peoples' time. Get back to work and try again. Placing blame where responsibility should be only creates a negative world. It's simply mind pollution.

9.  No matter what the outcome, it is not the end of the road.

If you are a senior and you think, "This is my last chance at district festival and if I don't get a 1, I will never get to go to state," then you have not read and/or you really do not understand what all of the previous points are about. This experience is not about who can get to state, it's about becoming a better musician and ultimately, a better person. That cannot be said enough. 

10.  All of this means nothing if you do not learn anything from it. 

It's what you choose to do with it, and really there are only two choices. 

Choice A is to get better, keep moving forward, and always strive to be the best you can possibly be. 

Choice B...give up.