solo

[alabamapinksax]

my school has solo and ensemble festival on may 3 (yeah all right)
it is at Girard Middle School, Dothan (i am in high school)
i am doing a solo, a duet, and a trio :wink:

wish me luck this is my frist time on my own and i am scared :|
the people that i am doing the duet and trio with have done this before
i have done this too but not a solo and when i had to try out (by my self) for just concert band i freaked out :dazed: and u do not want to know about all-state :roll:

so wish me good luck i think i am going to need it :D


:shock:
Stephanie
8)

[steve]

Hello Stephanie...The fact that you were selected to solo means that you have the ability...being a bit nervous is a good thing...you will be able to concentrate more on your music...you will sound fine. Good Luck!

[Joe]

Hi, Stephanie. Good luck on your solo. Bless your heart, I've had a lot of students in the past that have had bad performance anxiety and I know it's no fun. You didn't ask for any advice, but I can't resist. The keys to not freaking out are preparation, visualization, and focus.

First, practice your solo till you have it memorized, even if it's not a rerquirement. Work out all the runs slowly, breaking them up into smaller runs if necessary and even practicing in rhythms. Gradually put it all together while speeding it up. Get to where even your worst performance is still good, then you're prepared.

Second, visualize going in and playing your solo perfect. Imagine the judge just raving over your performance. This will inspire you and help keep you positive and confident. Replay this scenario every night as you go to sleep.

Third, at solo time, forget about the judge and focus on the music. Play for yourself, not him. Have fun making great music and look at any comments he might have afterward as an opportunity to grow as a musician. You'll be a better player and a better person for the experience.

Remember, the more you play, the more used to performing you'll get and gradually nerves will be less and less of an issue. Go get'um, girl. You can do it!

[colibri]

You'll get used to it after a few times. Good luck. 8)

[gary]

Hi Stephanie! The first time I played a solo for competition, when the judges adjudication sheet came back it said that I should work a bit on my vibrato because it was too wide (I was playing trumpet). Truth be told, when I started playing, unexpectedly, I started shaking uncontrollably. I still remember seeing in my peripheral vision, down between my music and my horn, my pant legs just shaking like they were blowing in a hurricane. But...I got a gold medal.

Joe's advice is spot on; all of it. Especially the preparation part, and that's what got me the gold regardless of my nervousness.

Stephanie, I've been a professional conductor for over 30 years and I sometimes get butterflies before a performance. The crazy thing is there's often no relationship between the "importance" of the gig and my nervousness. I've been cool as a cucumber on national TV when the program host screwed things up and I had to cover for him right in the middle of performing, and I've been nervous for routine gigs with a sympathetic and small audience.

What works for me is not thinking about myself, that is not letting my ego get caught up in the performance, but thinking of myself as a conduit for the music. That there is the music and the listeners and I am merely the cable throught which the music is sent. Helps me.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll do fine. Most of us have been there and know what it's like. And we're all with you. Let us know how it went. And bless you.

[disgruntleddave]

no matter how good (or how bad) you are, you will be nervous, so don't bother thinking about it. Just know your part, ignore everything else, and play. That works best. Channel that nervousness into some kickass playing and everything else should be fine.

[alabamapinksax]

i thank every one for their suport and i will fill u in on how it turns out :wink:


thank u so much
Stephanie :mrgreen:

(ps) do u not have to try out for Solo & Ensemble u just do it if u want to :|

[saxomophone]

I have a lot of students who do Solo and Ensemble in the Birmingham area, and if it is the same in Dothan as it is here, you have nothing to worry about. It is more designed as an opportunity for students to learn a piece or get together with friends and play duets or whatever and perform, than as a competition. The judges in the past have only been encouraging and given positive feedback. They arn't out to tear you apart or search out every little mistake.

Look at it as a opportunity to perform to your personal best and above all else, have fun and enjoy your performance. Show them what you got!

One of the great things about the band programs in Alabama is that there are tons of opportunities for students to audition for special bands and really develop as individual musicians.

[alabamapinksax]

saxomophone

do u know Michael Thomas if u do that is my band teacher
and this year our Solo and Ensemble is in Dothan

Stephanie

[saxomophone]

I don't know him. I've never actually been to Dothan. The solo and ensemble here is held at John Carrol in B'ham.

[mr00420]

Your sax isn't really pink, is it? :shock:

When I play for people, they just aren't there. You don't even really have to pretend when you're fully focused on your playing. If you're not reading the music, then you can even just close your eyes... I usually do by habit; it helps me concentrate. Try to just see inside your head, your thoughts, instead of out of your eyes and at the audience.

If you're lucky, maybe you'll be on stage w/ the lights on you, and the hall's lights dimmed. That way it's pretty difficult to see the audience, and easier to forget about them.

Just think, "I'm one BAD MOTHER-SAX PLAYER!" "I don't need THEM, they need ME!" For the short time you play, you are in command of your listeners. You are in control of their feelings and audio sensibilities. They should be nervous about what you can do to them. Knock em' dead!

[alabamapinksax]

mr00420:

my saxophone is not really pink but it is made of copper so it looks pink and some of my classmates will not addmit to it being made of copper so they just call it pink


saxomophone:

well i do not go to school in Dothan i go to school in Troy

[alabamapinksax]

today is the Solo and Ensemble Festival
wish me luck :D


Stephanie :roll:

[gary]

Consider yourself so wished :D

Go get 'em, girl !!!!!!!!!!

[alabamapinksax]

i made an I on my solo and a I duet and a II trio
to bad for the trio but it is all good


Stephanie :wink: