RBC MUSIC DISPLAY- 5-8 p.m. Monday December 1st in the Snack Bar

During the months of December, January, and February, all students in the FJH Band learn a solo. In February and March, we will be having our FJH Ensemble Contest and FJH Solo Contest. We will do the ensemble portion on Tuesday, February 3rd, and the solo portion on March 7th. Depending on which band class your student is in, will depend on their level of participation in the contest as far as it being mandatory or voluntary. The students have already been informed of this information during class. Our solo project is the band version of a book report in Language Arts. In Language Arts, the student gets to pick the book with the approval of the teacher and then read it on their own. At the end of the project, there is a presentation of some kind. In Band, the students pick their own solo with approval by their band director and learn it on their own. At the end, they perform their solo for their band director. However, unlike Language Arts, we offer an additional performance opportunity in the form of a Solo Contest. The student pays an entry fee to cover our costs of hiring professionals to judge them and they pay their cost of the accompanist(piano player). Almost all solos have a piano part so it creates a feeling of a duet. This part fills in the gaps(or rests) the way an orchestra fills in the gap when someone performs a concerto with them.

The goal of a solo is for the student to have an individualized learning experience based on his or her ability levels. The students must own an original part to their song. RBC Music Company will be coming to the Snack Bar on Monday, December 1st so the students can order a song and look at it before purchasing it. All solos must be approved by your student's band director before the student buys it. For many of our students, this will be a new experience as far as selecting a piece of music. The directors' approval of the solo will be based upon the knowledge we have of the student and how they perform for us in class, one-on-one, etc. We are trying to pick a solo the student will be happy with, but also one that they can be successful at. This means a full mastery of everything on the page-notes, rhythms, correct performance tempo, dynamics, style, phrasing, etc. We are trying to get every student to perform to his or her own maximum ability level.

The easiest level of a solo is a Class III. A Class II solo is more challenging and a Class 1 solo is the highest level of solo a student can perform. The music on the lists for solos is created by the UIL and used across our state. There is only one list for HS and JH level students. This is the same list they use at Friendswood High School. A Class I solo is typically a movement or 2 from a concerto. The same kind of concertos you would hear at the Houston Symphony. The majority of the 7th grade students in the 2nd and 3rd Band should be looking for a Class III solo. In some cases, 7th graders may be performing Class II Solos. The majority of the 8th graders in 2nd and 3rd Band should be looking for a Class 2 solo that is on the easier side. The 7th grade students in the1st Band should be looking at a Class II or III solo, depending on the student. The 8th grade students in the 1st Band should be looking for a challenging Class II solo and in many instances, will be looking for a Class I Solo. The level of solo is going to greatly depend on the amount of time you practice each week. Please do your best to attend the music display at some point on Monday, December 1st.