Hill Middle School
Solo and Ensemble Information
2024-2025
All 7th, and 8th grade orchestra students are invited to participate in the Illinois Grade School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Event. 6th Grade students who are currently taking private lessons may also choose to participate under the guidance of their private teacher. This optional event is an opportunity for students who wish to strengthen and improve their musical abilities and confidence (not to mention it's really fun!) Students will perform for a music adjudicator at this event, and receive written comments about their performance, accompanied with a Division I, II, or III, rating. Students earning a Division I or II rating will receive a medal.
Students may choose to perform a solo on the violin, viola, cello or bass, or play in a small ensemble (duet, trio or quartet). Thousands of students participate in this event each year! Students do not compete against each other, but instead and are rated based upon their individual performance.
Solo and Ensemble will be held on Saturday, February 8th, 2024, at Crone Middle School. Students will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the event. Individual performance times will be scheduled between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. A single performance time will last approximately 5 minutes, but students should plan to arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled performance time in order to tune, warm-up and find their performance room. The official schedule of performance times will be available two weeks before the event day. Family members are invited to attend the performances, and the judge comment sheets and award medals will be awarded to the students the next school day.
FEES
All students will be responsible for paying for their own participation fees to participate in the IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Event. To participate in a string solo, the fee is $10.00. To participate in an ensemble, each member of the ensemble must pay $5.00. All fees will be paid through PushCoin. Please use the PushCoin link and appropriate Google sign-up form below.
Students who would like to perform a solo on the violin, viola, cello or bass, must submit the SOLO Google form below and pay the $10 solo fee on PushCoin. Students studying privately will need to choose a solo with their private teacher (minimum of 28 non-repeating measures) and rehearse the music with their private teacher. Students not studying privately will be given a recommended solo from Mrs. Friederich or Mr. Hornig. Students may only participate in 1 string solo per instrument.
All solos must be performed with piano accompaniment. If you do not know an adult accompanist who can provide this service for you, we will provide an accompanist. The accompanist fee is $30.00 (paid directly to the accompanist) which includes a 15 minute rehearsal (scheduled for a Friday after school in Feb.) and also the performance day on Saturday, February 17th. If for any reason a student drops out of the contest, he/she will still pay the accompanist the fee for her time and efforts in learning the music.
MUSIC PREPARATION and HELP SESSIONS for SOLOS
Students who are taking lessons with a private teacher are responsible for preparing their music with their private teacher. If you do not have a private teacher, Mrs. Friederich and Mr. Hornig will be offering help sessions over Google Meets and/or in person after school. If you take private lessons with an adult private teacher, you do not need to sign-up for help sessions with the orchestra teachers. Help sessions will be offered during the months of Dec. - Feb. The sign-up form for help sessions will be sent home in November.
SMALL ENSEMBLE PARTICIPATION
Students may choose to be in a small ensemble (duet, trio or quartet). Each student in the ensemble must submit the ENSEMBLE Google form below and each pay the $5.00 ensemble fee through PushCoin. Students must communicate with their ensemble partner(s) and commit to working together before signing-up on the Google form and paying the fee. Choose a partner(s) who has a similar work ethic so everyone can participate and be successful in the practicing and performance of the ensemble. MUSIC PREPARATION and HELP SESSIONS for ENSEMBLES
Ensemble students will be required to attend at least 3 help sessions after school with Mrs. Friederich or Mr. Hornig. Help sessions will be offered during the months of Dec. - Feb. The sign-up form for help sessions will be sent home in November. Students are also encouraged to rehearse their ensembles together at each other’s homes after they have learned their own part. We recommend at least two student-led ensemble rehearsals at home in addition to teacher help sessions at school. Ensemble members should schedule a help session only if the entire ensemble can attend the session. Please communicate with your ensemble members before signing up online (only 1 person needs to sign up for the group).
PRIVATE LESSONS
If you are interested in private instrument lessons (we encourage them) - here is a list of District approved professional lesson teachers.
HOW TO SIGN UP
Students may participate in one solo AND one ensemble if so desired.
SOLO (violin, viola, cello or bass):
CLICK HERE to sign up for a SOLO (violin, viola, cello or bass) Due 11/16
ENSEMBLE: If you would like to perform in an ensemble, please contact the other Hill orchestra student(s) you would like to work with. After you have communicated with the student(s), and your family and their family agrees,
CLICK HERE to sign-up for an ENSEMBLE Due 11/16
If you have questions, please email your orchestra teachers: Sarah_Friederich@ipsd.org or Marc Hornig@ipsd.org