Solofest Practice Groups

Welcome 5th Grade Solofestival students!

As we continue to work on our solos, it is important to keep on working on the skills that make us outstanding musicians. Below are tips for keeping our skills sharp as well as guidelines for independent learning on our instrument.

What keeps our skills up?

PRACTICE! Picking up our instrument everyday will continue to improve our skills as musicians.

Keep a routine: Keeping a consistent routine in anything we do will make improvements, this goes for not only practicing but how we practice too.

How should my practice routine look?

Here are some tips:

• Do a good warm-up: Long tones, octaves, scales with thirds

• Practice playing your scales from memory- be sure to go in alphabetical order and apply the correct flats and sharps. Think of memorizing scales like a spelling test, a little a week will help make you successful. Review the scales you memorize every time you practice, have a family member test you!

  • • Level 2 solos need 3 scales of your choice. You can choose to play it high or low and the speed you go.

    • Level 3 solos need 7 scales of your choice, your adjudicator will pick 3 for you. You can choose to play them high or low. Write each scale down on a small slip of paper, fold it up and put them in a small cup. Pick 3 slips out each day to practice the element of surprise like you will experience when you perform at solofest.

• Work on your solo:

  • • Focus on getting all the notes correct and comfortable under your fingers.

    • If you need help with fingerings, look at the fingering chart at the back of your lesson book.

    • Be sure to keep a steady beat and count all of the rhythms. You know how much each symbol is worth- count them out! Do not guess! Use this website to access a metronome to practice with a steady beat and work up your tempos: https://www.metronomeonline.com/

    • Look at the slurs, be sure to use them and start all other notes with the tongue

    • Look for dynamics, staccato, accents, and all other markings and practice doing them for a noticeable sound.

    • Listen to the recording to check your progress, compare your playing with what you hear. Try playing along with it!

    • Record yourself and send it to Ms. Moore for feedback at moores@victorschools.org. I will email you back with specific areas for you to focus on, and some corrections of notes, rhythms, articulations, etc.

      • • • Saxophones should send their recording to Mr. Pelton at peltonz@victorschools.org

• Practice sightreading skills. You can use this link to create examples to practice at home. Set them to your level of solo. https://www.sightreadingfactory.com Instructions on how to set it up for your instrument and level are linked below.

• Work on your band music too! Links for each piece can be found on the main 5th Grade Band page.