Solo & Ensemble Festival

Saturday, April 26. 2025

@St. Rose School 5309 NE Alameda, Portland

The Solo & Ensemble Festival is one of our most popular events. 
  • Open to All Levels of Band Students. Students will compete in one of these 3 categories: Beginners, Intermediate (2nd year students), and Advanced Students (3rd year and more) Students may participate as a soloist or in an ensemble (2-4 students)
  • Selecting Music: For Beginners music is designated in their book or you can choose from the list below. For Inter/Adv Students music is listed below.  We have sample video/audio clips for many of the songs.
  • Teachers can assist students in choosing appropriate material if asked. Students can play a song that is not on the list but needs Instructor approval. 
  • We will schedule students for a 15 minute block of time between the hours of 10:00-2:00. You may request a preference am/pm on the online registration form. 
  • Students arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the schedule time to check in and warm up. At their designated time, students are escorted to a room where they will perform for two of the M.U.S.E. Facility members who serve as adjudicators. Parents and family members may come in to listen. Once the performance is over the adjudicators briefly review their notes and scores and then spend a few minutes going over the performance with the student(s). They share what the students did really well and give pointers on where they can improve. The whole process takes about 15 minutes and then you are on your way. 
  • All students receive a certificate and participation ribbon
  • Scores are tallied and Trophy’s and Medals are awarded for placement and students are notified within the next week. 
  • Trophy’s are awarded for 1st-4th place and medals for 5th-8th place for each category: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced
 
Choosing Music:

Teachers can suggest music for your child. Please email a note to the instructor letting them know your child is interested and if they can help your child choose. The sooner the better. We give students a choice of levels.  The harder the level students can earn bonus points if they execute the song well. 

Drummers: There are solo Snare Drum pieces at the bottom of the download page

or choose a song to play on bells (if using “sheet music”, download flute parts)

 
How to Sign Up (Deadline for registering April 16): 

There are 2 steps to registering:

  1. Online Registration form 
  2. Online Payment (please add your child’s name when you get to the Cart on checkout so we know who the payment is for). 
 
Sheet music for songs not in book:

Choose a piece from the list below and then go to the following link to download Click HERE   If your child wants to play a song not on this list, please consult with instructor to make sure it is an appropriate piece with all the criteria needed to adjudicate. 

 
List of Available Songs:  

with Help Videos below (Listen to many of these songs by clicking on the video Link)

Beginning Soloist (1st year student)

Students can receive extra bonus points for choosing a level 2 or 3 song. The harder the level the more bonus points a student can receive.

Level 1  soloist (easiest)

  • Ode to Joy (in Book)  
  • Hungarian Folk Song Part A
  • Rockin’ Part A
  • Yankee Doodle (Add Dynamics-MP Measure 9-12 MF measure 13-16)

Level 2  soloist (med. difficulty)

Level 3  soloist (More difficult)

To hear the song played on your instrument

: Flute/bells  Clarinet  Sax  Trumpet  Trombone

 
Intermediate Soloist (2nd year student) 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

 
Advanced Level Soloist (student with more than 2 years experience) 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

 
Beginning Ensembles:

Level One: 

  • Song by Mozart pg. 38 (have one player play the Alternative part at measures 13-24)
  • Yankee Doodle Pg. 40 (create an arrangement with Instructor)
  • Rockin’ pg. 41

Level Two:

  • Hungarian Folk Song
  • America

Level Three:

  • Spring (Sheet Music) for 2-3 students
  • Pirates Medley (Sheet Music)
  • Musette (played unison with two or more players)
Intermediate Ensemble:

Level One: 

  • Spring (Sheet Music)
  • Pirates Medley (Sheet music)
  • Twister pg. 28

Level Two:

  • Island Winds (Trio-in Book)
  • Ob-La-Di. Ob-La-Da pg. 54
  • Star Wars (Duo Sheet music arrangement)
  • Manzanita (in Book)pg. 50

Level Three:

  • Blue Note March  (in book)
  • Sidewalk Strut (in book)
Advanced Ensemble:

Level One:

  • Island Winds
  • Star Wars (Duo-sheet music)
  • Manzanita!

Level Two:

  • Blue Note March (in book)
  • Sidewalk Strut (in book)

Level Three:

  • Star Wars Medley (ensemble arrangement-trio)
  • Simple Gifts (sheet Music-Trio)
  • Cruella De Vil (Duo-sheet music)

Register Now

About Us

The M.U.S.E. instrumental program provides students of elementary and middle school ages the opportunity to learn an instrument in a group setting. We offer classes in Band, and in some schools Piano, and Guitar/Ukulele. You’ll find us in Portland, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles. We feel learning an instrument is complimentary to a child’s academic studies including discipline, time management, teamwork, organizational skills, and perseverance and commitment. Our teachers are committed to making music lessons fun in a supportive and nurturing environment.

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