NYSSMA performances occurred on March 30th – March 31st where NYSSMA students played their solos that they have prepared for their judges. Students receive a score based on the different levels they are playing.
Levels and rankings
Levels 1-4 are scored out of 28, and levels 5-6 are scored out of 100. Levels 1-2 are elementary/beginners, levels 3-4 are middle schoolers/intermediate, and levels 5-6 are high schoolers/advanced.
The scoring system for levels 1-4 are 26-28 which is considered “outstanding”, 21-25 is “excellent”, 16-20 is “good”, and 0-15 is considered as “needs improvement”. For scorings of 26-28, students earn a red-white- and blue medal, students who get a 21-25 earn a blue medal, and students who get a 16-20 earn a red medal.
The scoring system for levels 5-6 is on an A-F scale. An A+ is considered a perfect score out of 100, an A is a 95-99, an A- is a 90-94, and a B+/B is anything in the 80s or below.
For all levels, going below a “needs improvement” or a B is considered “festival” which is comments only, meaning you would not receive a score.
NYSSMA Solos
NYSSMA stands for the New York State School Music Association. It was formally established in 1955 to improve music education. Students prepare solos and pieces to preform to an adjudicator, who then gives scores and comments to help benefit the music student.
Liam Hart, a freshman cello player in the string ensemble, performed his second level 6 NYSSMA solo this year playing Beethoven, Sonata No.4. Hart practices 15-30 minutes per day and uses different strategies to practice.
“For NYSSMA, I tend to record myself playing the piece or sometimes specific parts that need work and then listening to it and noticing what I need improvement on, but other than that, I just listen to an actual recording of the piece over and over and try to practice consistently,” said Hart.
Rivers O’Neil, a freshman violinist in string ensemble and a member of the choral ensemble, performed a level 6 NYSSMA solo as well this year. He is singing Vagabond by Vaughan Williams. O’Neil practices 10 minutes per week.
“I’ve been doing NYSSMA for two years now and it took me three-ish weeks to learn my piece—by practicing ten minutes per week,” said O’Neil
NYSSMA Majors
NYSSMA majors are being held at the end of April. Majors are almost the same as solos except this time you will be performing with your whole ensemble.
You can only receive three different types of scoring for majors. The highest scoring is gold with distinction, the second highest is gold, next is silver, second to last is bronze, and the lowest is certificate of preparation which is just an evaluated performance.
Mr. Thomas Carroll, director of concert band and wind ensemble, is performing a level 4 piece called “Rocketship,” with concert band. Wind ensemble performs level 6 pieces such as “Mars,” and “Awayday”. These pieces help challenge both ensembles.
“My advice is letting them realize how much this will help them for the future. Any job you have, you will have to collaborate with others. All of our musicians are a step ahead, because they have already done this with all of their band pieces,” said Mr. Carroll.
Mr. Fuentes, a student teacher for symphonic band coming from Fredonia University, is helping prepare symphonic students for NYSSMA majors alongside Mrs. Ficurilli with level 5-6 pieces such as “Stars and Stripes Forever,” “Ascension,” and “Koldon”. Mr. Fuentes has performed in NYSSMA as well and is now helping others with their upcoming performances.
“It’s a bittersweet moment knowing I’m not the one performing, I didn’t realize that my last NYSSMA was my last NYSSMA until now so for students I feel that taking advantage of that by being able to say I did this when not a lot of people can say that,” said Mr. Fuentes.
NYSSMA is a great program that helps benefit many music students when it comes to improving their technique. It helps them prepare pieces that they are either performing by themselves or with their ensemble. Either way, it’s a great learning experience for all. Good luck to all performing and make sure you practice your pieces!
