NYSSMA Information

NYSSMA is actually an acronym that stands for New York State School Music Association. Their website homepage is www.nyssma.org. NYSSMA is the parent organization of SCMEA (Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association)

NYSSMA sponsors approximately 145 solo & small ensemble and major ensemble festivals in New York State each spring. At solo and small ensemble festivals, students are given a performance evaluation that involves playing a graded solo from the NYSSMA Manual, playing scales and sight reading. At major ensemble festivals, school bands, choruses and orchestras are evaluated.

All NYSSMA registration is done through the student’s school music program. Information regarding scheduling times and appropriate materials should be received from the school music teacher. Central Islip is a NYSSMA Member school district and authorized to send students to NYSSMA

No. Registration is only done through the music teacher at the school which the student attends.

NYSSMA festivals (other than for All-State) are evaluations, not competitions. Students may compete with themselves from year to year, but NYSSMA does not view festivals as competitive.

Students who desire a rating must choose a graded solo from the NYSSMA Manual. Student who desire comments only can perform any music and are not required to play scales or sight read.
 

All music teachers at all Central Islip schools have a copy of the NYSSMA manual. It can also be found at many public libraries. The manual contains rules and regulations as well as the extensive solo lists. It should be noted, however, that the manual is designed for use by music teachers and is not intended as a student or parent publication.

NYSSMA adjudicators are professional teacher/musicians who have received instruction on the NYSSMA adjudication system.

Go to NYSSMA’s website and click on “Information” and then “About Us” to read their mission statement and learn all about what they do.

A NYSSMA solo/ensemble festival is a performance venue that provides students with an opportunity to be assessed by a NYSSMA certified adjudicator on solo or ensemble music they have prepared. The purpose of this assessment is to provide the student(s) with positive feedback and constrictive criticism in an effort to help improve performance.
 

The soloist or ensemble enters a specified room to perform for an individual adjudicator. In addition to the prepared literature, soloists performing for a grade will be asked to perform a specified number of major scales (see NYSSMA manual or speak to your teacher) and a short (approximately 8 measures) sight-reading example. Ensembles are only required to perform the prepared literature.

A solo is an individual performance. An ensemble can be anywhere from two (duet) up to sixteen (16) musicians, depending on the requirement of the repertoire. Anything above sixteen (16) players is considered a “major ensemble” and must perform at a NYSSMA “Majors” Ensemble Festival.

The entire process takes approximately ten (10) minutes for a level 1-4 adjudication and fifteen (15) minutes for a level 5-6 or All-State adjudication.

No, NYSSMA does not allow any audio or video recording devices in the adjudication room.

Typically, the students’ teacher or private teacher will help them select the appropriate music to prepare, based on the ability of the student or students performing it. The music must be listed in the current NYSSMA manual in order to be evaluated. Every teacher in the school district and most music stores have access to this manual. Presently, the manual is not offered online. In Central Islip the students music teacher is usually the primary source for a student to select and prepare a NYSSMA Solo. If a Central Islip student studies privately the Central Islip music staff will help as a resource but usually leave the preparation for the solo to the private teacher.

Preparing a NYSSMA solo or ensemble properly requires a lot of time and practice. It is up to each individual student to practice diligently and to prepare his/her music. The repertoire is above and beyond the regular in-school lesson program requirement. One-on-one tutoring is highly effective and may be necessary in preparing for the adjudication. Depending on availability and scheduling, the school music teacher may or may not have time to assist in the preparation of the music. For Level VI and All-State Auditions, it is advisable and beneficial to secure a private instructor for this purpose if financially possible. If private instruction is not feasible our music staff will do all they can to help our students as long as the student fulfills their end of diligent and regular home practice.

Preparing any piece of music has a variety of aesthetic rewards and technical benefits. Students who practice diligently and do well will experience a wonderful sense of satisfaction while becoming better overall musicians on his or her instrument/voice. Adjudicators are trained to provide not only positive feedback but also constructive criticism designed to help students become better musicians.

The NYSSMA rating scale for all solos and ensembles starts at level 1 (easiest) up to level 6 (hardest). All-State soloists must perform literature selected from the level 6 category.

Level 1-4 music is rated as “Outstanding, “Excellent”, “Good”, etc. on a scale of 1-28 with 28 being a perfect score. Level 5-6 music is rated as A+, A, A-, B+, B, etc. on a scale of 1- 100 with 100 being a perfect score. Points are given in major categories such as tone, intonation, technique, accuracy, interpretation, scales and sight-reading. Narrative comments are also written by the adjudicator to provide positive feedback, constructive criticism and to explain any point deductions.

Yes, if a student has a disability that requires more time or has impaired vision and needs the sight-reading materials enlarged or any other type of disability, your school music teacher can provide a “Student with Disabilities” form to be filled out and signed by the teacher, parent and school principal. This form will be kept confidential and given to the adjudicator prior to the adjudication.

Click Here to see the official NYSSMA Student with Disabilities Form. 

Each solo or ensemble time slot must be purchased by the student. The current fees are as follows:

• Regular solo/ensemble level 1-4 - $16.00
• Regular solo/ensemble level 5-6 - $24.00
• Piano solo/ensemble level 1-4 - $22.00
• Piano solo/ensemble level 5-6 - $30.00
• Any All-State solo - $30.00

NOTE: Fees are as of Spring 2023 and subject to change as per NYSSMA.
Fees are Non-Refundable for any reason.

In addition to the above fees, students must also pay for any piano accompanist fee that is not covered by the school district.

• If one of our music teachers or any Central Islip Music Staff provide accompaniment services, there will be ZERO additional costs to the student.
• If the student (and parent) choose to use an outside accompanist who agrees to the terms of the Central Islip remuneration we might be able to pay for the accompanist.
• If the student (and parent) choose to procure an accompanist who charges more or does not agree to the Central Islip payment terms it is 100% the responsibility of the student/parent.
• Click Here for an informative letter about accompanists including a list of local professional pianists.  

The district does NOT provide any transportation to the NYSSMA Solo Festival. 

Please speak to your music teacher for additional information. 

No. Pianos are available for accompanists in All-State rooms and vocal rooms only. Pianos are not available in regular level 1-6 brass, string, woodwind and percussion adjudication rooms. All-State soloists must provide accompaniment if the literature they are performing has an accompaniment part.  When providing a recorded or computerized accompaniment, the student must also provide his/her own audio playback equipment. Students may use a live or recorded accompaniment. 

Click Here for an informative letter about accompanists including a list of local professional pianists. 

Within approximately 2-3 weeks of the festival, each participating student will receive the original adjudication form back, completed by the adjudicator. The Central Islip music department will also provide each student with an official NYSSMA corresponding medal of accomplishment. Medals are usually distributed sometime shortly after the festival and before the end of the school year, depending on availability.

The district does NOT provide any transportation to the NYSSMA Solo Festival. 

Please speak to your music teacher for additional information. 

When a student or teacher requests a “Comments Only” rating, the performer(s) will receive the same narrative comments from the adjudicator, without any numerical grades or score.

There are several reasons why a student may choose to go “Comments Only”:

1. High school seniors who are graduating and no longer eligible for the All-State program often opt to go “Festival”, as the grades are no longer relevant but they still wish to receive narrative comments from an adjudicator.
2. Students who did not prepare the music well enough may also request a “Comments Only” rating to avoid a poor grade.
3. Students who have accidentally prepared a piece of literature that is not listed in the NYSSMA manual cannot be adjudicated for a grade but are allowed to go ”Comments Only” for narrative comments only.

Yes, but it is not advisable due to the rigor and commitment involved in preparing for an adjudication. However, students are not allowed to perform the same solo twice in the same year on the same instrument or voice.

NO! Absolutely not. Photocopied music is illegal. Students who arrive with photocopied music will be asked to leave the site.

It is advisable, but not mandatory to have a legal copy (original) for the adjudicator to look at during the performance and one for the piano accompanist (if applicable). If only one legal copy is available, the adjudicator may have to look over the shoulder of the performer.

Yes, providing the student also has a receipt from the website the music was purchased from.

Yes and No. The registration form asks for time preferences, but there is no guarantee a specific time request can be granted. Students should make the NYSSMA festival a priority by making themselves available for the duration of the festival until a time confirmation is received.

Finalized schedules are confirmed and distributed to teachers approximately 7-10 school days before the festival.

Students must attend the festival that is assigned to Central Islip. NYSSMA does not provide a means of scheduling students elsewhere. Under extenuating circumstances, Mr. Voigt can attempt to schedule a student at another festival at the mercy and discretion of the site host. Consequently, there are no guarantees. All-State adjudications must receive a site variance approval letter from NYSSMA before being scheduled elsewhere, and only under extreme, extenuating circumstances will this be done.

The All-State bands, choruses, orchestras and jazz ensembles are honors groups comprised of the top students from school music departments across the state. The 8 groups are directed by renowned guest conductors and perform on one of three concerts in the Eastman (Rochester) Theater during the annual NYSSMA Winter Conference in late November or early December each year. Rehearsals take place in Rochester, NY from Thursday through the Sunday concert during the conference.

To be eligible, a student must be a member of the corresponding ensemble in his or her high school if the school has such an ensemble. This would be the school band, chorus, orchestra, jazz ensemble or vocal jazz ensemble. Students must be members at the time of the audition and at the time of Conference All-State. Students are chosen to represent these ensembles from their schools, and as such, must be participating members of their school ensembles.

All-State is not available for piano except for students who audition for the All-State jazz ensemble.

Students must be recommended by the director of their high school ensemble (band, chorus, orchestra, jazz ensemble) and students must perform an All-State audition at a spring NYSSMA festival. For the audition, students must perform a Level 6 piece from the NYSSMA Manual. If selected for All-State, endorsement of the student’s high school principal is required on the final forms.

Yes, selection to All-State is very competitive. For selection to conference All-State, students compete not only with other students at their audition site but with students from across the state. Over 7000 students compete for the 890 positions in the 8 All-State ensembles. Even a perfect score of 100 does not guarantee selection to All-State on many instruments or voices.

The primary source for festival information is your school music teacher.

Students performing an All-State solo will be scored on a special All-State adjudication form, with the same criteria as a level 6 solo. The only difference is that the student is now competing against every other student in New York State on that particular instrument or voice part. Every student will be entered on a statewide proficiency list. This list will be used to select students for All-State performance ensemble honors. Consequently, adjudicators must be more stringent when grading for All-State than a regular level 6 solo.

It is recommended that students obtain at least a NYSSMA level 5 or 6 A+ before attempting to perform for an All-State adjudication. The school music teacher who registers the student for the festival is the only person who can complete an All-State application and must recommend the student to perform an All-State solo.

Accompanists are required if the literature they are performing has an accompaniment part. When providing a recorded or computerized accompaniment, the student must also provide his/her own audio playback equipment. Students may use a live or recorded accompaniment. 

Click Here for an informative letter about accompanists including a list of local professional pianists.

In addition to the above fees, students must also pay for any piano accompanist fee that is not covered by the school district.

• If one of our music teachers or any Central Islip Music Staff provide accompaniment services, there will be ZERO additional costs to the student.
• If the student (and parent) choose to use an outside accompanist who agrees to the terms of the Central Islip remuneration we might be able to pay for the accompanist.
• If the student (and parent) choose to procure an accompanist who charges more or does not agree to the Central Islip payment terms it is 100% the responsibility of the student/parent.
• Click Here for an informative letter about accompanists including a list of local professional pianists.  

The district does NOT provide any transportation to the NYSSMA Solo Festival. 

Please speak to your music teacher for additional information. 

While all of our Central Islip music teachers are extremely talented and some even more talented on the piano, there are several All-State Solos that require piano accompaniment outside the level of a music teacher and require a professional pianist. Please speak to the student's music teacher about the available options before hiring a professional pianist.

Click Here for an informative letter about accompanists including a list of local professional pianists.

There are literally dozens of NYSSMA Festivals and Satellite Festivals held across Suffolk County and accompanist schedules will fill up very quickly. It is highly advised that students/parents secure an accompanist prior to the February Mid-Winter Recess. Students should speak to their music teacher for assistance or to see if one of our Central Islip music staff are available and able to provide this service before seeking the services of a non Central Islip music teacher.