The Yellow Board

TSSEC Question

Posted by NotSure on 5/23/2022, 7:22 am

Is it required for a student to have a pianist as an accompaniment or can we use the piano recording that they used at solo and ensemble? I didn't find anything on the UIL website so if you can direct me to the location I need to go that would be great too. Thank you in advance!

Re: TSSEC Question

Posted by fumw on 5/23/2022, 10:18 am, in reply to "TSSEC Question"

As long as it is accompanied if it has an accompaniment part. Piano, computer, cassette recorder, guitar, barber shop quartet. Always wanted to bring in a string orchestra for some baroque ww concertos.

Warning - it has been some years and hopefully this has been stamped out, but some TSSEC judges were known to say outright that they would never give a 1 to a solo played with a computer.

Re: TSSEC Question

Posted by 2A guy on 5/23/2022, 8:42 am, in reply to "TSSEC Question"

We have used both SmartMusic and recordings of piano. Small town and no accompanist available. I've only had one judge say anything and we've done it for more than 15 years.

Re: TSSEC Question

Posted by Old dude on 5/24/2022, 8:08 pm, in reply to "Re: TSSEC Question"

As a small school director I have used recorded accompaniments at state many times not always having access to a live piano accompanist. It is not ideal but accepted. Many class one solos are more difficult to perform with recordings. If a student stumbles with memory issues it can be "game over", whereas a good accompanist can make adjustments and follow the soloist out of a troubled section. The only real advantage of playing with a recording is that the student can practice as many times as needed with the recording whereas some accompanists have limited rehearsal time with the students.

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