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Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos

Posted by No Complaints on 10/19/2025, 9:58 am

There was a question posted earlier this month asking for suggestions for playable ("easiest") class I trumpet solos. There were several good suggestions and that leads to my own question:

Are there some solos on the UIL list that are simply never or almost never awarded a 1st division rating at TSSEC even when played rather well? Let me be blunt. I am positing the possibility that there is a "secret" list of solos that are I rating eligible and others that are really not likely to get a I.

Another way to look at it is that some solos are fine for region but not a good choice at the state level for this reason.

I would very much like to hear opinions on this. I do not have a particular student or students in mind but am asking this in a very general sense.

Re: Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos

Posted by retired on 10/21/2025, 8:37 am, in reply to "Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos"

I never, ever had a student make a 1 at state on "Song of the Pines," "Sonata 8" Corelli, etc.

Of course, most kids who play such solos are not strong enough to make a 1 at state on the Hummel.

My all-staters didn't play the easiest solos.

Re: Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos

Posted by Haha on 10/19/2025, 5:49 pm, in reply to "Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos"

That would take a level of coordinated malice that would undo our community. I think what you are getting at is that those in charge of judging our students are also passing judgement on our literature. There is absolutely a large difference in who is possibly a region judge and who is a state judge. I trust the state judges, or at least UIL to select strong judges that have comprehensive knowledge of their respective literature.

I also trust all judges to work in a way that brings honor to the students. If a state performer performs Superior on their approved solo, easy or hard, they earn the award. There is not quota or limit, and there never should be.

Re: Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos

Posted by Followup on 10/20/2025, 8:38 am, in reply to "Re: Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos"

I had a region judge pass along a kid who improvised whole sections of their solo. I anticipated them to score 2 at best, but they were given a ticket and a free ride to make a 3 at state where the college professor immediately knew.

Re: Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos

Posted by Yeah... on 10/21/2025, 7:50 am, in reply to "Re: Follow on question about playable class I trumpet solos"

Same here...and seen it happen to other students. I am unable to grasp how a student who is First Division at the region level, is all of the sudden Fourth Division at the state level especially when they have been working an additional 3 months on the piece (yes I have seen a drop like this more than once).

There shouldn't be any 4s or 5s handed out at state...and 3s only if the kid is having a bad day.
If the state rating is going to be that low, then the kid should not be advanced out of region.

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