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A.     Entrance Requirements

1.  All senior high school soloists (10th. 11th. I 2th grade) must perform in the Proficiency Examination Section. Having passed Proficiency I in the previous year, the entrant must enter Proficiency II, etc. If an entrant fails to pass Proficiency I the previous year, he/she may repeat Proficiency I.
2. The following categories are open at each grade:

• 10th grade – Proficiency 1. may not enter II or Ill
• 11th grade – Proficiency 1I or II. may not enter Ill
• 12th grade – Proficiency 1. 11. or Il

1. Proficiency Exams:

• Wind and String Instrument Proficiency examinations consist of three sections:

•  Piano Proficiencies consist of four sections:

• Snare Drum Proficiencies consist of three sections:

• Melody Percussion Proficiencies consist of 3 sections:

• Timpani Proficiencies consist of 3 sections:

            1.    Sight Reading                    25 points
            2.    Prepared Etude (Proficiency Ill Students must prepare both Etudes I and                      II)                                    25 points
            3.    Prepared Solo                    50 points

• Mixed percussion soloists must play proficiency requirements 1 and 2 on either snare, mallets, or tympani.

    2. Scales

(Note: these appear on this website, under Festivals => MSBOA State S&E => By Instrument Specifics) The student must be prepared to play the scales listed for his instrument in the rhythm and tempo indicated. Scales must be memorized. Articulations for winds will be all slurred or all tongued. Strings use bowings on String Proficiency page. Melody percussion only roll the last note.

    3. Piano Invention or Fugue: (Piano Solo events only)

The piano invention or fugue does not have to be memorized. The adjudicator’s copy of the Bach Selection will be provided by the Slate Association. Piano entries play the scale and arpeggio as a unit and are rated on them as one item.

    4.  Prepared Solo

• The student may prepare a solo of any length, but not less than two minutes or no rating will be given, and the judge shall have the right to start and stop the student in the solo as he/she desires. The judge must be furnished an ORIGINAL (9 numbered copy of the solo, other than the one used by the student, for adjudication. Remember, no ORIGINAL (9 numbered score, no rating.
• The solo which the student performs in the Proficiency Examination need not be the same solo used for qualification in the District Festival.

• Sight reading is to be prepared by a designated committee appointed by the President of Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association.
• Sight reading shall be graded according to the Proficiency level.
• Sixty seconds will be allowed for study of proficiency sight reading. Following this, the student shall begin to play.
• d.   Proficiency sight reading will be waived for all blind or visually impaired entrants as determined by their director. Full credit will be given.

• The entry fees for Piano and Percussion Proficiencies are higher because the examinations are longer.
• No equipment will be provided for the Percussion Proficiency Examinations.

• Each examination is allowed a total of 12 minutes. S minutes for solo and 5 minutes for scales and sight reading (and Inventions and Fugues). (Piano and Percussion proficiencies are allowed a total of 16 minutes.) The breakdown of time is left to the discretion of the adjudicator, however, he/she must hear five scales and the sight reading in addition to the solo. Generally, the solo is played first. to allow the accompanist to leave. However, adjudicators will give the students their choice of the playing order of the proficiency items or sections. In each event the adjudicator is allowed two minutes in the schedule to complete the written and/or oral comments.
• A total of 85 points is required for successfully passing any proficiency examination provided all sections have been attempted.