New York · NYSSMA Solo Festival
NYSSMA prep, scored by AI.
Six levels, three scored components, one blind take. Whether you are aiming for a strong Level 3 or the Level 6 Honors grade that points toward All-State, the AI Judge scores you on the same five dimensions a NYSSMA adjudicator marks.
How the NYSSMA Solo Festival works
Solo
Choose a work from the current NYSSMA Manual at your target level. Perform it for a licensed adjudicator.
Scales
Play the required scales and arpeggios for your level from memory at the required tempo.
Sight-Reading
Receive an unseen passage, study it briefly, and perform it once. More demanding at higher levels.
The adjudicator scores each component and returns a total score with written comments. Level 6 (Honors) is the only level that carries a recommendation toward NYSSMA All-State ensembles.
Choose your level
Level 6 (Honors) All-State grade
The Honors grade. The most demanding repertoire and the only level that carries a recommendation toward All-State.
Level 5
An advanced high-school grade. Demanding solos, extended scales, and a challenging sight-reading passage.
Level 4
A solid intermediate grade. Longer solos, more position work, and a firmer sight-reading passage.
Level 3
A common middle-school benchmark. Multi-position solos, more scales, and a real sight-reading test.
Level 2
An elementary grade. Slightly longer solos, a few more required scales, and a short sight-reading passage.
Level 1
The entry grade. A short prepared solo, the simplest required scales, and a gentle sight-reading passage.
How Orchestra Kingdom helps you prepare for NYSSMA
- Same five dimensions. The AI Judge scores tone, intonation, rhythm, tempo, and musicality: the same five dimensions a NYSSMA adjudicator marks. Submit a 30-second take and get dimension-level feedback in under a minute.
- No-retake pressure. NYSSMA is one take. The AI Judge holds the same condition: you get scored on what you play, not on your best attempt across twenty tries.
- Level-appropriate feedback. A Level 2 student and a Level 6 student need different coaching. The Judge calibrates its analysis to the difficulty of your repertoire.
- Find the weakest dimension. Most students know they have a problem but not exactly where it costs them the most. The dimension score shows you: drilling your weakest dimension moves your overall score faster than uniform practice.
NYSSMA Solo Festival: common questions
- What is NYSSMA?
- NYSSMA stands for the New York State School Music Association. It administers the Solo Festival, an annual adjudicated performance event where New York students perform a graded solo from the current NYSSMA Manual, required scales, and a sight-reading passage before a licensed adjudicator. Levels run from 1 (beginning) to 6 (Honors). Level 6 carries a recommendation toward NYSSMA All-State ensemble selection.
- How many NYSSMA levels are there for strings?
- There are six NYSSMA levels for string players. Level 1 is the entry grade for beginning players. Level 6 (Honors) is the most advanced and the only level that carries a recommendation toward NYSSMA All-State orchestra ensembles.
- What is scored at a NYSSMA Solo Festival?
- Three components are scored by a licensed NYSSMA adjudicator: (1) the prepared solo or concerto movement from the current NYSSMA Manual, (2) required scales and arpeggios, and (3) a sight-reading passage. Each component is scored and a total with written comments is returned to the student.
- What level do I need for NYSSMA All-State?
- Level 6 (Honors) is the grade that carries a recommendation toward NYSSMA All-State ensembles. Levels 1 to 5 are adjudicated at the Solo Festival but do not carry All-State eligibility. Your school director handles the recommendation and nomination process.
- When is the NYSSMA Solo Festival?
- NYSSMA Solo Festivals generally run in the spring, with dates set locally by each district. Confirm your festival date with your school music director, and confirm level requirements in the current NYSSMA Manual.
Related prep pages
Level facts summarize the NYSSMA Solo Festival framework published by NYSSMA. Confirm the exact required scales and repertoire for your level in the current NYSSMA Manual. Orchestra Kingdom is not affiliated with NYSSMA. Written by Ethan Kim, violinist of 14 years.