​Overview
High school students who already know how to play an instrument or sing from sheet music may participate in the TAPPS solo and ensemble contest. This is an independent study course with oversight from the Fine Arts Department Lead. Eligible students who complete the requirements may compete at the TAPPS competition and be awarded medals by competition judges.

Solo and ensemble is a 1/2-hr. independent study fine arts course. To earn this credit, a student must register for the course for the fall and spring semesters and submit a proposal to the Fine Arts Department Lead no later than September 30. The proposal will include a description of the student’s or ensemble’s instrumentation and the title, composer, and publisher of their chosen piece of music.* 

The student soloist or ensemble must maintain a practice log and have a monthly performance touch point leading into the competition. The recommended amount of practice time for the solo competition is 20 minutes a day for 5-6 days out of the week during the solo and ensemble “season.” The recommended amount of practice time for students in ensembles is 1-1.5 hours a week during the solo and ensemble “season.” This time may be spent practicing individually or with the ensemble. 

In addition, the student(s) must perform the piece for the fine arts department lead on February 27. Upon completion of performance in the competition on March 25, the student will earn the 1-hr fine arts credit. 

Eligible Instruments:
  • Piano
  • Guitar
  • Strings
  • Woodwinds
  • Brass
  • Percussion
How do I choose music?
Click here for a short video tutorial on finding approved music for Solo and Ensemble.
  1. TAPPS requires that we use the UIL Preferred Music Database (UIL PML). Click here to access the database.  
  2. Click on the Event Code dropdown menu. Select your instrument and either solo or ensemble. For example: 202 Flute Solo.
  3. Click on Grade and select either 1 (most difficult), 2, or 3 (least difficult). 
  4. Browse the song list. You might want to copy the Event Name, Title, and Composer, and paste it into a Google search to see if there are previews or videos of the piece being performed (Ex: "Flute Solo Legende Andersen"). If your child is taking music lessons with a music teacher, he/she might have some recommended songs, as well.
  5. Please email Jenny Blair (jennyblair@clps.info) if you need help with selecting music.
Important Dates:
  • August 31: Complete this short interest form so we can tell TAPPS that our school will participate
  • September 30: Full proposal due via this form*
  • ​October 1-February 26: Practice and log the time spent practicing your approved piece of music
  • February 27: Perform piece for approval to attend competition
  • March 25: Competition date In DFW​