Skip to main content
Image of UT logo that reads The University of Texas at Austin
University Interscholastic League Logo
University Interscholastic League Logo

TSSEC Sponsor Guidelines for Assigning Accompanists

  • How should I best plan for assigning accompanists to my students?
    • ​The following information is provided to assist each school’s music program with accounting for accompanists when registering students for the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest (TSSEC). Planning in advance to the opening of the registration process is essential to resulting in a master schedule that is conflict free for your accompanied performances.   
  • What is the length of each contest day?
    • ​Performances are scheduled each day from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. All judges have a scheduled lunch break from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, resulting in up to 8 hours of scheduled performances each day for each judge.
  • How many band and orchestra performances can one accompanist realistically fulfill in one day?
    • ​Instrumental events are scheduled at 10-minute intervals, resulting in a maximum of 48 scheduled performances in one day for each judge. With there being a maximum of 21 available times in the morning (8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon), do not plan to assign an accompanist to more than 12 morning performances. With there being a maximum of 28 available times in the afternoon (1:00 PM to 5:30 PM), do not plan to assign an accompanist to more than 15 afternoon performances. These maximums allow for schedule delays and time for an accompanist to move from room to room as dictated by where each performance is scheduled. 
  • How many vocal performances can one accompanist realistically fulfill in one day?
    • ​Vocal events are scheduled at 6-minute intervals, resulting in a maximum of 80 scheduled performances in one day for each judge. With there being a maximum of 35 available times in the morning (8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon), do not plan to assign an accompanist to more than 20 morning performances. With there being a maximum of 45 available times in the afternoon (1:00 PM to 5:30 PM), do not plan to assign an accompanist to more than 25 afternoon performances. These maximums allow for schedule delays and time for an accompanist to move from room to room as dictated by where each performance is scheduled. 
  • Can an accompanist move from one site to another site in the same day?
    • ​Do not plan for an accompanist to be shared between multiple sites within the same half day (morning or afternoon). It is possible for an accompanist to be at one site in the morning and another site in the afternoon, pending performance times.
  • How do I register accompanist information in a manner that creates a master schedule that works for my students?
    • ​When registering each event there will be a blank accompanist field. DO NOT leave the accompanist field blank when registering an ACCOMPANIED solo or ACCOMPANIED ensemble. DO leave the accompanist field blank when registering an UNACCOMPANIED solo or UNACCOMPANIED ensemble. When registering accompanied events list a unique name for the accompanist and if necessary, communicate with each accompanist to find out if another school will also be utilizing that accompanist. For example, even if A. Hernandez and Austin Hernandez is the same person, the scheduling system will pick up the different spellings as two different people and potentially schedule those events at the same time.
  • What should I do when registering an event if I do not know who the accompanist will be?
    • ​When registering your events if you do not know who the accompanist will be, create a unique name for the accompanist. For example, Seguin HS Choir Accompanist A, etc. This will allow the system to account for the accompanist and avoid schedule conflicts for every solo that will be accompanied by Seguin HS Choir Accompanist A. Avoid using words like “unknown” or “to be determined,” as these descriptions could also be used by other schools and picked up in the system as a schedule conflict.
  • What if we will be utilizing recorded or electronic accompaniment for an event?​
    • If you will be utilizing recorded or electronic accompaniment create a unique name for each set of equipment you will have, as this will allow the shared equipment to function in the scheduling process in the same manner as a human accompanist. For example, Seguin HS Choir Smart Music A, etc., NOT simply Smart Music.  
  • We have one marimba that will be shared by several different students. Is there a way to account for this in the scheduling system?​
    • If you will be utilizing a shared instrument (like marimba) create a unique name for each marimba you will have, as this will allow the shared instrument to function in the scheduling process in the same manner as an accompanist. For example, Seguin HS Marimba A, etc. 
  • What is the latest date I can enter accompanist information into the system and have the system account for it in the master schedule?
    • ​The master schedule will be built starting in mid-April right after the on-time registration process concludes. If accurate accompanist information is not entered by the sponsor in the accompanist field by the time the on-time registration closes, your accompanied events will likely have schedule conflicts when the master schedule is released.