Each spring, students register through their school music programs to attend NYSSMA Evaluation Festivals where they are adjudicated.
The judges score and comment on the students' performances according to defined guidelines set by NYSSMA.
The grade sheets are then certified and sent to the music departments at the individual schools to be distributed to the students.
NYSSMA scores and evaluators' comments are often used by music teachers as diagnostics and progress monitoring.
Overall each participant is judged on seven categories, tone, intonation, technique, accuracy, interpretation, scales, and sight reading.
For example, on Level V and VI String Solos, "Tone" is worth 20 points, "Intonation" 10, "Technique" 20, "Accuracy" 15, "Interpretation" 20, "Scales" 5, and "Sight reading" 10.
In contrast, NYSSMA requires a list of rudiments that the soloist must prepare for their evaluation depending on the level of the solo for snare drum.