Skill Level Guidelines

Skill levels – which level class do I choose if I am learning an instrument?

For most instrumental classes, we offer

  • a beginner class,
  • an intermediate class and
  • an advanced class.

For keyboard, guitar, violin and flute classes only, we offer:

  • a beginner class,
  • a second year class
  • a third year class
  • an advanced class.

Beginner classes
The student does not need to have any previous experience to join a beginner class.

Moving into a different level of class
Each child is different and learns at a different pace. Many children will spend two years, sometimes three years, learning at one particular level, before moving to another level.

At the end of each year your child’s teacher will advise which level class your child should enrol in for the following year. The Supervisor and the teachers have the final decision on which level class your child will be placed in. Please accept their advice.

Guidelines for the skill level for intermediate and advanced classes.

Instrument

Advanced

Recorder

Can play F# up to E (almost an octave)

Can play C- A (almost 2 octaves), dotted rhythms, F#, C#, G#, B flat, E flat.

Example: English Country Gardens, Can-Can, Christmas Medley.

Cello

The teacher will assess you at the first class and tell you which class to go into.

Drums/Percussion

Students with one year’s experience

The teacher will assess other students with experience at the first class and sort you into classes.

Brass

Can play an octave (C-C), and F#, Bb, Eb, C#, and can read dotted rhythms

Can play low G to high E, and F#, C#, G#, D#, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and can read dotted rhythms, compound time, and syncopation.

Clarinet

Can play an octave and F#, C# and B flat.

Can play over the break and F#, C#, G# and B, E and A flat.

Saxophone

Can play an octave and a half and F#, C# and B flat.

Can play two octaves and F#, C#, G# and B, E and A flat.

Guidelines for the skill level for Level Two, Level Three and advanced classes

Instrument

Second year

Third year

Advanced

Keyboard

Familiar with reading music notes and where they relate on the keyboard in both the treble and the bass clef

Can read music over 2 octaves fairly fluently, sight-read simple pieces with quavers and semi-quavers including dotted rhythms.

Students have a solid foundation of music knowledge, including music terminology. Can work out music notes in the higher and lower ranges.

Guitar

Can recognise stave, treble clef, 2/4 and 4/4. Know the values of crotchets and minims. Know E, F, G on 1st string; B, C, D on 2nd string; G, A on 3rd string; open basses, 4th string D, 5th string A, 6th string E.

Can recognise 2/4, 4/4, 3/4. Know the values of minims, crotchets and quavers. Know all notes in first position: E, F, G on 1st string; B, C, D on 2nd string, G, A, B on 3rd string, D, E, F on 4th, A, B, C on 5th, E, F, G on 6th. Chords: G, C, D, Am

Can recognise time signature 2/4, 4/4, 3/4, 6/8. Know the values of dotted notes, triplets. Know C major, G major, A minor scales. Chords: C, F, G, A, D, E major, A, D, E minor.

Violin

Have a clear understanding of 1st and 2nd fingers, correct bowing and intonation, and perfect note reading.

Have a clear understanding of 3rd and 4th fingers, with sharps and flats, more complex timing. Can play G, D, C and A major scales in 2 octaves.

No longer need to learn finger positions by sticker placement (non-Suzuki) on the fingerboard. Competent in first, second and third position with complex timing. Good understanding of major and minor scales.

Flute

Can play an octave, and F# and B flat, minims and crotchets

Can play 1.5 octaves and F#, C#, Bflat and Eflat, dotted rhythms and quavers (8ths)

Can play 2 octaves of F and G major and G#, dotted rhythms and semiquavers (16ths).

Can play forte and piano and also tongued, slurred and staccato