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 and guitar classes only, we offer:

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

Beginner classes
For all beginner classes, the student does not need to have any previous experience.

Intermediate and Advanced classes (except keyboard and guitar)
If you are already learning an instrument, ask your teacher whether you should enrol for the next year in beginner, intermediate or advanced class. The Supervisor and the teachers have the final decision on which class you will be placed in, as every child is different and learns at a different pace. Some children will benefit from repeating the beginner class again. Please accept their advice.

But, in general, if you have learned the instrument for one year, you may go into the intermediate class the following year, depending on your progress. Generally, if you have learned the instrument for two or three years, you may go into the advanced class the following year depending on your progress.

Guidelines for the skill level for intermediate and advanced classes.

Instrument

Intermediate

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.

Violin

Competent with second and third fingers. Starting Book 2 of Fiddle Time Joggers.

No longer need to learn finger positions by sticker placement (non-Suzuki) on the fingerboard. Competent in first, second and third position and can play the G major scale 2 octaves.

Acoustic Guitar

Can recognise stave, treble clef, time signatures 2/4 and 4/4, know the note 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 time signature 3/4, note value of quaver and dotted notes, triplets, scales - C major, G major, A minor, Chords: C, F, G, A, D, E major, A, D, E minor.

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.

Flute

Can play an octave, and F#, minims and crochets

Can play 1.5 octaves and F#, C# and B flat and E flat, can play dotted rhythms and 16ths.

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.

Keyboard and Guitar – second year, third year and advanced
Generally you will go into:

  • the second year class after you have learned for one year;
  • the third year class after you have learned for two years,
  • the advanced class after you have been learning for three or more years.

Keyboard – skill levels for second year, third year and advanced classes

Second year

Third year

Advanced

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 – skill levels for second year, third year and advanced classes

Second year

Third year

Advanced

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.