Beginning students who have passed Beginner A

Skills taught and required to promote to Intermediate A:

Note names:

• Note names and finger positions for all notes on flashcards, quickly, no errors

Finger patterns:

• All finger patterns, in tune

Posture:

• Left hand position – tunnel, straight wrist
• Correct bow hold and straight full bows
• Correct instrument position

Rhythm: Clap ¼, ½ , dotted ½ , dotted ¼, dotted 1/8, whole notes and rests

Scales and arpeggios (say key signature):

• F major (one octave)
• Bb major (one octave)
• C major (2 octaves viola/cello)
• G major (2 octaves violin)
• D major (2 octaves viola/cello)
• A major (2 octaves violin)
• d melodic minor (one octave)
• g melodic minor (one octave)

Written theory:

• Identify number of beats for given note (1/4, ½, dotted half, whole plus rests)
• Write in counting for examples in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 time
• Define: forte, piano, legato, staccato
• Write letter names on fingerboard diagram and staff
• Draw sharp, flat, natural

Sight reading:

• Play example using WSMTA guidelines

Listening:

• Identify legato, staccato, forte, piano, up/down movement, repeat
• Clap pulse of 8 measure example

Performance:

• Play final concert piece in tune w/ correct rhythm

Combination class for beginning students with prior musical experience who can read musical notation. Students will be selected for this class during HSS Camp by instructor invitation only.

Skills Needed to advance to ‘Intermediate A’ from ‘Beginner X’:

• All skills listed under ‘Beginner A’ and ‘Beginner B’ above

Students who have completed ‘Beginner A’ and ‘Beginner B’; or ‘Beginner X’ (previously titled ‘Beginner A/B’)

Skills taught and required to promote to 'Intermediate B':

Note names:

• Names and finger position of all notes in 1st position
• Names and finger position of notes in 3rd/4th position on E/A string

Finger patterns:

• 1, 2, 3, & 4, in tune

Posture/Bowing:

• Left hand position – tunnel, straight wrist
• Correct bow hold and bow/string contact
• Correct instrument position
• Articulations

Rhythm:

• Clap 1/8 note pairs,¼ notes/rests, ½ notes/rests, dotted half notes, whole notes/rests, tied notes

Scales and arpeggios (say key signature):

• C major (2 octave violin)
• G major (2 octave viola/cello)
• D major (2 octave)
• A major (2 octave violin)
• F major (2 octave viola/cello)
• Bb major (2 octave violin)
• Eb major (2 octave viola/cello)
• a melodic minor (one octave)
• c melodic minor (one octave)
• d melodic minor (one octave)
• g melodic minor (one octave)

Written theory:

• Write in the counting for rhythm examples in 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 meter
• Identify number of beats for quarter notes and rests, half notes and whole notes
• Recognize and give definitions for piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte
• Identify ties and slurs
• Draw sharp, flat, and natural symbols on the staff in proper placement
• Draw note stems on note heads in the correct direction and on correct side
• Give letter names with accidentals of any first position notes on the staff
• Identify intervals of half and whole steps between notes with accidentals (1st position)

Sight reading:

• Play example using WSMTA guidelines

Listening:

• Select a rhythm pattern from two written examples
• Add a sharp or flat sign in front of a note to indicate movement up or down
• Identify the general quality of music in regard to tempo, dynamic, mood, articulation

Performance:

• Play final concert piece in tune w/ correct rhythm

Students who have passed 'Intermediate A'.

Skills taught and required to promote to 'Advanced':

Positions:

• Comfortable playing in 3rd position with shifting, working on 5th position
• Cellos familiar with 4th position

Bowings:

• Full bowings
• Articulations

Dynamic markings: Follow dynamic markings in playing

Intonation:

• Plays in tune

Rhythm:

• Clap 1/8 note pairs,¼ notes/rests, ½ notes/rests, dotted half notes, dotted quarter/eighth notes, half notes/rests, upbeats, whole notes/rests, tied notes

Scales and arpeggios – all 2 octaves (say key signature):

• C major
• G major
• D major
• A major
• F major
• Bb major
• Eb major
• a melodic minor
• e melodic minor
• d melodic minor
• g melodic minor
• c melodic minor
• G or C chromatic scale

Written theory:

• Write in the counting for rhythm examples in 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 meter
• Recognize and give definitions for pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte, and fortissimo symbols; accent, staccato, D.C. al Fine, arco, and pizz.
• Give letter names with accidentals of any first position notes on the staff
• Write the pattern of whole and half steps for major and natural minor scales

Sight reading:

• Play example using WSMTA guidelines

Listening:

• Identify perfect 4ths, perfect 5ths, perfect octaves, and tonality of piece as major or minor
• Identify the pulse of a piece as having 3 or 4 beats per measure
• Rhythmic dictation – write 2 measures in 4/4 meter using quarter, half, dotted half, and whole notes.

Performance:

• Play final concert piece in tune w/ correct rhythm

• Play 3 octave scales, major and minor
• Play in all positions through 5th
• Use vibrato in playing
• Play advanced repertoire

TBD

Students in the 'Advanced' class are invited to audition for this community performance ensemble. Students should expect to have performances on a few weekends throughout the year. Students who are absent from two or more rehearsals during a quarter may be excused by the instructor from the upcoming performance.

To audition, students must prepare a 3-octave major scale and a 3-octave minor scale, perform clapping tests, and perform a piece from the Advanced repertoire, or another piece at an advanced level. In addition, he/she will be asked to sight read a short selection.

When possible a fiddle ensemble will be formed. Violin, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, cello and ukulele players are welcome! Violin students must be enrolled in Intermediate B or Advanced.  Students may also join by a simple audition.

Updated August 2021