Skill Levels – Homeschool Strings

Skill Level Requirements

Each class level focuses on developing it's own set of skills, knowledge, and musical ability. Since each class builds upon the next, it is important to know all of the skills in one level before moving on to the next!

Our teaches teach toward these skill levels, based on the Washington State Music Teachers Association standards plus additional skills required by Home School Strings. These skills are tested through the Music Literacy Program portion of the KMTA Carnival in April. Parents will receive a report detailing the skills mastered and appropriate class placement for the following year.

Our desire is to see you take steps toward getting closer to your goals. Please take some time to review the list and set goals for your future here at HSS and beyond. Daily practice and attentive attitudes will help you in your musical endeavors.

Level 1

Note names:

Names of notes on lines and spaces and open strings
Note names and finger position for D and A strings (flashcards)

Finger patterns:

On tapes and low 2 (in tune)

Posture:

Left hand position – tunnel, straight wrist
Correct bow hold
Correct instrument position

Rhythm:

Clap ¼, ½ , whole notes and rests

Scales and arpeggios (say key signature):

D major (1 octave)
G major (2 octaves violin, 1 octave viola/cello)
C major (2 octaves viola/cello, 1 octave violin)

Written theory:

Identify number of beats for quarter notes and rests, half notes and whole notes
Give definitions for forte and piano symbols
Identify note direction as up, down, or repeat
Write letter names of open strings and notes in D major scale on diagram of fingerboard
Identify half and whole steps on a fingerboard diagram

Sight reading: Play example using WSMTA guidelines

Listening:

Identify low, middle, and high sounds
Identify forte, piano, up/down movement, repeat
Clap pulse of 8 measure example

Performance:

Play final concert piece in tune w/ correct rhythm

Level 2

Beginning students who have passed Level 1

Skills taught and required to promote to Level 3:

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

Level 3

Students who have completed ‘Level 1’ and ‘Level 2’

Skills taught and required to promote to 'Level 4':

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

Level 4

Students who have passed 'Level 3'.

Skills taught and required to promote to 'Level 5':

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

Level 5+

Students who have passed 'Level 4'

Skills taught:

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

Harp- Level 1, 2

TBD

Chamber Ensemble

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.

Fiddle Ensemble

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

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