Level One Standards for Brass

Level One Benchmarks for Upper String Instruments

By the end of Level 1, the violin/viola student will have accomplished the following categories.

Proper Posture and Position

Display proper posture- both sitting and standing.

Display proper positioning of the violin/viola and correct bow hold.

Knowledge and Maintenance of Instrument

Name the parts of his/her instrument and know how to take care of it.

Tone Quality and Intonation

Produce a clear tone using a straight bow at all parts of the bow; whole, lower,

middle, and upper parts.

Match finger intonation to open string; discriminate pitch by ½ and whole steps.

Finger Technique and Harmonics

Utilize low second fingers, and fourth finger in the keys of D, G, and C major.

Perform right hand pizzicato.

Play natural harmonics.

Bowings (Articulations)

Demonstrate the following bowings: Detache, staccato, slurs, retakes, bow lifts,

up bow pick ups, and up and down bows.

Scales

Perform a one octave scale in the keys of D, G, and C major.

Rhythm

Play the following rhythms keeping a steady pulse: quarter note, half note, whole

note, dotted half note, eighth notes, sixteenth notes and corresponding rests.

Read and Count the following rhythms: quarter note, half note, whole note and dotted

note and the corresponding rests.

Reading

Read the note names of all the open strings, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers in 1st position.

Dynamics

Perform with musicality by using dynamics (p, f, mp, and mf), crescendo, decrescendo

and accents.

Musical Terminology

Know and apply the following music terms: repeat signs, tempo, Da Capo, Fine,

and meters (3/4, 2/4, 4/4).

Musical Styles and Composition

Play in different styles of Music.

Create and Compose simple melodies.

Level One Benchmarks for Lower String Instruments

By the end of Level 1, the cello/bass student will have accomplished the following categories.