what grade am I???

flute friend · Post by **flute friend** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 11:35 am

Hi!! I needed to know what grade I am. I have played
for 1 year and I have played songs like A Carman Celebration, The Phantom of the
oprah, American celebretion, Greensleves, 1812 overture, Duke street,
Blackforest overture, and thats about all the sheet music I played this year in
school. My band teacher says I am the best player in school, and I learned VERY
fast and he is imprest (not like I''m trying to brag but I just want you to
know) Help!!![:((] [:(]

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 1:52 pm

That has become an interesting question floating
around recently. First without hearing you play no one can tell you what level
you are based only on what material you have played. Because "played" is
subjective. Got all the notes right? Or could have been mistaken for Rampal?
Best guess is you are an advanced beginner. That is where the difficulty becomes
interesting. What country are you in? Some countries have recognized levels and
testing to show what level you have accomplished. US really doesn't unless I
missed it.(NFA does have a list of sorts) There are levels of music. Galway may
play a low level piece but that would not make him a low level player. A
beginner may get through an upper level piece but that wouldn't make them a top
level player. How many of the major scales can you play? How many octaves? At
what speed? and many other questions would probably help but your teacher is in
the best position to give you an answer.

flute friend · Post by **flute friend** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 5:59 pm

Well lets just say I am a 13 year old in the USA I
have played a song called Saber dance that are band played at 250 beats per
minute. I can play the B flat scale in 1 breath and in probebly 5-10 seconds.
When are band went to proform in Seattle the concert we played for thought we
where a High-school band. Because I do go to a privite school are matterials are
more advanced then most high schools even bacuse my mom was in the advanced
Hishschool band and they where playing the same music we are playing. My cousins
high-school graduating band played one of the same songs that we played so that
is why are school is advanced. I hope you can figure this out and if ya need
more info you can just ask me cause I don't know the info you need to determan
this. Ohh and I played mostly all right notes maybe 3 miss haps to each song if
that.!!! [:((] [:(] [:0] HELP!!!!

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 8:27 pm

I will let someone with more expertise take a shot
at it. As I said without listening it is near impossible to be accurate, at
least for me. If you were to use a scale where there are 3 levels of beginner, 3
levels of intermediate and 3 levels of advance and then a 10 being a recognized
performer. Breaking it down further 0 having not played yet, 1 just starting and
2 a beginner and 3 starting the move to intermediate, my guess from your further
information would still be a 3, maybe a 2, a chance of a 4 but not likely from
what you have said. The way you answer and your scales answer indicate to me 2-3
is the likely area your current skill falls. That would be inline for a 13 year
old having played in band for a year. Everyone learns at a different pace.
Everyone spends differing amount of time practicing, comes in with different
talent and desire. Just work hard and continue to improve. Why do you need to
know? No matter if you are a 2 or a 4 you still have to learn one step at a
time. Are you trying to choose music?

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 8:48 pm

I came accross this description of a level 3, see
how you match up Level 3. Novice - Low C to high G3 - Key signatures firm at 3#s
and 3bs (memorized scales possible) - tiplets, 1/32nd notes and more complex
dotted rhythm figures - Add 2/2 and 3/2 time signatures - Dynamics and styles of
articulation (smooth legato; detached staccato) - recognition of major and minor
keys and accidentals appropriate to minors - sight-reading or improvising done
daily From your description it sounds like your working on this level and maybe
filling in some of level 2. Don't let affect your thinking either way. I know
kids in HS who aren't past this level and a 12 yo that is working at getting to
level 8. It's not where you start its where you finish. Keep enjoying and
practicing. What lesson books is your teacher working with you on?[:bigsmile:]

flute friend · Post by **flute friend** » Thu Aug 07, 2003 12:58 pm

Thanks!! do you have any more advice or anyother
things you need to know to help you figure this out?? just let me know!! [;)]

FluterJenn · Post by **FluterJenn** » Thu Aug 07, 2003 6:22 pm

Where did u find that discripiton of a level 3? I
really would like to see what the other levels say. thanks, jenn

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Fri Aug 08, 2003 9:32 pm

I will try an find some more of the description. The
original source supposedly is an NFA publication but not sure how true to that
the third hand one I found on the net is to the one they sell. Did you see
Florida Bandmasters website finally posted the new Solo and Ensemble list for
this year? Doesn't look too much different than last years. Did you go to
LeHigh HS for that "competition" last year? If so which judge did you have and
what piece did you play?

tarzaflute · Post by **tarzaflute** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 4:13 am

wat grade are u in at school? i know this has
nothing to do with your grade but im just curious. ive played most of the pieces
u mentioned. i played greensleeves and 1812 overture in grade 5 and phantom of
the opera in grade 6 and sabre dance in grade 7 and full speed. i dont know wat
ages u r in different grades in america but i was 10 in grade 5, etc. most
publications of scores that ive seen have an indicator level on them, and i
think sabre dance was about a 2 and a half. im not sure if these are australian
grades though. anyway if u would like to know anything else let us know. [8)]

flute friend · Post by **flute friend** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 12:25 am

do you want to know mine?? Okay then I'm going into
7th grade. And I played all those songs in 6thh grade!! Hope this helps and I
hope you where asking me or where you asking Penny?? -THANKS[;)]

Lemonpawz · Post by **Lemonpawz** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:57 pm

...no... my highschool plays stuff that blows that
away. Our music is hard. In 8th grade, we were always taken for a 9th or tenth
grade band. 250 beats per minute is nothing and...b flat scale...?ooo you're
mighty now... my point is private schools don't have any musical advantage as
far as I know..

flautist blackie · Post by **flautist blackie** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 4:57 pm

[quote] ---------------- On 8/6/2003 8:48:33 PM I
came accross this description of a level 3, see how you match up Level 3. Novice
- Low C to high G3 - Key signatures firm at 3#s and 3bs (memorized scales
possible) - tiplets, 1/32nd notes and more complex dotted rhythm figures - Add
2/2 and 3/2 time signatures - Dynamics and styles of articulation (smooth
legato; detached staccato) - recognition of major and minor keys and accidentals
appropriate to minors - sight-reading or improvising done daily ----------------
[/quote] what would i be if i've been playing for about 1.5 years, do not do
sight reading and improvising daily, have not encountered 2/2 and 3/2
signitures, but i have a range of 4 C's (C1, middle C, high C, altisimo C and
the C# above that occasionally)? i fit with all the other requirements for level
3, so i'm wondering if i would be a 2 or a 3.

PiccChick · Post by **PiccChick** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 7:19 pm

I need to know what level of music to play so i can
order of the internet and not have trouble. I've been playing for 3 full
years(since 4th grade and im in 7th). I've had much experience with concerto's
and solo's(level 4)I played a level 5 concerto but some things vary from piece
to piece. I can sight read high school level peices easily.I've played(from the
fabulous studio band in porterville,ca)many peices.I've also played things like
Variations on a Korean Folk Song and Florentiener March(very easy).i can play 16
notes at a speed of 208.(Oh by the way Vannesa-on a metranome-the speed only
goes to 208 not 250. sorry.)can anyone help me?[:p] [:)] [:halo:]

PiccChick · Post by **PiccChick** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 7:24 pm

Lemonpawz-u gotz a point. nothin' 2 brag 'bout
there. im not in private school but my director's awesome!!!!He's tryin' 2
get me private less. but anywayz....he's friends w/ Tracy Harris.Anyone know
her??Our school playz level 5 peices each year for cmea and get superior.

flautist blackie · Post by **flautist blackie** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 6:12 pm

I'm been playing almost 2 years, which is less than
any of the first flutes in my section (and i'm "principal flautist"...gives you
an idea of our band). Um...its hard to tell what level i'm at because most of
my repetoire is arrangements. I know that on my scale of music (i think that's
what we're talking about) with levels 1-5 and music like Syrinx as a level 4,
most of my music is at a level 3, if i'm not mistaken. Music that isn't in
arrangements of mine includes stuff like "Dedication Overture".