Proficiency Levels

The Academy students will be evaluated and will be grouped in the following categories in order to determine eligibility for the various academy offerings:

Beginner

Less than one year playing a musical instrument. Limited formal instruction. No to limited ability to read music.

Advanced Beginner

More than one year but less than two years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play 3 major scales. Understands key signatures, can recognize and observe most often used symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform simple musical excerpts never seen before.

Intermediate

More than two years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play 6 major scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can extemporaneously create a melody using the pentatonic scale on the Blues progression. (Beginning improvisation)

Advanced

More than three years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play all major scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other musical terms. Can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can recognized and improvise on the Blues form and simple Rock and Latin progressions.

Company

More than three years playing a musical instrument. Has memorized and can play all major, minor, blues, and pentatonic scales. Can recognize and observe all symbols pertaining to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and other expressive details and can read and perform a musical score never seen before in simple and compound meters. Can recognized different jazz styles and can play expressively, incorporating appropriate contrasts of dynamics, phrasing and articulations in the style of music being performed. Can extemporaneously create a melody that is compatible with complex chord progressions (improvisation). Can transpose music from one key to another.

Students achieving the level of Company are periodically chosen to perform in concert with area professional musicians. All students admitted to the “Company” level of proficiency, who are pursing high school diplomas, are expected to maintain at least a “C” average. Students who do not maintain a “C” average for two consecutive grading periods will not be eligible for any performance opportunities during the school year.