For Composers

Cello - Level 1

READ THIS FIRST: Notes to Composers 

 

General recommendations:

Speed: Slow to Moderate

Length: 16-24 bars

Rhythm:  Simple duple and triple meter; mostly quarter- and eighth-note rhythms; no dotted rhythms; no triplets; no 16ths; no syncopation; no hocket or other complex rhythmic devices; no fast lines or repeated notes for more than a few notes; no long periods of rest.

Playable Notes and Skills
  • Fingers 1, 3 & 4 on top two strings (whole step, whole step, half step above each open string).
  • A string: B, C# D
  • D string: E, F#, G
  • Finger 2 is possible (for example 1st string C Nat, or 2nd string F Nat) but has not been used extensively in their solo music. 
Things to Avoid
  • String crosses that skip a string 
  • Bows over two seconds
  • Consecutive notes that must be played legato with the same finger on different strings.
  • Double stops
Video

Cello - Level 2

READ THIS FIRST: Notes to Composers 

 

General recommendations:

Speed: Slow to Moderate

Length: 16-36 bars

Rhythm:  Simple duple and triple meter; no compound meter; some syncopation okay; 16ths Okay; no fast lines or repeated notes for more than a few notes; no long periods of rest; players should enter on a strong beat after a period of rest.

Playable Notes and Skills
  • All four fingers on all four strings (1st position).  
  • A string: B, C, C#, D
  • D string: E, F, F#, G
  • G string: A, Bb, B, C
  • C string: D, Eb, E, F
  • Can reach back for the first half step above the open strings, but cannot reach up with the fourth finger. (students might be able to do the fourth finger extension, A and D at least) 
  • A string: Bb, (D#)
  • D string: Eb, (G#)
  • G string: Ab, (C#)
  • C string: C#, (F#) 
Things to Avoid
  • Bows over four seconds.
  • String crossing  on non-adjacent strings.
  • Double stops.
Video

Cello - Level 3

READ THIS FIRST: Notes to Composers 

 

General recommendations:

Speed: Slow to Allegretto

Length: 24-48 bars

Rhythm:  No fast lines or repeated notes for more than a few beats; more unusual meters okay; syncopation okay; 16ths okay.

 

 

Playable Notes and Skills
  • 2nd and 3rd positions, (allow plenty of time to shift between the positions). 
  • A string: 2nd position: C, (C#), D, Eb (E), 3rd position: D, Eb, E, F

 May extend up with the 4th finger to expand the position by a half step.

Things to Avoid
  • Bows over 6 seconds.
  • More than 2 positions per piece.
  • Slurs over 4 notes or that involve a string crossing.
  • Double Stops
Video

Cello - Level 4

READ THIS FIRST: Notes to Composers 

 

General recommendations:

Speed: Slow to allegro

Length: 36-100 bars

Rhythm: Complex meters; triplets and 8ths in same piece (though not same time); beginning complex rhythms (no cross rhythms – 2 against 3 etc.); Simple hocket okay.

Playable Notes and Skills
  • Can begin using two or three positions in a piece.
  • Can play in keys up to 4 sharps and 4 flats.
  • Longer slurs okay.  
  • Double stops with at least one open string.
Things to Avoid
  • Quick or consecutive position shifts.
  • Fast string crossing back and forth between strings.
Video

Cello - Level 5

READ THIS FIRST: Notes to Composers 

 

General recommendations:

Speed: Slow to Allegro

Length: 200 measures (including multi-movement)

Rhythm:  complex rhythms, but still no cross rhythms.

Playable Notes and Skills
  • 3-octave range.  
  • Some double stops. 
  • Chromatic scales of 1 octave.  
  • Vibrato.
Things to Avoid
  • Too many double stops.  
  • Quick or consecutive position shifts.
Video

Flute - Level 1

READ THIS FIRST: Notes to Composers 

 

General recommendations:

Speed: Slow to Moderate

Length: 16-24 bars

Rhythm:  Simple duple and triple meter; mostly quarter- and eighth-note rhythms; no dotted rhythms; no triplets; no 16ths; no syncopation; no hocket or other complex rhythmic devices; no fast lines or repeated notes for more than a few notes; no long periods of rest.

Playable Notes and Skills

Range from F above middle C, to G an octave above, natural notes.   

Things to Avoid
  • More than 1 or 2 accidentals per piece (they probably have not encountered accidentals in their method books, but are capable of learning them).
  • Slurs of more than 2 notes.
  • Breaths over 4 seconds.
  • Slow tempos.
  • Dynamics.
Video

Flute - Level 2

READ THIS FIRST: Notes to Composers 

 

General recommendations:

Speed: Slow to Moderate

Length: 16-36 bars

Rhythm:  Simple duple and triple meter; no compound meter; some syncopation okay; 16ths Okay; no fast lines or repeated notes for more than a few notes; no long periods of rest; players should enter on a strong beat after a period of rest.

Playable Notes and Skills
  • Middle C to C3. 
  • Intervals up to 5ths.  
  • C, G, F, and Bb scales.  
  • Read music with up to 3 sharps and flats.
  • Mixed articulations.
  • Some dynamics. 
Things to Avoid
  • Sustain over 4-8 seconds
  • Slurs over 4 notes 
  • Louder dynamics in the lowest range, softer dynamics in the highest range.
Video

Flute - Level 3

READ THIS FIRST: Notes to Composers 

 

General recommendations:

Speed: Slow to Allegretto

Length: 24-48 bars

Rhythm:  No fast lines or repeated notes for more than a few beats; more unusual meters okay; syncopation okay; 16ths okay.

 

 

Playable Notes and Skills
  • Middle C to F3. 
  • Can play octave leaps.  
  • Major scales up to 4 sharps and flats.  
  • Single-tongue sixteenths.  
  • Isolated trills.  
Things to Avoid
  • Sustain over 8 seconds
  • Slurs over 8 notes.
  • Louder dynamics in the lowest range, softer dynamics in the highest range.
Video