Grades

Grade .5 - Debut Strings (DS) Orchestra Series

Music within the Grade .5 collection is playable by beginning students with limited study, and only uses the D major, B minor, and D & A strings. The tempo is moderate with 4/4 time signatures preferred, and the time range is up to 1:30. Bowings are natural bowings detache, and the rhythm is quarter notes with two repeated eighth notes.

Grade 1-1.5 - Premiere Strings (PS) Orchestra Series

Music within the Grade 1-1.5 collection is playable by elementary school students or groups, and only uses C, G, D and relative minors. The tempo ranges from andante, moderato, and allegro and has time signatures of 2/4, ¾, and 4/4. Rhythms are whole, half, quarter, eighths dotted quarter in 1.5, and time range is up to 2:00. Bowings are natural bowings detache, pizzicato staccato, and legato marcato open string double-stops.

Grade 2-2.5 - Stellar Strings (SS) Orchestra Series

Music within the Grade 2-2.5 collection is playable by middle school students and groups, and uses C, G, D, A, F, Bb & relative minors. The tempo ranges from andante, moderato, allegro, adagio, and vivace and has time signatures of 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, and simple cut time 6/8. Rhythms are all previous rhythms plus sixteenths, triplets, and syncopation, and the time range is between 2:00-4:00. Bowings are detache, pizzicato staccato, and legato marcato open string double-stops. All parts are independent, and percussion / piano is optional.

Grade 3-3.5 - Expert Strings (ES) Orchestra Series

Music within the Grade 3-3.5 collection is playable by high school students and groups, and uses C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb, & relative minors. All tempo markings are included, and the music has time signatures of 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, and simple cut time 6/8. Rhythms are all previous rhythms plus sixteenths, triplets, and syncopation, and the time range is between 3:00-7:00. Bowings are all previous bowings and introduces spiccato and four-note slurs. All parts are independent, and percussion / piano is optional.

Grade 4-5 - Professional Strings (PRO) Orchestra Series

Music within the Grade 4-5 collection is playable by advanced high school and college students and groups, and by professionals. The music uses all keys, tempos, time signatures, rhythms, and bowings. All parts are independent, and percussion / piano is optional.