Orchestra Grading & Song Submission Guidelines
A PDF version of the grading a guidelines table is available here for download.
Grade .5 Debut Strings (DS)
Beginning
- KEYS
- D Major, b minor, D & A strings only
- METER
- 4/4 preferred
- TEMPO
- Moderate
- RHYTHMS
- Quarter notes, two repeated Eighth notes
- BOWINGS
- Natural bowings, Detache
- RANGE
- First position
- DURATION
- Up to 1:30 minutes
- INSTRUMENTATION
- Violin 2 & Viola double
- Cello & Bass double
- Piano optional
- CONSIDERATIONS
- Fingerings indicated when helpful
Grade 1-1.5 Premiere Strings (PS)
Elementary School
- KEYS
- C, G, D & Relative minors
- METER
- 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
- TEMPO
- Andante, Moderato, Allegro
- RHYTHMS
- Whole, Half Quarter, Eighths, Dotted Quarter in Grade 1.5
- BOWINGS
- Natural bowings, Detache, Pizzicato, Staccato, Legato, Marcato, Open String, Double-Stops
- RANGE
- First position
- Bass third position
- Low 2nd finger in Grade 1.5
- DURATION
- Up to 2 minutes
- INSTRUMENTATION
- Cello & Bass double in Grade 1
- Percussion / piano optional
- CONSIDERATIONS
- Fingerings indicated when helpful
Grade 2-2.5 Stellar Strings (SS)
Middle School
- KEYS
- C, G, D, A, F, Bb & Relative minors
- METER
- 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, Simple cut time, 6/8
- TEMPO
- Andante, Moderato, Allegro, Adagio, Vivace
- RHYTHMS
- Previous rhythms plus Sixteenths, Triplets, Syncopation
- BOWINGS
- Detache, Pizzicato, Staccato, Legato, Marcato, Slurs, Hooked, String Crossings
- RANGE
- Primarily first pos. (Cello 1st pos. plus extensions, Bass 1/2 pos., Violin 1 3rd pos.)
- DURATION
- 2 to 4 minutes
- INSTRUMENTATION
- All parts independent
- Percussion / piano optional
- CONSIDERATIONS
- Fingerings and shifts indicated when helpful
Grade 3-3.5 Expert Strings (ES)
High School
- KEYS
- C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb & Relative minors
- METER
- 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, Simple cut time, 6/8
- TEMPO
- All tempo markings
- RHYTHMS
- Previous rhythms plus Sixteenths, Triplets, Syncopation
- BOWINGS
- Previous bowings plus Spiccato, Fournote Slurs
- RANGE
- Violin 1 up to 5th
- Violin 2 / Viola up to 3rd
- Cello add 4th
- Bass add 5th
- DURATION
- 3 to 7 minutes
- INSTRUMENTATION
- All parts independent
- Percussion / piano optional
- CONSIDERATIONS
- Fingerings and shifts indicated when helpful
Grade 4-5 Professional Strings (PRO)
Advanced High School, College, & Professional
- KEYS
- All keys
- METER
- All meters
- TEMPO
- All tempo markings
- RHYTHMS
- All rhythms
- BOWINGS
- All bowings
- RANGE
- All positions
- DURATION
- As desired
- INSTRUMENTATION
- All parts independent
- Percussion / piano optional