What is my playing level on Recorder?  

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All Workshop classes use A=440

         (Don't worry if you find you are not in a comfortable level class at the Workshop. We will gladly re-assign you to a better suited class)

          Advanced Beginner -

• can play songs in Treble clef in 2/4 and 4/4 time
• knows the basic fingerings on Alto recorder
• has started learning scales, is at least most of the way thru the 1^st book of  a Learn to Play your Recorder method. 
• is comfortable sight-reading music with whole, half, quarter and eighth notes at a metronome marking of quarter note = 60 beats/minute.

Intermediate level 1 –  Is comfortable with all of the above, plus:

• can keep a steady beat and is comfortable in 3/4 time, cut time and 6/8 time
• is developing good breath control and a clear full sound
• is comfortable sight-reading in keys up to 1 sharp and 1 flat and can play the associated major  scales   
• has some experience playing with a group and/or takes private lessons
• plays Alto a full 2 octaves and likely is  learning a 2^nd size of recorder 
• may not yet be comfortable playing alone on a part with a group

 Intermediate level 2 - Is comfortable with all of the above, plus: 

•  plays at least 3 sizes of recorder a full 2 octaves
• has a clear full sound, has good tonguing and breath control
• is learning to read Alto up
• is learning trills
• is comfortable sight-reading in keys up to 2 sharps and 2 flats, and knows the associated major, minor and chromatic scales 
• has a good sense of pulse, is comfortable sight-reading 4/2 and 6/2 time, and can figure out most rhythms
• has more experience playing with a group and is usually comfortable playing 1 on a part
• is learning to listen to others for intonation and musicality.

Intermediate level 3 - Is comfortable with all of the above, plus: 

• plays 4 sizes of recorder, over the full range of the instruments. 
• is comfortable playing  Alto up and bass clef on Tenor recorder
• is comfortable sight-reading in keys up to 3 sharps and 3 flats
• plays with good intonation
• knows trills and is learning how to implement them in correct musical style.
• has regular experience playing with a group and listens well to fellow musicians
• is always comfortable playing 1 on a part.

           Advanced  level - Is comfortable with all of the above, plus:

• fluently plays at least 4 sizes of recorder over the entire range of the instruments
• reads treble & bass clefs on ALL instruments, including ledger lines
• knows alternate & trill fingerings, has good intonation, tone quality and breath control
• sight-reads up to 4 sharps and 4 flats
• sight-reads complex rhythms and understands phrasing
• moves easily between duple and triple  rhythms,  reads meters with the whole note as the pulse
• adds stylistically appropriate ornamentation, even when sight-reading
• has studied standard solo literature
• has extensive experience playing with groups, and can find their place in the music if they get lost
• sight-reads at tempo in appropriate musical style
• may also be familiar with alto and tenor clefs and playing from early notation.