Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Typical high school level music

Question to all the parents of musical kids in high school. I am wondering what grade level music your orchestras and bands play, particularly your highest level orchestras and bands (just within your school so not including all-district or all-county or all-state).

In DS' and DD's public high school, the highest level is GT Band and GT Orchestra, which play Grade 5 and Grade 6 level music, which is a huge jump from their middle school classes. Of course, very few freshmen (even including most who are playing less competitive instruments) end up in the GT ensembles.

Grade 6 sounds reasonable. As a former first violin, the music I played was probably grade 6 level around (scholastic) grade 9/10, and approached grade 8/9 conservatory level by end of high school. My seatmate was first chair, and she was far more proficient than me, maxing out conservatory grades.

If the students are able to play as a small ensemble for a few hours a week in class, it's entirely reasonable to achieve 2-3 conservatory levels in a scholastic year. An hour or two a day of solo practice will get you there, too.

My son is 8 th grade at an arts school (6-12 grades). He has been playing since 6th grade. He is playing grade 4 and grade 5 music. I don't know the highest level yet but I would assume at an arts school they can get pretty high. I guess I'll know more about that next year.

DD is in 8th grade and played grade 4 music last year in band (highest level band at her middle school). Her band teacher will often say that they play "high school level" music?

At the high school, I've noticed that it varies year to year, possibly based on the ability level of the students who make it into wind ensemble in any given. In the typical years, they play level 4 pieces, i.e. Kahn (I swear my kids have to play it every second semester), with a a couple "reach" pieces that are level 5-6, i.e. Angels in the Architecture, Russian Christmas Music. Often the latter get thrown out there, my kids all excited to play something more interesting and then the director decides not to play it at the concert/festival because it is not ready. They tend to play higher level stuff at their extra curricular band.

Our (public school) band department publishes details/expectations for the various bands.

Freshman Band is 3-3.5 (open to anyone)
Symphonic Band is 4 (open to anyone)
Wind Ensemble is 5-6 (audition required, private lessons recommended)

There's an invitation-only extra-curricular group also, not published, but I assume at the higher end.

I have no idea what grade our H.S. Band played. We have 4 different bands. (concert, symphonic, wind ensemble, and wind symphony) The wind symphony which my son was in last year plays music often performed by university bands. The director never talked about the Music level. I could probably dig up the name of some pieces. The lowest level band will take beginners although most students have played an instrument for a few years by that time. Band director places a student in by audition and every year a few freshman get into the top level band, but mostly the concert band is freshman/sophomores. And wind symphony mostly seniors.

DD's school has 4 orchestras. Freshme do get into the top level one. They play what you normally expect from a decent community orchestra.

They are not exactly up to a professional standard but I still enjoy attending their concerts.

I don't think our school band or orchestra plays above grade 6 - it may be partly that publishers (at least the American ones that I have seen) of band and orchestra arrangements don't sell stuff above grade 6. On the other hand, some publishers use grades 1,2,3,4,5,P rather than grades 1,2,3,4,5,6. I do know what you are referring to though as I have seen solos and competition/certification music rated higher.

Grade 5 is very advanced for middle school, especially since this is only his 3rd year!